Falling out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

What worked:

This book bears similarities to its partner “Running Out of Time” so previous readers should be able to anticipate what’s happening. Zola finds a book in her Insta-Closet about Jessie Keyser who happens to be the main character from “Running Out of Time”. In that book, Jessie thought she was living in the 1800’s only to discover she was actually in an experimental, closed community in the modern world. The author’s perception of the future world in this book displays technology to remove stress, fear, and pain from human lives. Zola tells her Insta-Closet what she wants to wear and the outfit appears minutes later. Characters interact verbally with technology to fulfill their needs and Zola “attends” school through virtual reality. There’s no reason to leave her home with all of her necessities provided.

The book may get some readers wondering about the meanings of real and true. Characters believe what they are told and what they see but what if someone is manipulating their surroundings? Past and present history are what they’ve been taught and learned but what if those things aren’t totally true? All of these things create a reality in the characters’ minds that is hard to change when they encounter evidence that’s inconsistent with it. “Trusted” sources aren’t automatically believable anymore and other new characters speaking the truth are treated with skepticism.

I’ll try to be vague so as not to reveal any spoilers. The author develops contrasting worlds from different times in history as the settings in the first book and this one are four hundred years apart. The pioneer world featured cooperation and manual labor while this book emphasizes a reliance on technology. A concept often repeated this time is that people must choose which future they want and take action today to achieve it. Words to live by. The author includes details from the first book but it’s not necessary to have read it. While the stories from both books overlap a bit, some revelations and surprises are saved for the end.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot lacked the urgency needed to build tension and suspense. There isn’t a deadline or identified, imminent threat to explain why Zola needs to do something right away. However, her actions eventually create problems that lead to an exciting conclusion.

The Final Verdict:

I’m not sure how many of today’s young people have read the first book from the mid-1990s but it might be better if it’s not read first. The plot is fairly predictable although the exact details will need to be discovered. Overall, this book should entertain lovers of alternative realities and history and I recommend you give it a shot.