
Reach for this book when your teen is feeling out of sync with their peers or struggling to find their place in a world that feels increasingly heavy. It is a powerful tool for teens navigating their identity, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community who are looking for a bridge between the struggles of the past and the anxieties of the future. The story follows five teens across different eras, from the 1980s AIDS crisis to a plague-ridden future in 2036, as they use astral projection to connect and heal. It masterfully explores themes of loneliness, historical trauma, and the enduring power of friendship. While it deals with serious topics like homophobia and illness, its core message is one of profound interconnectedness. It is best suited for older teens (14+) who enjoy complex science fiction and are ready to engage with the social realities of both history and speculative futures.
Sweet, meaningful depictions of teenage queer romance and attraction.
Themes of illness, terminal diagnosis, and the grief of losing community members.
Suspenseful sequences involving the Shadow and transdimensional shifts.
The HIV/AIDS crisis, homophobic bullying and discrimination, a global plague (The Virus), parental illness and death, scenes of medical distress, and a character being struck by lightning.
An older teen who feels like an outsider or who is deeply interested in queer history. This is for the reader who enjoys high-concept sci-fi but wants it grounded in emotional reality and social justice.
This book is best read by teens who have some context for the 1980s AIDS crisis, as the depiction of homophobia and the fear surrounding the disease is visceral and historically accurate. Parents might want to discuss how attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people and those with HIV/AIDS have changed (or not changed) since 1986. A teen expresses a sense of hopelessness about the state of the world or feels like their personal struggles are uniquely insurmountable. They might ask about the history of the AIDS epidemic or express fear regarding future pandemics.
Younger teens (14) will likely focus on the sci-fi elements and the high-stakes mystery of the Murder House. Older teens (17 to 18) will better grasp the political subtext, the parallels between the two eras, and the nuance of the transdimensional themes.
Unlike many YA sci-fi novels, this book uses the genre to create a literal bridge between the trauma of the queer past and the anxieties of a speculative future, proving that empathy and connection can transcend time and space. """
Set in both 1986 and 2036, the story follows five teenagers in a Virginia suburb who connect across time through astral projection. In the 1980s, Rene and Tommy navigate a budding romance amidst the height of the AIDS epidemic and systemic homophobia. In the future, Priss and Gaye live under the shadow of a different global plague. They must solve a historical mystery involving a haunted house and a self-help guide to transdimensional travel to save one another from a dark, metaphysical force.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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