Posts
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
Publication Date: April 26th, 2011
Published By: St. Martin's Griffin
Paperback, 320 Pages
Source: ARC received from published, Teen Book Scene Blog Tour
Summary:
"Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's "divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.
His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.
The pair must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future."
Review: *** 1/2 = 3.5 Stars
The idea behind Future Imperfect is quite creative and interesting. Ade Patience is a teen in high school that can see the future by giving himself concussions. How far in the future can differ, sometime weeks, and other times decades. The after effect of seeing the future leaves Ade with a Buzz, his type of high.
The beginning focuses on Ade's ability, and what he has done to himself in the past to look into his future, as well as the love of his life, a girl he has seen in his visions. The story is fast paced and I'm glad for Ade's constant thought processes and repeated concussion attempts. It keeps the story moving at a swift pace and also kept me interested.
I will admit that some aspects of the story are kinda crazy. What Ade does himself in some situations is just messed up(diving off a skate ramp head first??). But then I think, what about some users out there that do absolutely rediculous stuff to get more of the drug they need a fix on? It's the same thing, and while it works, its still out there.
Vauxhall, Ade's true love, has an addiction of her own. His friend(not really friend) Jimi, is just messed up, and his best friend Paige is just kind of there. She's mostly seen throughout the novel telling Ade he's selfish. I was there was more to their relationship. Other than that he doesn't really have any relationships throughout the novel, besides the one with his mother, and shes a total church nut who thinks Ade's visions have significant religious meaning.
A lot of connections come together at the end, and there was a lot more meat to the story in the second half.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I wanted more from it. It was worth the read though for the concept alone.
**Special thanks to Teen Book Scene for hosting the Future Imperfect Blog Tour.
Sherry<3
