By Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Published: 2011

AR level: 4.4

AR points: 10.0

Word count: 66,931

I suggest: 7th through 12th grade (and adults who were teens in the 1990s!)

I remember setting up my Facebook account in 2008. At the time, Facebook was new, exciting, and the place everyone wanted to be.

Now, Facebook comes with advantages and disadvantages. Connecting with friends and family whom I rarely see is a huge benefit. Living life on or through a Facebook feed however, is not.

The Future of Us is a thoughtful piece of fiction about what social media can really tell us about our lives (but also very pacey–this is a quick read because the story really moves). The story takes place in the late nineties (the ages of the characters matched my own at the time–so I found this incredibly satisfying as a blast through the past!). Two teens have the opportunity to read their future Facebook posts, and I will tell you, I sincerely enjoyed the ride and the self-reflection. I highly recommend this book for both entertainment and introspection, no matter where you are in life!

Here’s a description from the publisher:

What if you could see how your life would unfold–just by clicking a button?

It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.