The Boy from Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis - Book Review
Release: August 5, 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Amberjack Publishing
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room—but they’ve never seen each other. Both are twelve years old, yet a hundred years apart. Josie lives in 1915, and Alec in 2015. They connect through a hand-painted spirit board and build an unlikely friendship across time.
When danger traps Josie and her little sister Cass in the house, fear takes hold. Alec races to uncover what will happen to them. Can he help change their future when, for him, it has already passed?
The Boy from Tomorrow pays tribute to classic English fantasy novels like Tom’s Midnight Garden and A Traveller in Time. Through their extraordinary bond, Alec and Josie discover that life often gives back what we dare to ask of it.
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author Camille DeAngelis: I write fantasy and supernatural fiction for adults and young readers. My novels include Immaculate Heart, Mary Modern, and Petty Magic. My young adult book Bones & All won the Alex Award from YALSA and the American Library Association in 2016 and inspired a film adaptation directed by Luca Guadagnino, with a screenplay by David Kajganich.
My favorite work is my middle-grade novel The Boy From Tomorrow. I’ve also written two practical philosophy books—Life Without Envy: Ego Management for Creative People and A Bright Clean Mind: Veganism for Creative Transformation. In addition, I researched and wrote the first three editions of Moon Ireland.
I’m especially drawn to supernatural stories. My upcoming children’s novel is a ghost story, and my short story The Coroner’s Bride—first published in Exotic Gothic 5—is now available on major platforms like Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of “The Boy from Tomorrow” by Camille DeAngelis.
I loved this book and honestly wished it had continued! The story feels unique and fresh—unlike anything I’ve read before. The author presents the idea of two people connecting across different eras in a truly engaging way. From the very beginning, Josie and Alec start building a friendship through the talking board. Both characters deal with family struggles and long for the love they don’t receive from their parents.
As the story unfolds, they support each other despite living in different time periods. I also enjoyed the many references to classic literature woven into the narrative. The author shares intriguing snippets from these works, and I’ve already added a few to my reading list.
That said, I found a few parts confusing. For instance, I couldn’t quite understand how Alec and Josie suddenly communicated through the phonograph—was it meant to be magical? It also feels like a big coincidence that Alec receives Josie’s letters at just the right time and place. There may be a few other time-related inconsistencies, but I didn’t dwell on them much. After all, this is a children’s fiction novel meant primarily for enjoyment.
The characters stand out with their distinct personalities. I especially enjoyed watching Josie and Alec’s friendship grow and seeing how they help each other. Their reactions to shared phrases, music, books, and slang add a fun and lively touch. Emily, Cass, and Danny also bring extra charm and entertainment to the story.
Mrs. Clifford is one of those characters you love to hate. I imagined her looking and behaving like Lady Tremaine from Cinderella, only even more sinister. Characters like Merritt and Mrs. Gubbins also caught my interest, and I wish the story had explored them further.
Camille DeAngelis writes with charm and truly excels at developing memorable characters. I’m now interested in reading her novel “Bones & All,” which has received great reviews. The illustrator, Agnieszka Grochalska, adds beautiful artwork to each chapter, giving the book an extra layer of appeal.
In conclusion, “The Boy from Tomorrow” is an enjoyable time-travel story that I would definitely recommend. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5.
The Boy from Tomorrow
by Camille DeAngelis
4.5
★★★★
★
★
4.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis
"Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room—but they’ve never seen each other. Both are twelve years old, yet a hundred years apart. Josie lives in 1915, and Alec in 2015. They connect through a hand-painted spirit board and build an unlikely friendship across time.
When danger traps Josie and her little sister Cass in the house, fear takes hold. Alec races to uncover what will happen to them. Can he help change their future when, for him, it has already passed?
The Boy from Tomorrow pays tribute to classic English fantasy novels like Tom’s Midnight Garden and A Traveller in Time. Through their extraordinary bond, Alec and Josie discover that life often gives back what we dare to ask of it."
Release
August 5, 2018
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Amberjack Publishing
Source
NetGalley
About the Author
Camille DeAngelis
I write fantasy and supernatural fiction for adults and young readers. My novels include Immaculate Heart, Mary Modern, and Petty Magic. My young adult book Bones & All won the Alex Award from YALSA and the American Library Association in 2016 and inspired a film adaptation directed by Luca Guadagnino, with a screenplay by David Kajganich.
My favorite work is my middle-grade novel The Boy From Tomorrow. I’ve also written two practical philosophy books—Life Without Envy: Ego Management for Creative People and A Bright Clean Mind: Veganism for Creative Transformation. In addition, I researched and wrote the first three editions of Moon Ireland.
I’m especially drawn to supernatural stories. My upcoming children’s novel is a ghost story, and my short story The Coroner’s Bride—first published in Exotic Gothic 5—is now available on major platforms like Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
My Review
A big thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of “The Boy from Tomorrow” by Camille DeAngelis.
I loved this book and honestly wished it had continued! The story feels unique and fresh—unlike anything I’ve read before. The author presents the idea of two people connecting across different eras in a truly engaging way. From the very beginning, Josie and Alec start building a friendship through the talking board. Both characters deal with family struggles and long for the love they don’t receive from their parents.
As the story unfolds, they support each other despite living in different time periods. I also enjoyed the many references to classic literature woven into the narrative. The author shares intriguing snippets from these works, and I’ve already added a few to my reading list.
That said, I found a few parts confusing. For instance, I couldn’t quite understand how Alec and Josie suddenly communicated through the phonograph—was it meant to be magical? It also feels like a big coincidence that Alec receives Josie’s letters at just the right time and place. There may be a few other time-related inconsistencies, but I didn’t dwell on them much. After all, this is a children’s fiction novel meant primarily for enjoyment.
The characters stand out with their distinct personalities. I especially enjoyed watching Josie and Alec’s friendship grow and seeing how they help each other. Their reactions to shared phrases, music, books, and slang add a fun and lively touch. Emily, Cass, and Danny also bring extra charm and entertainment to the story.
Mrs. Clifford is one of those characters you love to hate. I imagined her looking and behaving like Lady Tremaine from Cinderella, only even more sinister. Characters like Merritt and Mrs. Gubbins also caught my interest, and I wish the story had explored them further.
Camille DeAngelis writes with charm and truly excels at developing memorable characters. I’m now interested in reading her novel “Bones & All,” which has received great reviews. The illustrator, Agnieszka Grochalska, adds beautiful artwork to each chapter, giving the book an extra layer of appeal.
In conclusion, “The Boy from Tomorrow” is an enjoyable time-travel story that I would definitely recommend. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5.
