Tempest by Julia Cross

   

    Hello everyone! For my final blog post, I want to revisit a book I was absolutely obsessed with back in 6th grade. I had forgotten about it for a while, but recently stumbled upon it again while looking through an old reading list I made a few years ago. Rediscovering this gem reminded me just how much I loved it. I genuinely believe it's an underrated novel that deserves more attention and more readers!

    Here is the basic summary of the novel: The story follows nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer, who has the ability to time travel. But the problem is, he doesn't know how to work it, how to control it, or why he has that power in the first place. It started off as nothing serious, just short jumps into the past, nothing permanent, nothing dangerous. But everything changes when his girlfriend, Holly, gets shot during a mysterious attack, causing him to jump back a whole two years. Now stranded two years in the past, Jackson has no idea how to get home or what has happened. But the deeper he digs, the stranger it gets. People are watching him, and he uncovers shocking secrets about his dad that he never saw coming.

    Here are things that I really liked about this book. Firstly, I liked that it was written in a guy's point of view. It was the first time I read a strong young adult novel starring a young man instead of a young woman. Secondly, I really enjoyed the fast pacing of the book. I HATE slow-paced books, so this book was made just for me. Every page was packed with action, mystery, romance, and new insights into Jackson's past. For example, I appreciated how Jackson's twin sister, Courtney, was incorporated into the story. Even though she had passed away, her presence was still strongly felt through his memories. I felt that Courtney significantly influenced Jackson's character development, adding a powerful emotional depth to the story. One of the most touching moments in the book that I still remember clearly is when Jackson discovers a letter that Courtney had written to him before she died. His dad had hidden it from him for years until he finally gave it to him when he was older. The letter revealed so much about their bond, and I liked how it was a literal letter included in the book in its original format. I think that when Jackson cried, I cried along as well because it was one of the saddest moments in the book. Overall, Tempest is a solid 10/10 for me, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves action, mystery, and heart.

- Yelina