Review: Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group
Publication Date: October 14th, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Point of View: 1st Person & Feminine
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Death, Magical Realism, Feminism

---

BLURB:

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last–a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities–but not for Glory, who has no plan for what’s next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way…until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions–and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying: A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do anything to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

Maybe it’s a good thing that we’re not able to see into the future.

It sure made Glory O’Brien and her friend Ellie’s lives a thousand times more stressful and complicated.

But then again, who drinks the remnants of a dead bat anyway? There’s a low risk we’re going to become seers, so don’t worry.

Glory O’Brien’s mother committed suicide when she was little. She literally shoved her head inside an oven and KABOOM. But Glory feels as if her mother is everywhere still, because of the pictures around the house that she took.

And when she is able to see Ellie’s potential offspring into the future but not hers, her fear that one day she may do something similar to what her mother did floods her.

This is a fascinating story. Actually, I find all of A.S. King’s novels fascinating. I had my reservations—magical realism is a huge hit or miss genre for me—but there’s no doubt to be had when it comes to this author.

Aside from tackling the subjects of death, real friendship, the future and what we should be allowed to peak into, it also broaches topics like feminism, sexuality and justice. What should she do about everything negative she sees of the future? Should she try to prevent it? Would YOU?

It’s a book that makes you think, even if you don’t want to. A.S. King if going to think for you, but only to some extent. Plus it’s a very meaningful read, because it leaves you feeling fuller than you were before.

Follow me on:

Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Google+ | Goodreads | Bloglovin’