When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller is a unique, clever, and layered story about three tweens/teens navigating the ups and downs of seventh grade in modern day Seattle during a time when raging wildfires had covered the city in smoke. I will admit that, based on the title and cover art, I thought I would be reading a dystopian novel where climate change had ravaged society as we know it. But, this is very much realistic fiction with perhaps a pinch of magic realism. I, of course, loved the Seattle setting, but what I really loved was the clever and subtle ways in which the author wove in modern day issues facing teens with issues facing greater society such as racial issues, climate change, indigenous history, and the concept of nature, especially trees, as very much alive and with stories to tell.
The novel centers on three seventh graders, Nomi, Vi, and Arthur. The three were once inseparable, but the group as since fractured with Arthur now hanging out with the popular boys. The kids had found a book of poems that seemed to be prophecies that all came true. The last and final prophecy seems to be coming true, which predicts, in part, “a girl who burns, a boy who breaks,” and Nomi is determined to find the sequel to the book to figure out what to do next. The kids join together to find the book, but amidst this backdrop, very real middle school problems are cropping up for them all: changing friendships and relationships, questions about identity, social media use, personal photos shared via SnapChat, and more.
It’s all woven together beautifully and makes for an enjoyable, thought-provoking, and enduring read. I recommend When Tomorrow Burns for middle grade readers ages 12-14.
WHAT I LIKED
- The weaving together of multiple issues in a unique way
- The nuanced and interesting middle school dilemmas that are raised
- Really interesting, relatable characters
Have you read When Tomorrow Burns? What did you think?
Birdie's Bookshelf 