The Upper World by Femi Fadugba
Published by HarperTeen on December 7, 2021
ISBN: 0063078597
Pages: 368
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

“The Upper World” by Femi Fadugba is a young adult science fiction novel that not only explains time travel to its readers but uses math and physics to do it in a way that is understandable. The book starts with one of the main characters, Esso, a teen in London who is on the verge of getting expelled and caught up in gang violence. During a few harrowing moments in his life, Esso seems to briefly travel into the future and see what is going to happen but is unable to change things.

The other main character, Rhia, is also a London teen, but she lives 15 years in the future from Esso’s time. When adult Esso shows up in her life as a math tutor, she discovers that he knew her missing mother and that he needs her to understand time travel. But why?

The novel is compelling and keeps you guessing about what is going to happen. The math sections about the speed of light and time travel are well explained, but still took me one or two times of rereading before I really understood it. Fadugba is a former science tutor with a master’s degree in physics from Oxford. The characters use British slang which may throw off American readers, but it’s understandable enough with context. A must buy for your young adult section if science fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.