The Upper World

Nominated for the Bristol Teen Book Awards 2023

Science fiction set in a London high school from two points in time. (Told from two perspectives, this works well. The story unfolds well keeping the reader interested. The physics could put off some readers but the concepts are quite well covered. Satisfying conclusion.

On the whole I enjoyed this book, I think students who enjoyed the Garvie Smith novels would like this.

In our library it is 14+

I really liked it. Its a fiction book. I love fiction books. I enjoyed the whole book. I would recommend it and could read it over and over again

This book was an intriguing mix of science fiction and actual hard science through Physics. Mind-bending time travel with lots of complex plot points and twists, this was a book that kept you very engaged throughout, and would appeal widely to teens and young adults of all ages.

An epic read, VERY difficult to put down and I cannot wait to see how this transfers to the screen in its upcoming adaptation for Netflix. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this before publication in exchange for my thoughts.
The Upper World is a place alluded to by a number of people. Nobody is convinced of its existence, and those who talk of it are not of the best mental health. The Upper World is a place that seems to exist outside our reality, where time effectively stops and where there is always the chance to affect events in the real world.
This story is mind-bending in the best possible way. It unashamedly revels in its nerd-factor, delights in the depiction of its teen characters and their lives, and yet the thing I found more challenging to read and understand was the language used between some of the characters. With the help of my own teenage sons, the finer points were explained and I could focus on working out the details of the story.
The main focus is Esso in the present, and then Rhia sixteen years in the future (who ends up meeting an adult Esso). These two characters are linked in a way that means they need each other for their stories to play out.
Our first meeting with Esso sets up a story like no other. After being involved in a car crash, Esso starts to see snatches of the future. He is desperate to do what he has to in order to protect someone close to him. To do this he needs Rhia…
That is as much detail as I can give. Trust me, this is a cleverly-plotted and engaging story that picks you up and spits you out once it’s all over.