Windows on the World

by Andrea White

"Now, I want all of you to try to imagine a world where you could use a machine to go back in time and save lives any time you wanted," General Mungo said. "How would you change our worlds?"
Thirteen-year-old Shama Katooee hasn't had an easy life: an orphan, she must work and dodge gangs while attending Teleschool with millions of other children in LowCity, DC in 2083. One day her life turns upside down: she meets her best friend, a bird named Deenay, and is mysteriously selected to attend the Chronos Academy in UpCity, where privileged children of GodZillionaires are trained in the practice of Time Watch. Shama learns how to operate a QuanTime machine and how to get along with kids who come from very different backgrounds than her own. While trying to solve the mystery of why she was chosen, Shama is being trained for the ultimate mission: saving her own life.

Genres: Science Fiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Since 2006, Andrea as published four books written for middle school readers. Surviving Antarctica was selected for the Bluebonnet list and a handful of other state lists, and the Texas State Reading Association awarded it the Golden Spur award for the best book by a Texas author. In 2012, Windows on the World won the Spirit of Texas award for middle school fiction.

For four years Andrea worked full-time at the Houston Chronicle, the daily for the fourth largest city in the country. One of her editorials was featured in a package that ranked as finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Public Service in 2017.

She lives in Houston, TX with her husband, former Mayor Bill White.

Reviews

[KitCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of time travel is always fun and I enjoyed this version of it. Tele school is totally an option now so it didn't seem far fetched that will take over the future. The book also shows a continued delineation between economic classes into the future. It's dystopia with some hope.

Centering the book around 9/11 seems less relevant as a super cultural event, considering the pandemic presently happening, but I can see how it made sense.

Interesting Young Adult Fiction.

[Graceann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even a few days after finishing this book, I'm still mulling over how I feel about it. I didn't hate it - I didn't love it, either. I had to make myself sit down to get through the final 30 pages or so, just so that it could be completed, but I didn't buy the premise and I didn't think (science fiction or not) that it was terribly plausible with regard to the lead character's motivations or behavior.

I can't even get into the plot holes big enough for a truck to drive through, and the sheer impossibilities that set up the story. The characters, other than Shama and Maye seem fairly interchangeable, especially the adults. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading Windows on the World, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, either.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read much science fiction these days, but I was completely engaged in this book. White creates an interesting, futuristic world where the haves and the have-nots are divided. When Shama Katooee is sent to Chronos Academy in UpCity, she is faced with finding her own way in a world that is completely unfamiliar to her. I like the details White adds, about machines and foods, that made this new world feel real. The ending, which involves a time machine and 9/11, will keep readers thinking long after they've turned the last page.

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, I liked a lot of the time travel theory and the futuristic world that the author set up was kind of fun, but I wasn't attached or excited at all about the characters and their goals. Most of them seem to be stereotypes just thrown in to serve their one or two lines and then get out of the way.

This was an okay read, but not one I'd recommend to anybody.

[Juliana · Rating 2 out of 5]

From Namelos press. I had a hard time getting through it. A very simplistic, odd story; it lacked depth and clarity. Some of the dialogue and actions of the main character, Shama, were confusing and unbelievable. The best part was the story of Maye in NYC.

[Becky37042 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book. I thought the ending was a little ambiguous, but maybe that's because there will be other stories set in UpCity.

[Lauren Koop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not feeling this book ... It wasn't bad but wasn't good either

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

cant put it down! so suspensful !