The Memory of Forgotten Things

by Kat Zhang

One of the happiest memories twelve-year-old Sophia Wallace has is of her tenth birthday. Her mother made her a cake that year—and not a cake from a box-mix, but from scratch. She remembers the way the frosting tasted, the way the pink sugar roses dissolved on her tongue.

This memory, and a scant few others like it, is all Sophia has of her mother, so she keeps them close. She keeps them secret, too. Because as paltry as these memories are, she shouldn’t have them at all.

The truth is, Sophia Wallace’s mother died when she was six years old. But that isn’t how she remembers it. Not always.

Sophia has never told anyone about her unusual memories—snapshots of a past that never happened. But everything changes when Sophia gets assigned a school research project on solar eclipses. She becomes convinced that the upcoming solar eclipse will grant her the opportunity to make her alternate life come true, to enter a world where her mother never died.

With the help of two misfit boys, she must figure out a way to bring her mother back to her—before the opportunity is lost forever.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, Magical Realism

Unknown Binding

First published May 15, 2018

About the author

*Please do not message me through Goodreads! Instead, email me at katzhang3 AT gmail DOT com. I don't get on Goodreads often to check messages! Thank you :) *


Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.

By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.

Her two upcoming Middle Grade novels will be released in 2017 and 2018 with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about parallel universes (again), solar eclipses, and misfit children.

Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Aladdin and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this middle grade novel.

Sophia is in the seventh grade and has memory flashes of her mom, but her mom died before these things occurred. She cherishes these Memories and they make her want to be with her mom even more. Then she gets to know DJ. They were born on the same day--the day of a partial eclipse--and he has a book full of sketches of a man he has never met. This man is his stepdad in his Memories. Add in a boy named Luke who is acting out because he misses the big sister who died in a car accident and you have the trifecta of friends. These friends talk to a reclusive neighbor of Luke's who introduces them to the concept of the parallel universe. They begin to wonder if they can cross over into the universe of their memories and can it happen on the day of the upcoming total eclipse? For fans of Fringe and deja' vu.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Memory of Forgotten Things tackles the subject of grief in a really fascinating way, and it does so without getting to heavy. The book intentionally makes you question the genre, initially seeming to be possibly fantasy, sci fi, or magical realism.

Sophia has memories of her dead mother, but she also has Memories of her mother. She gets these visions of times spent with her mom that didn't actually happen. After getting to know DJ, a boy in her class, who has similar visions of a stepdad he's never met, the two realize there's a connection to the solar eclipse on their shared birthday. They proceed to research the possibility, along with third classmate Luke who is mourning the death of his sister, of getting their loved ones back (or merely here in DJ's case).

The plot ends up going to a "be careful what you wish for" place, which while effective is also rather hackneyed. That shouldn't be a problem for younger readers, however. It's a good, diverse novel about grief that reminds you of all the good things you still have and the impossibility of knowing where life could have gone otherwise.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC compliments of Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

What if you felt constrained by a small town's view of who you are or what your family history was? What if you had to adjust to a new normal, forced to cope in your own broken way? And what about grief--those waves of emotion always at the edge waiting to come crashing in on you...

What if you had a shot at rewriting history? Would you take it?

Beautifully written, stitched together so well that the reader is constantly guessing. I gulped this one down, so ready to find out what happened to these three friends. Both boys and girls will buy into The Memory of Forgotten Things, thanks to the main character being a girl and the minor characters, her buddies, being boys.

Reminiscent of When You Reach Me, 11 Birthdays and My Diary from the Edge of the World, I cannot WAIT to introduce my readers to this fast-paced, time-warping read!

[Dorine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia's mother died when she was six, but that's not what some of her memories tell her. Instead, Sophia has sudden memories that involve her mom baking a birthday cake when she turned ten, or encouraging Sophia to sing a solo in the school choir at twelve. Sophia keeps her Memories a secret, holding on to them as tightly as possible.



Then she gets put into a group project with DJ and finds out that she's not the only one who has memories of events that never happened. DJ has a sketchbook filled with drawings of the man who SHOULD have been his stepfather, but doesn't actually exist. As they work on their science project about solar eclipses they find out that they were both born on the same day, in the same hospital, during the last partial solar eclipse. Could their birth make them special? Could they perhaps be able to see into an alternative universe?



With the Totality eclipse coming up in just days, Sophia and DJ are both determined to find a way to cross into their alternate universes and live the lives they believe they were meant to have. But, what will happen to the world they leave behind? Will they simply switch roles with their other selves? What if everything is not as perfect as they think it will be? Will they be willing to pay the price for the switch?



My Thoughts- (SPOILERS)



This is a fabulous story with a slight fantasy/science twist. I found it heartwarming that Sophia had memories of her mother existing even after she died. How special would that be? The hole that was left by her mother's death has a way to heal. Sophia's character is great. She is brave and courageous and ready to believe in the what ifs of life. Her determination is what allows herself and DJ to piece together the mystery of their birth and find other people that might have clues about alternate dimensions.



The idea of alternate dimensions is easily written into the story in a way that seems natural and not all mumble jumble. The actual idea that there could be a thinning between worlds is plausible and as you read it makes sense to the plot. Though the fantasy/science aspect is there, I found the book really to be about heart and soul. You care about Sophia and her mother. You feel Sophia's desires and fears and when the unusual happens, you cheer for her and don't think of it as being unrealistic.



The truth is that everything comes down to what happens when Sophia actually crosses over. She finds out that life doesn't run in predictable patterns. The realization that she might have to trade something for getting her mother back becomes a stark reality. Which life is really better? I was so thankful that the author went ahead and fulfilled Sophia's desire, to cross over and spend time with her mom. At the same time, the author does a fantastic job of letting the reader see how that world is not the one Sophia belongs in and after several precious days, gives her a choice of whether to stay or go home.



I enjoyed this read so much. It was heartwarming, but with a slight mystery to engage the curious. I'm giving it 5 stars!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Edelweiss Plus and the publishers for providing me with an advance eARC of this for review. All opinions are my own.

Sophia has memories of her mother baking her birthday cakes, coming to her choir performances, and giving her hugs, telling her everything will be OK. All normal things for a mother to do, except for the fact that Sophia's mom has been dead for almost 7 years. And she still gets new memories all the time. Glimpses into what could have been, or what is, in an alternate universe. For English class, Sophia, DJ, and Luke have to do a project on solar eclipses, which leads them to some very interesting discoveries: namely, that both Sophia and DJ (who were born on the last eclipse) have Memories. And they live in a town where the veil between the universes is thin. As the next solar eclipse approaches, they have to figure out if they want to try to cross into a different world and just what they are willing to risk from their lives now.

This was a perfectly OK read. I was initially disappointed because I was expecting more of a realistic story with some magical realism moments, NOT a science fiction tale about parallel universes. So, when I got over that misconception, I was able to enjoy the story more. It did feel a bit rushed, and some of the characters were underdeveloped, but it was something that I think quite a few MG readers will enjoy. A good purchase for those collections where patrons are interested in "light" sci-fi or as in introduction to the genre for more emerging readers.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you could, would you choose an alternate version of yourself? Would you trade the life you have, the universe that is uniquely yours, for another one? That is the question Sophia, Luke, and DJ face.
This book deals wonderfully with grief, acceptance, communication, and the choices we make about our unique circumstances. It's handles some really deep themes, all in a kid-appropriate way. I can't wait to talk about in our 4th and 5th grade Reading Club in a couple of weeks.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unexpected read. It’s a quiet book about childrens’ grief, adult depression and yearning with a touch of magical realism and sci-fi. Just shows, be careful what you wish for and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It centres around Sophia Wallace who seems like a totally normal girl, except that every so often she has a Memory which is impossible. She glimpses a world where her mother is still alive, and when she meets DJ she realizes that she isn't the only one with this special ability. Together they begin to unravel the mystery of why they can experience this other world, and with another boy from their class, Luke, they realize that everything might be connected to the upcoming total solar eclipse-- and the answers that they find are mysterious, surprising and astounding.

I have been a fan of Kat Zhang's books for a long time, and I think that this one is the best one yet. It has the right amount of drama, suspense and mystery, along with a super relatable protagonist who really makes you feel everything that she is feeling. I loved the quick pace of the plot, it makes it perfect for the middle grade genre. There were also enough subplots to add depth and yet not take away from the main story.

I really, really, really liked "The Memory of Forgotten Things" and as such I rate it five stars.

[Shenwei · Rating 4 out of 5]

a suspenseful but thought provoking story about regret, parallel universes, and how to grapple with the what ifs in the wake of loss

[Sara-Zoe Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character Sophia is realistic in her grief - not perfect, and not really ok. Overall this book was just ok to me because some aspects were really unsatisfying. 12/30 #30booksummer

[Van (Short & Sweet Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The Memory of Forgotten Things was such a sweet and touching Middle Grade novel. The book is centered around Sophia, a twelve-year-old girl who is having memories of her mom; memories when she was 9, 10, 11…except her mom passed away when Sophia was only six-years-old. So the question is, how is this possible? With the help of two of Sophia’s classmates they find a correlation between the Memories and the solar eclipse…and the possibility of bringing back their loved ones.

The Memory of Forgotten Things dealt with some heavy issues such as death, grief and if given the chance to change the past/future, would you? Or should you? I thought Zhang tackled the topics and packaged it in such a way that was easy to understand and was very well written; especially for the targeted audience. While Sophia is the main character, her fellow classmates; Luke and DJ both had to deal with a family member’s death as well. It was interesting to see how children dealt with death and seeing the aftermath of it of how it affected the family life/those that were left behind. I liked the trio of characters and found them mature for their age. In some scenes it felt as if the children were more mature and understanding than their own parents. For example in Sophia’s case, after the death of her mom, her dad spent his days working or in a daze and asleep. And he depended more on Sophia than the other way around as if the roles were reversed.

I really enjoyed The Memory of Forgotten Things, its a story about learning to move on, acceptance, family and friendship. However, it should be noted that this book is an iota part magic/science-fiction. I initially thought this would fall under magic realism (similar to Bridge to Terabithia) but Zhang surprised me and took it to the next level incorporating fringe science, the theory of parallel universes…do they exist? Is there multiple worlds out there with different variation of ourselves? So just a heads up to those interested in reading The Memory of Forgotten Things. Some reviewers were surprised by this and felt mislead. But I am all for magic/sci-fi and actually liked the unexpectedness of it all. I highly recommend this standalone novel to everyone. It definitely poses a lot to think about!

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a touch of magic and tons of heart, this is a book which grabs, makes the reader dream and doesn't let go.

Sophia is in the seventh grade. Her mother died when she was six, but memory flashes allow her to see events with her mother up until she was much older than that. These flashes are too familiar and vivid to be dreams, yet they can't be reality. At least, not the one she knows. When an eclipse nears, she begins to suspect her memories are more than just dreams. Maybe there's even the chance she can have a life with a mother who didn't die.

The author does a wonderful job at touching upon some difficult themes and bringing them home for the intended audience, while still incorporating a dust of magic/science fiction and hope. Sophia lost her mother and still deals with the effects years after it happened. But this story isn't only about Sophia. She becomes friends with DJ and Luke, both who have suffered losses of their own. The kids come across mature, sometimes very mature, but usually natural. They see life from a twelve-year-old's view and deal with familiar issues and thoughts. This allows the light science fiction elements to flow in seamlessly and make it a great read for both girls and boys ages nine to twelve.

After reading the blurb, I assumed this would hit the magical realism arena, but the author does go a step farther and allows questions concerning dimensions and time to open up. It has a surprise ending, but one very fitting for the tale. This is the kind of book which grabs the heart, keeps a quick enough pace never to grow boring and allows the reader to think and consider possibilities which they might not have considered before.

I received a complimentary copy and found the tale so touching and packed with imagination that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.

[Sandra Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school book, loss, seeking answers, fantasy
Sophia Walker had Memories. Not ordinary memories, but Memories that she knows are not real or can they be. Sophia remembers little about her Mother, as she died when she was six, but sometimes she has these thoughts about her Mom that almost seem real. These Memories put her into an almost trancelike state. On day at school she watched classmate DJ as he seems to experience the same trancelike event. She confides in him and they realize that they both were both born on the last full eclipse.
So sets the search for answers or both of them, Sophie's dead mother, and DJ's never existed step-father. I realize that this sounds pretty out there, but it is written with such love, such care for the characters. And another reason I like it is because it blends with my weird theory of parallel universes. Like when there was the proverbial split in the road and you take the right, but what if -in another universe- you took the left?
In the end it is about friendship, and loss, and being happy with where you are in life. We all could be a little more cognizant of the happiness of the here and now.
"Is this world really so bad, you gotta leave it for another? Sure not everything turns out the way you'd want. But it is the way it is." -Mae
Grief, Sophia thought, was a funny thing. A horrible thing, she wanted to add, but after a moment, she wasn't sure she was right. She wasn't sure if grief could be called a good or bad thing--it simply was. It was what happened when you love someone, and then lost them. The loving someone part--that was good. And the losing them part--that was awful. But the grief--the grief was just waves in the ocean, ...An aftereffect. A consequence. -Sophie's thoughts

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

sophia has memories of her mother of a past that never happened before. she got them after her mom passed away when she was six. the world was giving her flashbacks of moments she has never personally experienced before. somehow, she met a schoolmate who has such flashbacks and shares the same birthday as her.

after guessing that maybe the upcoming eclipse could thin the lines of the universes, all sophia can think about is meeting her mother. sophia, dj, and luke will venture further into this theory even when none of the adults will believe them. throughout the novel, sophia developed friendships with a rebel and an artist. all of them are grieving or missing someone. what ifs peppered their minds and hence, they set out to find out for themselves–whether parallel universes do exist.

sophia finds out that the grass is not always greener on the other side. a painful inevitability that she needs to experience. the topics of family and grief are tight heavily together. sophia lost her mother at a young age yet she has weird deja vu-like moments of a parallel her living with a mother who is still alive. this false sense of hope can get confusing for young sophia who misses her mother, especially when she sees her father grieving by himself and refusing to talk about his late wife. nobody has it easy when a loved one dies and they tend to grief on their own without communicating with others.

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

I really liked this one. It reminds me a little bit of The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly which I read a couple years ago, but this worked a lot better for me. I liked that this was based more in science than magic. The kids spend time learning about real scientific concepts and they try to find answers for the reasons for their weird experiences.

I also really liked how the book handled grief. It’s the main theme of the book and really the important part of the story. It’s not a book that made me cry, but it’s very heavy on the healing theme. Sophia and her father are still struggling even though it’s been six years since the death of her mother. It’s a good message that grief doesn’t have a neat timeline. The way Sophia’s father’s mental health was handled is also great. He’s pretty clearly dealing with depression, and the book doesn’t demonize him for that, but it does point out that that’s scary for Sophia, especially because they don’t really talk about it. It’s a really good balance.

Overall, this is written just beautifully and I’d really recommend it.

Content notes: Grief, death of a parent, also Sophia gets hit by a car at one point. She’s fine, but it could be upsetting to sensitive readers.

[Nancy Groves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a middle grade or teen book, so an easy, quick read for me. The premise is quite interesting and could be explored in greater depth, perhaps, in a book geared at somewhat older readers. The idea is that two young teens discover that they both have strong, vivid Memories (the M is capitalized) of things that never happened, for example of a mom baking a cake for her daughter on a birthday that occurred several years after the mom died, or a caring stepfather in a family where the divorced mom has never remarried. They realize that this ability may be related to solar eclipses, and since a partial eclipse is about to be visible in their town, decide to seize the opportunity to transport themselves to a parallel world where the tragedies in their lives never happened. But if they can achieve that, will they find the happy ever after they long for, or will the parallel life come with its own set of problems? Will you be the same person you are in the original world, or someone shaped by different circumstances?And what happens in the world you left behind? Does the "other" you take your place, do you disappear without a trace, as if you'd never been born? It's an intriguing idea, dealt with too briefly.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written characters. Wish author would have dove more into why Sophia did not have any friends...but felt so tied to a place where she knew everybody?
The mysterious abandoned mill in some descriptions sounded like one big building and other descriptions it came off as a whole abandoned town?
Sophia talked about her town being small, but she took a city bus to get to the library or friends houses? ??
Had trouble forming a visual of the town and surroundings.
Character of Luke not explored enough. What happened to him?
Do that many terrible things ( fatal car accidents, cancer deaths, cheating abandoning husbands...) all happen at the same time in a small town?
The whole phenomenon around parallel universes not explored enough.
What happed to Mr. Scot?
Why did he disappear? I didn't understand vague explanation given.
Needed to know more about Mae. Her twist didnt make sense to me either.
Seems like this book could have been longer or made into 2 books to really explore some great ideas.
Ultimately I enjoyed The Power if Un more for this type of story.
I do think the writing and flow was good as it was a quick read.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia's mother died when Sophia was 6. So how is it possible for Sophia to have memories of her mother after that? But she does. Every so often, she is hit with a Memory so strong and real feeling that it needs to be spelled with a capital M. When she is assigned a group project on the upcoming solar eclipse, she meets another boy who has the same kind of Memories, but his are of a step-father he never met. They realize that the frequency and strength of the Memories is increasing as the solar eclipse draws nearer. Is it possible that there is a parallel universe where Sophia's mother didn't die? Along with the third member of their group, they set off to find the world where things worked out differently. Recommended for anyone who ever said, "what if," grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally finished this-it took me far longer than expected. I might not have been fully in the mood for this particular story. But I also was frustrated with the characters and relationships. I wanted more. More of Sophia’s Memories, more of Sophia and her dad-I didn’t realize they had some really good times in their relationship until pretty close to the end of the book. More of Sophia and DJ and Luke and why/how they felt connected-more conversations between them, rather than again, at the end of the book a reference to all these conversations Sophia and DJ evidently shared. More of DJ’s and Luke’s stories and experiences. There was just enough backstory on each of them to make it frustrating that the bulk of the book was Sophia’s story. Why bother introducing them and providing skeleton stories for each if you’re not going to flesh them out?

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author & publisher for providing our #bookexpedition group an ARC of this book for review.

Sophia has Memories of her mother baking her a birthday cake for her tenth birthday; attending her choir concert where she sings a solo. But these Memories shouldn’t exist, because Sophia’s Mom died when she was 6 years old.

Convinced these Memories, which are increasing and becoming more powerful, are related to the approaching solar eclipse, Sophia is determined to figure out exactly what is going on. Paired up on a project with DJ and Luke, two boys who have had their own share of grief, the trio is intent on unraveling the mystical science surrounding them.

For fans of magical realism with lessons on compassion and kindness.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. What if you had memories from a different life? A life where you mother isn't dead. Sophia does and as events unfold, she becomes convinced the upcoming solar eclipse is the key to finding a way to enter that alternate world. And what consequences are there if she does?

An intriguing and touching story of family and friendship built around the idea of parallel or alternate universes, a science fiction theme with which many authors have played. Yet Zhang manages to keep it fresh and engaging, perhaps because the central focus is on her young characters' motivations. The idea of wanting to reconnect with a lost loved one is a very relatable one--especially for children. Drawing on the recent eclipse craze doesn't hurt either. definitely recommended.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intriguing novel about a girl and her friends who decide to attempt to travel to parallel universes on the solar eclipse. Sophia has Memories she cannot understand of a life with her dead mother she never had. It isn’t until she discovers that DJ, a classmate, has the same kind of Memories and they are partnered with a boy named Luke for a class project that they encounter a man named Mr. Scot who has a done of research on solar eclipses that she starts to make sense of them. But will going to a parallel universe really be what she desires? Find out by reading this novel about love, loss, pain, and friendship.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't really a review, but I just wanted to express how incredibly good this book is. It was recommended to me by my best friend, and like all her recommendations, it was perfect. Kind of creepy how similar it was to my own life, there were a LOT of specific parallels, but it was indeed thought-provoking and I liked how a simple book could be so deep.

Also, Kat Zhang's writing style is like poetry. I love the flow. There were too many portions, paragraphs or sentences, that I had to save because they were perfectly written. (It makes sense because she writes poetry according to the "About the Author" section in the back)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle school science-fiction -- both the story itself, and the way it was written. Sophia Wallace believes she has found a way to journey to a parallel universe -- a universe where her mother is still alive. But when she enters that universe, she discovers that there are other things that are different in her new world -- things she hadn't considered. And this new universe wants her out! Can she ever get back home?

Zhang's writing is fast-paced and plot-driven. Her book is a page-turner, and lots of fun to read. I would recommend it to teenage science-fiction lovers. There's nothing like a parallel universe to get the imagination going!

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are memories ( a fleeting moment of what you did last week) and then there are MEMORIES( summer 1974 on the beach feeling the ocean air) Beautifully written, this tells the story of friends Sophie, DJ, and Luke.Sophie's mother died when Sophie was six and Luke's sister was killed in a car crash. Sophie's and DJ's birth occurred the night of a solar eclipse and strange things happened around town. Sophie starts to have strong memories of her mother and for a brief moment she goes into an alternate universe. Zhang brilliantly asks the question how would you rewrite your own history?

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, touching, and somewhat, sad story. Sophia keeps having memories of her mother of events that happened when she was 10 years old, 11 years old, etc, yet her mother died when she was 6 years old. How could this be? She begins to wonder if she could change things. But if she can, should she? She makes two friends along the way who help her in her quest. It's interesting how things come together. I almost couldn't figure out how I wanted things to end up. I think the story teaches that life is hard sometimes, but there are people who can help us cope if we will let them.

[Marlene Scholfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read.. I am just getting around to putting in my review but I finished this before our home quarantine. I liked this book about a girl who was having memories of her mother who had passed away when she was only six. But these were memories that seemed real. The author did a great job of linking this connection the memories to a solar eclipse that occurred when she was born and was getting ready to happen again. The girl gets to travel between these parallel dimensions but with one catch. This was a great read.. thanks for the recommendation Sandra.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an egalley from Netgalley in return for my honest review.*
Appropriate for upper elementary.
Sophia lost her moth when she was six, but she has Memories of her mother after that. Memories of time with her mother that should exist. She meets up with DJ and discovers that he has the same kind of Memories. After teaming up with Luke they seek out a way to change what they are missing in their lives.

[Ms. Heres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I was expecting...but that's not a bad thing. Thirteen-year-old Sophia has Memories of her mother that never actually happened because her mom passed away when she was six. When she discovers a classmate who has similar memories, and that they share a birth date that was during a solar eclipse, she begins to wonder what this could mean...and if it's possible that those Memories are somehow real.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.5 stars for the creativity of the story, 2.5 for the writing, 3.5 average.
I loved a lot about this book (parallel universes, story about family and friendship), but I couldn't get over the YA writing. I found myself rolling my eyes at how the story progressed (everything worked so perfectly, the exact right people met at the right time, etc), but overall I felt it was worth reading anyway because the story was really interesting.