The Memory of Forgotten Things

Sophia remembers her mother in impossible ways, fragments of a life that never was after her mom died when she was six. But the images are so vivid that Sophia, now 12, is convinced they’re real. During a group project, Sophia discovers that a boy from school has similar prophetic visions and that they share a birth date. They join forces with another classmate, whose sister died at 17, to unravel the mystical science at work during a partial eclipse and try to find a way to cross over into a parallel world. In this moving examination of life-altering moments, explored through the “what if” lens of an alternate universe, Zhang guides readers and the trio of misfit characters through the important lessons of letting go, the myth that there’s a better life waiting somewhere else, and the unintended consequences of each action and reaction. Against this vivid yet otherworldly backdrop, Sophia embraces everything she’s missing while taking a closer look at what she would sacrifice in the exchange for a different reality. Ultimately, Zhang’s story is filled with real-world lessons on compassion and kindness with a sci-fi twist—a skillfully rendered framing device for exploring deeper issues of loss, longing, and acceptance. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong. (May) [/em]