Right Back at You

Ever since his father abandoned the family and his school bully upped the ante on his taunting, middle schooler Mason has been having a tough time. When his therapist asks him to “write a letter to anybody or nobody,” Mason addresses his correspondence to Albert Einstein, hoping the theoretical physicist can use time travel to “transport me to a time and place where things aren’t as sucky.” He then throws the letter in his closet and, to his surprise, receives a response the next day from someone named Talia. Even stranger is that, while Mason lives in 2023 New York City, Talia purportedly hails from 1987 western Pennsylvania. Soon, the 12-year-olds are communicating regularly across space and time via their closets, and Mason learns that Talia is teased for being Jewish, her best friend is freezing her out, and the baseball coach won’t let her try out for the team because she’s a girl. Mackler (Not if I Can Help It) moves the plot along swiftly and satisfyingly as the resourceful white-cued protagonists use the time difference to encourage each other to move beyond their comfort zones. Ages 9–12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Mar.)