While You Were Gone

Gr 8 Up—A sequel to Now That You're Here (Knopf, 2014) that reflects what happens in the parallel universe from which the original Danny dropped in. Danny is living his miserable life in the Phoenix desert when the unthinkable happens: he is dropped into a parallel universe where his parents are alive, he has friends, and girls are always after him. In this alternate universe, also known as Phoenix, there is no more desert, no California, and no privacy. The government surveillance system, known as Spectrum, keeps close tabs on the citizens yet rebellion still exists. To combat this, the government introduces Skylar, an even more intrusive personal-surveillance system. With the help of the governor's daughter Eevee, Danny and his friends attempt to break the system, but the other Danny keeps trying to break through and take his place back home. Told in alternating perspectives, Danny and Eevee learn more about each other and themselves as the government mystery unravels. Nichols is clever in reimagining characters in the alternate universe, keeping readers entertained throughout. A great modern-day science fiction novel for fans of time travel or the television show Fringe.