Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

by A.S. King

[Angie]

When a book starts off with two girls drinking a bat--not bat blood, the actual bat--you know the book is going to be something special. And Glory O'Brien's History of the Future is exactly that. Glory is a few days from graduating high school and has no idea what she's doing with her life. She has no plans for college, or a job, or even a graduation party. She's just taking pictures, and wondering if she's going to turn out like her mother who committed suicide. Then, she and her best friend drink the bat, and both girls now have visions whenever they look someone in the eyes. They see the past and the future, but Glory can't see her own, and she doesn't see herself when she looks at her father's. But even more concerning is what she does see.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future shows an absolutely horrifying future. Women's rights have been completely taken away after they finally achieved equal pay. What should be a future of equality has set the country back so far that it's frightening. Glory sees glimpses of this future as she sees people's grandchildren and children dealing with it. There's another Civil War, the country is split, and women are living in trees to avoid the government. This future felt real. I know there are people who feel the way the people in charge of this future do, and that scares me. A lot.

I was a bit worried that Glory O'Brien's History of the Future would become preachy. Ultimately it is a feminist story, but the author made it work. I didn't feel like this was her shoving ideals down my throat, although they are ones I whole-heartedly agree with. It's not like Glory just magically starts seeing the loss of women's rights. Ellie starts seeing "hippie shit." The girls are shown what they're interested in. It isn't random or pushy. It just is, and I was thankful for that, since it makes the book more approachable, but still meaningful.

In addition to the feminist and political themes, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future also deals with that transitional time between teen and adult. Glory has no clue what she's doing after high school. Ellie wants to get away from her commune, but has no plans beyond that either. It also deals with grief to an extent, and moving on with your life in the wake of misery. And of course, the mark we leave on the world and others. We don't live in a bubble; our actions affect others.

I really enjoyed Glory O'Brien's History of the Future and it's definitely something I think everyone should read. It's messages are important, and it's just a super creative book.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.