Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 26th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's"divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.
His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.
The pair must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future.
Review: This is a very unique story of a young boy and his very special ability. Ade can see the future but the only catch is, he has to knock himself out in order to do it. He's seventeen, in high school, and gets a lot of attention for his actions. People know what he can do and they each have different reactions to his dangerous hobby. For a while, Ade can only focus on one of his many visions. It involves a girl he will meet at school after she sings on a table and comes over to sing to him. He knows this will be the love of his life.
Vauxhall shows up right on time and she is more complex than Ade could have thought. Ade has his own addiction to the buzz-feeling of his visions, but he soon finds out Vaux has a buzz of her own and they are both terribly addicted.
As they get closer, Ade learns that their friend Jimmy is going to die and he thinks he is the one to kill him. He knows that you can't mess with the future but it seems impossible to let this vision happen.
When Future Imperfect begins we get to know Ade and his ability. I admit that it was difficult to read about his dangerous, high-risk behaviors. He is obviously addicted to the high he receives after experiencing a vision; which can be linked to how teens feel after doing drugs or drinking. So this book does look into the dynamics of an addiction.
I enjoyed the new spin this book puts on the supernatural. Books where an individual has a special ability may not be rare, but the way it is presented in this book makes it very uncommon. I do wish I would have had a stronger connection to the characters. I wanted to feel more compassion for Ade and Vaux as they took their journey together.
The book shifts towards the middle and we go from the relationship of Ade and Vaux to a more complete understanding of the supernatural aspects they are dealing with. Future Imperfect is a very raw, tough story of a young boy dealing with more problems than most. His addiction, love life, and supernatural enemies bring power to this fascinating story.
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