Review Detail

THIS AGAIN? by Adam Borba is a middle-grade time travel story in which Noah tries to repair the worst day of his life. He’s never been able to measure up to his brother’s legacy, and now is his chance. If he gets elected as class president, that would prove to everyone, including himself, that he’s just as good. The problem is his campaign isn’t going as well as he’d like, until he gets help from an unexpected place, himself from the future. Future Noah knows exactly what present Noah needs to do to win, but when events start shifting, like his scientist parents not discovering the key to time travel, present Noah begins to wonder if his future self really does have all the answers.

This book is the perfect example of a genre-blend well-executed. Borba does a fantastic job at giving us a contemporary story with relatable issues that any human faces, not just a middle-grader, and then weaves in the science fiction as a tool for his main character to have important realizations and lessons. My favorite part of this story is what Noah comes to understand once he moves through the ultimate embarrassing moment and sees how life looks on the other side. It’s such a great reminder for us all, and by using time travel as a device, we get to this moment in such a unique, entertaining way that allows the message to land organically.

I also really enjoy the other themes explored in this book, such as wanting to fit in and how far is too far to get what you want. These ideas are universal, and experiencing them through Noah’s eyes helps to put some choices into perspective. Borba’s tagline, “The only thing trickier than time travel is middle school,” is the best summation of Noah’s experience and journey we go on in this story.

Aside from that, what makes a signature Adam Borba book is the voice. He always nails it from the first page, and it makes the reading such a compelling delight. With his background in film, it’s easy to visualize all the scenes, as the reader is dropped right in the action. Noah’s also such a lovable character, despite being his own worst enemy at times, and Borba does a great job at making us root for him.

Overall, THIS AGAIN? is another great book from Adam Borba, proving he knows how to deliver a fantastic story again and again. Fans of his won’t be disappointed, and I’d love to see future stories set in this world!