The Long Wait for Tomorrow

In this thoughtful exploration of free will versus predestination, high school senior Patrick, a talented musician, barely registers on his parents' radar. They're unable to move past the death of Patrick's younger brother and, like everyone else in Patrick's town, they're enraptured by his best friend, Kelly, a golden boy and star quarterback headed to Ohio State on a football scholarship. That is, until the day Kelly wakes up a changed man. Unable to remember specific details about the present, filled with an irrational, newfound joy and possessing traits he lacked before (including a love of coffee and a talent for shooting pool), this Kelly seems determined to live life to the fullest. He also claims he's from 20 years in the future, where he is in a mental institution. As Patrick, Kelly and his girlfriend, Jenna, work to answer these questions, they race against the clock to prevent a tragedy that could affect all of their futures. Though the crisis at the end is somewhat predictable, Dorfman's (Playing It Cool) prose is magnetic and will keep readers guessing alongside his protagonists. Ages 12âup.

December 1, 2009
Gr 8 Up-Patrick, sidekick to star quarterback Kelly, learns that destiny is not immutable when his buddy awakes one morning a different person than the entitled, self-absorbed jock he's always been. Kelly, it seems, has come back through time from his future 40-year-old body to his 18-year-old self in suburban Arizona. He intends to prevent a tragedy caused by his arrogant younger self's bullying a science nerd, but altering his normal behavior upsets the balance around him, especially the fragile equilibrium between his doting cheerleader girlfriend, Jenna, and Patrick, his obsequious shadow. An ambitious novel with a fascinating premise and rife with cinematic violence and sexy people, this story unfortunately relies too heavily upon well-explored stereotypes and clichés, riddling the plot with laughable coincidences and confusing out-of-character moments. Tidbits of creative phrases ("a train let out a nearly extinct plea from miles away") stand out distinctly amid writing otherwise characterized by sameness in dialogue and an uninspired narrator's voice."Rhona Campbell, Washington, DC Public Library"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2009
Grades 9-12 After a brutal opening in which a group of high-school football players torment a nerd, Dorfman changes tone so rapidly its initially disorienting. We are introduced to two of the tormentors: Kelly, the popular quarterback headed to future glories at Ohio State, and his more introspective pal, Patrick. Both Patrick and Jenna, Kellys girlfriend, realize that Kelly is a jerk, but hes also a force of nature neither of them are up to deflecting. The next morning, however, Kelly wakes up a new man. He buys Patrick expensive gifts. He kisses Jenna like he means it. Hes what they dub the New Kelly McDermotta pleasant change until Kelly mentions that he is a 40-year-old version of himself who has time-traveled in from a mental institution. Dorfmans leisurely unveiling of information sometimes seems counterproductive, but his infectious, last-day-of-school vibe effectively clears the way for a conclusion every bit as unexpectedly ferocious as the opening chapter. Looking for humor? Poignancy? Mind-bending time theories? Youve come to the right book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
Star high school quarterback Kelly reveals to his best friend and girlfriend that he is actually an older version of himself trapped in his younger body. He's trying to prevent a tragedy that will alter the course of their lives. The story's slow pacing detracts somewhat from an intriguing and original premise.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)