All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Pages: 360
Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens
Genre: Science Fiction Thriller
Notes for Parents: There is some coarse language and violence, and a few mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has lover her best friend, James, since they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it…at least, not as the girl she once was. Em and Marina are in a race against time that only one of them can win.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author abandoned her attempt at writing a sequel because she didn’t feel she could do it justice.

What’s good?

Political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and the time travel paradox are just a few things that make this fast-paced thriller exciting. Using alternating viewpoints (sort of – you’ll see), this is an intense story that keeps the reader guessing. The tightly-woven plot wends around a vague threat that is skillfully revealed with plenty of exhilarating action and just the right amounts of mystery and romance. As the story unfolds, the reader witnesses exactly how and why the characters change and grow and how their relationships are altered by circumstances. The ending is satisfying and bittersweet.
Best Part: Finn.

What isn’t good?

The plot is ambitious and the ideas are quite complex so it may lose some readers. The science behind the theory of time travel isn’t very solid, but a little suspension of disbelief is required for most science fiction stories anyway. A few parts get a little teenage angst-ish, especially at the beginning, but luckily it never overpowers the story.
Worst part: There are still a few parts that I didn’t really understand.

Recommendation þþþþo

This is an excellent example of a “page turner.” It was well-written with a good balance of action, mystery, romance and humor. I especially like how time travel is used as a vehicle rather than a gimmick, creating a strong sense of urgency as the characters try to figure out what they have to do to alter the future. I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author. Recommended!

Terrill, Cristin. All Our Yesterdays. Los Angeles: Hyperion, 2013.