I crossed off another book for my goal to read more parallel-universe-stories this year with A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray.  I madly love this premise (which is sort of a given with a reading goal this specific), and the book came close to living up to it!

Marguerite has grown up surrounded by cutting-edge science and transdimensional theory.  Her parents are the leading scientists on the theory, and their research assistants have always been like extra siblings…though eighteen-year-old Marguerite is kind of crushing on both current assistants, Theo and Paul.  When Marguerite’s father is killed and Paul, apparently guilty of the murder, disappears between dimensions, Marguerite and Theo set off in pursuit.  It doesn’t take long for Marguerite to realize that she doesn’t have the full story–and that she can’t be sure who to trust.

This book is fantastic in some ways, a little disappointing in others.  One small thing I love: Marguerite’s mother is the genius scientist.  Her father too, but it’s clear he’s supporting her mother’s work, and there’s a lot about how smart her mom is without even a whisper of comment on her gender.  Nice reversal of the gender stereotypes and normalizing women in science.

On a larger thing, I love it that Marguerite is running through multiple dimensions and multiple versions of her life.  When she enters a new dimension, she occupies the body of her other self in that dimension.  She gets glimpses of who she is and what her life is like in very different worlds, which is fascinating. Continue reading “Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You” →