This Is the Year

Muñoz’s debut teaches us what it means to be a human on Earth and how we keep surviving—together.
—Booklist (starred review)

[A] thoughtful read that ruminates on the precarious state of the world.
—Publishers Weekly

Deftly explores complex topics such as the climate crisis, single motherhood, grief, poverty, and predatory business practices that target vulnerable populations. An original storytelling style and post-apocalyptic setting make this coming-of-age novel a worthy and special read.
—Kirkus Reviews

A sad but hopeful look at our future if climate change continues to be ignored.
—School Library Journal

Juli’s apprehension about her personal future, opting for a route almost no one in her life approves of over college, and her planet’s future, which is increasingly less inhabitable, will resonate with teens also facing uncertain next steps with unstable job markets and increasingly warm temperatures.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A story of hope.
—BookPage

The novel is told in a lyrical blend of first-person narration and second-person addresses to Ofe, occasionally veering into verse as the protagonist explores her love of writing. Details such as the city’s de facto segregation by class and Juli’s volunteer beach cleanups create a frighteningly realistic vision of a state facing full-on climate disaster.
—The Horn Book