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Future Me Saves the World
In this hilarious illustrated middle grade novel in the vein of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes, a boy’s time-travelling older self gives him an impossible convince his class to be nice to their substitute teacher…or risk the fate of the world.
Ethan seems like a normal ten-year-old, but he has a secret. It’s not that he’s the one who accidentally filled the sunblock container with glue last summer or that he cracked the screen on his sister’s phone and blamed it on their baby brother. (Those things may have happened, but they’ve got nothing on this.) No, Ethan’s secret is that he knows time travel is real—because his future self keeps coming back to visit him.
Lucky Ethan, right?
Wrong. Because when Ethan’s future self shows up, he tends to bring bad news, and he’s kind of bossy. (Not to mention he’s always wearing super weird clothes.) This time around, he’s asking Ethan to do one simple make sure today’s substitute teacher doesn’t quit, or else one day she’ll become an evil dictator who will destroy the planet. But his future self clearly forgot what fourth grade is like, because if there’s one thing Ethan’s class is great at (other than losing their homework), it’s tormenting substitute teachers…
Ethan seems like a normal ten-year-old, but he has a secret. It’s not that he’s the one who accidentally filled the sunblock container with glue last summer or that he cracked the screen on his sister’s phone and blamed it on their baby brother. (Those things may have happened, but they’ve got nothing on this.) No, Ethan’s secret is that he knows time travel is real—because his future self keeps coming back to visit him.
Lucky Ethan, right?
Wrong. Because when Ethan’s future self shows up, he tends to bring bad news, and he’s kind of bossy. (Not to mention he’s always wearing super weird clothes.) This time around, he’s asking Ethan to do one simple make sure today’s substitute teacher doesn’t quit, or else one day she’ll become an evil dictator who will destroy the planet. But his future self clearly forgot what fourth grade is like, because if there’s one thing Ethan’s class is great at (other than losing their homework), it’s tormenting substitute teachers…
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2025
6 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Leah Cypess
67 books811 followersI wrote my first story in first grade. The narrator was an ice-cream cone in the process of being eaten. In fourth grade, I wrote my first book, about a girl who gets shipwrecked on a desert island with her faithful and heroic dog (a rip-off of both The Black Stallion and all the Lassie movies, very impressive).
After selling my first story (Temple of Stone) while in high school, I gave in to my mother’s importuning to be practical and majored in biology at Brooklyn College. I then went to Columbia Law School and practiced law for almost two years at a large law firm in New York City. I kept writing and submitting in my spare time, and finally, a mere 15 years after my first short story acceptance, I sold my first novel to Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins).
I live in Silver Spring, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.) with my husband and four children.
After selling my first story (Temple of Stone) while in high school, I gave in to my mother’s importuning to be practical and majored in biology at Brooklyn College. I then went to Columbia Law School and practiced law for almost two years at a large law firm in New York City. I kept writing and submitting in my spare time, and finally, a mere 15 years after my first short story acceptance, I sold my first novel to Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins).
I live in Silver Spring, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.) with my husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 18, 2025
The low page count and frequent sketches, mixed with humor and time travel plot line, are likely to combine making this Leah Cypess work popular with a variety of middle grade readers who don’t have the time or inclination to tackle one of those 300-400 page science fiction titles.
Ethan is a 4th grade student who keeps having a unique visitor—himself, but from almost 20 years in the future. Future Ethan dresses oddly and babbles away with terms that are supposed to science, but sound like some sort of made up language and he always seems to have some calamity on his hands that needs young Ethan to do something to change the trajectory of the timeline. Today, 10 year old Ethan is tasked with making sure his class behaves for the substitute teacher so she doesn’t quit and turn to a life of evil dictatorship that will wreck havoc on everyone in a few decades. But Ethan’s class is a nightmare for subs and his best friend is usually the primary instigator! Tough spot for a kid but Ethan does his best, which isn’t nearly enough and has him hiding in the library where he begins to have conversation with new student Tamara, a struggling reader who could really use a friend.
Events in sure to be a hit with the grade 2-5 crowd include a spit wad war, a classroom full of kids who trick the sub into having a book discussion that turns out to be a bunch of yelling about the latest video game craze instead of book, a school-wide bout of food poisoning resulting in lots of descriptions of vomiting and stomach-clutching, plus plenty of friendship drama. Mixed in with all the over the top, no way this would happen in a real school, humor is a more subtle theme of how small kindnesses can help to make big changes in a person’s life but unless you really do meet a person from the future, you might never know what your words meant to someone. (For those who are really thinking, they might realize that the same is true for UNkind words and the harm they could do.)
My 3 star rating is mostly due to the fact that I am a rule-following adult who just doesn’t want to think about kids acting up in such a disrespectful way towards an adult who is just doing her best to do her job, but readers in the target age group are likely to enjoy this one far more than my rating indicates. With its profanity free text and no sexual content, librarians, parents and teachers should consider this one for their libraries, wherever they happen to be. Ethan is pictured as Caucasian on the cover and interior sketches, best friend Brian has hair that might indicate he is Black, but Cypess’ art style shows all people as having white skin, including the girl in a hijab standing in line at the bathroom so determining racial representation is tricky.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Simon & Schuster.
Ethan is a 4th grade student who keeps having a unique visitor—himself, but from almost 20 years in the future. Future Ethan dresses oddly and babbles away with terms that are supposed to science, but sound like some sort of made up language and he always seems to have some calamity on his hands that needs young Ethan to do something to change the trajectory of the timeline. Today, 10 year old Ethan is tasked with making sure his class behaves for the substitute teacher so she doesn’t quit and turn to a life of evil dictatorship that will wreck havoc on everyone in a few decades. But Ethan’s class is a nightmare for subs and his best friend is usually the primary instigator! Tough spot for a kid but Ethan does his best, which isn’t nearly enough and has him hiding in the library where he begins to have conversation with new student Tamara, a struggling reader who could really use a friend.
Events in sure to be a hit with the grade 2-5 crowd include a spit wad war, a classroom full of kids who trick the sub into having a book discussion that turns out to be a bunch of yelling about the latest video game craze instead of book, a school-wide bout of food poisoning resulting in lots of descriptions of vomiting and stomach-clutching, plus plenty of friendship drama. Mixed in with all the over the top, no way this would happen in a real school, humor is a more subtle theme of how small kindnesses can help to make big changes in a person’s life but unless you really do meet a person from the future, you might never know what your words meant to someone. (For those who are really thinking, they might realize that the same is true for UNkind words and the harm they could do.)
My 3 star rating is mostly due to the fact that I am a rule-following adult who just doesn’t want to think about kids acting up in such a disrespectful way towards an adult who is just doing her best to do her job, but readers in the target age group are likely to enjoy this one far more than my rating indicates. With its profanity free text and no sexual content, librarians, parents and teachers should consider this one for their libraries, wherever they happen to be. Ethan is pictured as Caucasian on the cover and interior sketches, best friend Brian has hair that might indicate he is Black, but Cypess’ art style shows all people as having white skin, including the girl in a hijab standing in line at the bathroom so determining racial representation is tricky.
Thanks for providing me with a print arc, Simon & Schuster.
August 15, 2025
this is one in which three stars reflects my personal enjoyment--I'm not the target audience for grade school silliness, but it's a fine one for those who are.
March 14, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ethan is a fourth grader who has the unusual experience of being visited, repeatedly, by his 39 year old self. Older Ethan knows that a substitute teacher named Ms. Evans will leave teaching because of a horrible experience at Ethan's school, and become an evil supervillain who will destroy life as we know it. Not only that, but one of Ethan's classmates, Serenity, will become her henchwoman. The class's behavior does drive the substitute nearly to tears, and while the other students are proud of this, Ethan goes out of his way to apologize and encourage the young woman to stick with the profession. Ethan is also instructed to encourage somewhat offbeat, kooky classmate Tamara to take an accelerated math class despite her learning challenges, since she is the one who invents time travel. Older Ethan is often vague on details, claiming he can't share too much, dresses in bizarre fashions, and tries to explain the science of time travel with words that nobody understands. Ethan is concerned that older Ethan is no longer friends with best friend Ben, and asks his supportive if offbeat parents about their own friendships at family dinners with siblings Greg and Talya. After an incident where a school lunch makes everyone except Ethan sick (thanks to a warning to not eat the ziti!), Ethan manages to convince Ms. Evans to apply to become the school librarian. This is enough to change the course of history when she late uses her evil tendencies in her job in charge of school curriculum.
Strengths: The best part of this was the description of the books that were being read in the 4th grade language arts classes. One was Joker, the description of which I need to go back and find, but which involved a dog dying and several other typically middle grade, award winning sad things, and the other was just entitled Tragic Death at Sea. Yep. So much of middle grade literature! The other thing I really enjoyed was Ethan's worry that he wouldn't be friends with Ben when they grow up. In reality, he'll be lucky to make it to 8th grade and still be friends, but when we are young, best friends are so central to our existence that I enjoyed seeing this realistic worry portrayed. Having alive, supportive parents and siblings who sometimes get in the way was also encouraging. This was goofy fun, and a light, fast paced read, and Ethan is an appropriately harried hero who is trying his best to help save the world even though he doesn't understand what is going on.
Weaknesses: There were some school procedures that didn't ring true; when there's no sub, the students are divided up and sent to other classes, which I have never seen happen. Also, unless Ms. Evans has her MLS and school library certification, she couldn't be a school librarian, at least here in Ohio. I know this is nitpicky, and maybe this happens in other places, but it bothered me. I also could have used a few more details about why older Ethan was visiting; this seemed almost like a second book in a series.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the time travel in Wilson's Me vs. the Multiverse or Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, but want the same humorous vibe as Yee and Santat's The Misfits, with even more illustrations. (Which didn't appear in the E ARC.)
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Ethan is a fourth grader who has the unusual experience of being visited, repeatedly, by his 39 year old self. Older Ethan knows that a substitute teacher named Ms. Evans will leave teaching because of a horrible experience at Ethan's school, and become an evil supervillain who will destroy life as we know it. Not only that, but one of Ethan's classmates, Serenity, will become her henchwoman. The class's behavior does drive the substitute nearly to tears, and while the other students are proud of this, Ethan goes out of his way to apologize and encourage the young woman to stick with the profession. Ethan is also instructed to encourage somewhat offbeat, kooky classmate Tamara to take an accelerated math class despite her learning challenges, since she is the one who invents time travel. Older Ethan is often vague on details, claiming he can't share too much, dresses in bizarre fashions, and tries to explain the science of time travel with words that nobody understands. Ethan is concerned that older Ethan is no longer friends with best friend Ben, and asks his supportive if offbeat parents about their own friendships at family dinners with siblings Greg and Talya. After an incident where a school lunch makes everyone except Ethan sick (thanks to a warning to not eat the ziti!), Ethan manages to convince Ms. Evans to apply to become the school librarian. This is enough to change the course of history when she late uses her evil tendencies in her job in charge of school curriculum.
Strengths: The best part of this was the description of the books that were being read in the 4th grade language arts classes. One was Joker, the description of which I need to go back and find, but which involved a dog dying and several other typically middle grade, award winning sad things, and the other was just entitled Tragic Death at Sea. Yep. So much of middle grade literature! The other thing I really enjoyed was Ethan's worry that he wouldn't be friends with Ben when they grow up. In reality, he'll be lucky to make it to 8th grade and still be friends, but when we are young, best friends are so central to our existence that I enjoyed seeing this realistic worry portrayed. Having alive, supportive parents and siblings who sometimes get in the way was also encouraging. This was goofy fun, and a light, fast paced read, and Ethan is an appropriately harried hero who is trying his best to help save the world even though he doesn't understand what is going on.
Weaknesses: There were some school procedures that didn't ring true; when there's no sub, the students are divided up and sent to other classes, which I have never seen happen. Also, unless Ms. Evans has her MLS and school library certification, she couldn't be a school librarian, at least here in Ohio. I know this is nitpicky, and maybe this happens in other places, but it bothered me. I also could have used a few more details about why older Ethan was visiting; this seemed almost like a second book in a series.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the time travel in Wilson's Me vs. the Multiverse or Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, but want the same humorous vibe as Yee and Santat's The Misfits, with even more illustrations. (Which didn't appear in the E ARC.)
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
July 16, 2025
With humor, a little chaos, and even tension, middle school and time travel mix in an unexpected and exciting way.
Ethan's life isn't exactly normal...not that anyone knows that. He's been visited several times by his future self to change little things here and there to make the future better. At least, that's what his very-oddly-dressed-and-way-too-serious-future-self always insists. So, when future him time travels back, once again, with another task, Ethan isn't really surprised, but this time, his future self is expecting the impossible. Ethan is supposed to make his up-coming substitute teacher not hate teaching, so she doesn't end up forming an army and destroying the world later. Ethan not only has no clue how he's going to get everyone in his class to be nice to her and not cause complete chaos, but he's not even sure he believes his future self enough to really try. Worse yet, his future self claims he lost contact with Ethan's very best friend long ago and doesn't even care. Add that his future self has, obviously, totally forgot what 4th grade is like, and Ethan is totally out of his depth and doesn't know how to handle any of it.
Middle school drama hits full on with quite a bit of humor and all sorts of concerns, which almost every person of this age group faces in some form or another. And it does it with a nice dose of reality (well at least, in that direction). While Ethan's future and much older self expects him to do certain things, Ethan is well aware that the plan won't work. For example, Ethan is only one kid in an entire classroom, whose students always give substitutes a hard time. So, getting them to behave differently on the first day isn't going to happen. There's also a understandable amount of distrust Ethan has concerning his future self. It's not extreme, but there's enough there to make it believable. Then, there's the entire emotional trip as Ethan learns that his future self could care less about his best friend...and doesn't seem to even remember why that relationship would be important, anyway. That most middle graders loose their friends after a couple years or so isn't really a topic I've seen hit quite in this way. The author does find a good way to round it back in to make a nice read, but the Ethan's reaction put a nice touch on the friendship theme while sliding in a painful reality.
The read flows well and is written for the lower end of the middle grade audience. There's a larger font and spacing for easy reading, and illustrations are nicely scattered in between. The chapters are kept relatively short, and the plot holds a quick pacing without too much time spent on depth. It creates a fun and easy read. The only thing that caught me a little off guard was that it feels like a later book in a series, since Ethan mentions earlier visits from his future-self several times. So, it feels like something is missing, especially since these earlier visits obviously molded Ethan's current view of his future self.
It's a fun read for those who enjoy quirky situations, humor, fun characters, and a touch of light scifi on the side.
Ethan's life isn't exactly normal...not that anyone knows that. He's been visited several times by his future self to change little things here and there to make the future better. At least, that's what his very-oddly-dressed-and-way-too-serious-future-self always insists. So, when future him time travels back, once again, with another task, Ethan isn't really surprised, but this time, his future self is expecting the impossible. Ethan is supposed to make his up-coming substitute teacher not hate teaching, so she doesn't end up forming an army and destroying the world later. Ethan not only has no clue how he's going to get everyone in his class to be nice to her and not cause complete chaos, but he's not even sure he believes his future self enough to really try. Worse yet, his future self claims he lost contact with Ethan's very best friend long ago and doesn't even care. Add that his future self has, obviously, totally forgot what 4th grade is like, and Ethan is totally out of his depth and doesn't know how to handle any of it.
Middle school drama hits full on with quite a bit of humor and all sorts of concerns, which almost every person of this age group faces in some form or another. And it does it with a nice dose of reality (well at least, in that direction). While Ethan's future and much older self expects him to do certain things, Ethan is well aware that the plan won't work. For example, Ethan is only one kid in an entire classroom, whose students always give substitutes a hard time. So, getting them to behave differently on the first day isn't going to happen. There's also a understandable amount of distrust Ethan has concerning his future self. It's not extreme, but there's enough there to make it believable. Then, there's the entire emotional trip as Ethan learns that his future self could care less about his best friend...and doesn't seem to even remember why that relationship would be important, anyway. That most middle graders loose their friends after a couple years or so isn't really a topic I've seen hit quite in this way. The author does find a good way to round it back in to make a nice read, but the Ethan's reaction put a nice touch on the friendship theme while sliding in a painful reality.
The read flows well and is written for the lower end of the middle grade audience. There's a larger font and spacing for easy reading, and illustrations are nicely scattered in between. The chapters are kept relatively short, and the plot holds a quick pacing without too much time spent on depth. It creates a fun and easy read. The only thing that caught me a little off guard was that it feels like a later book in a series, since Ethan mentions earlier visits from his future-self several times. So, it feels like something is missing, especially since these earlier visits obviously molded Ethan's current view of his future self.
It's a fun read for those who enjoy quirky situations, humor, fun characters, and a touch of light scifi on the side.
June 2, 2025
FUTURE ME SAVES THE WORLD is a hilarious and heart-filled middle grade adventure. Ethan is just trying to survive the school day… until his future self shows up with one urgent mission: keep the substitute teacher from quitting—or risk the fate of the entire world. No pressure, right?
This book is such a fun intro to science fiction for younger readers. It balances laugh-out-loud moments with real-life school struggles (friend drama, math class, teacher trouble) and layers in just the right amount of time travel chaos. The characters are so well developed, relatable, and charming.
We listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it! The narration brought Ethan’s wild adventure to life in the best way.
Perfect for fans of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.
MY DAUGHTER’S THOUGHTS:
(Age 7)
It was so funny when future Ethan showed up with circles on his face. That was weird. I liked how Ethan and Tamara became friends.
This book is such a fun intro to science fiction for younger readers. It balances laugh-out-loud moments with real-life school struggles (friend drama, math class, teacher trouble) and layers in just the right amount of time travel chaos. The characters are so well developed, relatable, and charming.
We listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it! The narration brought Ethan’s wild adventure to life in the best way.
Perfect for fans of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.
MY DAUGHTER’S THOUGHTS:
(Age 7)
It was so funny when future Ethan showed up with circles on his face. That was weird. I liked how Ethan and Tamara became friends.
July 8, 2025
Future Me Saves the World (and Ruins My Life) is a wonderfully funny book that most kids would love. The main character, Ethan, is a 4th grade student who is visited by his 39 year old self! Future Ethan is no longer friends with Ethan's best friend, dresses weirdly and talks about scientific principles that mean nothing to Ethan. Future Ethan need's Ethan's help to ensure today's substitute teacher doesn't quit education and become an evil dictator in the future. Talk about pressure!
What follows is a hilarious chain of events. And, of course, the book also has a wonderful message about kindness and friendship. It reminds kids not to judge others.
Thank you @simonkids for my #gifted copy!
What follows is a hilarious chain of events. And, of course, the book also has a wonderful message about kindness and friendship. It reminds kids not to judge others.
Thank you @simonkids for my #gifted copy!
June 13, 2025
I loved it from the first chapter to the last one!
Fourth-grader Ethan has experienced getting the visits from his 39-year-old self. Older Ethan is aware that Ms. Evans, a substitute teacher, will quit her job after a terrible experience at Ethan's class and turn into an evil dictator...
What I liked about the book:
- easy to read, good mix of text and illustrations
- the captivating plot and all of its many twists and turns
- relatable worries, like losing friends when you grow up
- main character's inner monologue
Fourth-grader Ethan has experienced getting the visits from his 39-year-old self. Older Ethan is aware that Ms. Evans, a substitute teacher, will quit her job after a terrible experience at Ethan's class and turn into an evil dictator...
What I liked about the book:
- easy to read, good mix of text and illustrations
- the captivating plot and all of its many twists and turns
- relatable worries, like losing friends when you grow up
- main character's inner monologue
July 16, 2025
3.75
While some of Ethan's actions and words irked me, as they came across as mean, I enjoyed watching his character growth. Honestly, the best parts of this book for me was Future Ethan's fashion sense and Tamara, who I feel a kind of kinship with. I hope that she's in later installments, because I want to see her grow more confident in herself. The story itself can be a bit confusing when it comes to the time travel parts, but that's kind of the point, since it's told through the eyes of a child who isn't as advanced in math and science as an adult with more life experience.
While some of Ethan's actions and words irked me, as they came across as mean, I enjoyed watching his character growth. Honestly, the best parts of this book for me was Future Ethan's fashion sense and Tamara, who I feel a kind of kinship with. I hope that she's in later installments, because I want to see her grow more confident in herself. The story itself can be a bit confusing when it comes to the time travel parts, but that's kind of the point, since it's told through the eyes of a child who isn't as advanced in math and science as an adult with more life experience.
September 20, 2025
"It wasn't great, but I kind of like it," quoth my daughter. Yeah, I'm about the same. The book is mostly fun, but self-centered protagonist Ethan takes a long while to become sympathetic, and by then the main plot of time-travel shenanigans and clunky attempts to manipulate people have gotten pretty tiresome. Maybe if the book was shorter, or Ethan had been more likable from the beginning. Maybe it would work better as a high-paced cartoon instead of a book? It was kind of likable, but not great.
July 2, 2025
I laughed, I cringed, I time-traveled; and I loved every second of it! Leah Cypess delivers pure middle grade magic with a hilarious twist. Ethan’s wild mission to save the world (by keeping his class from destroying a poor substitute teacher) is packed with laugh-out-loud moments, relatable chaos, and just the right dose of heart. Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Back to the Future; with glue-filled sunblock and evil dictators. Absolutely irresistible!
July 21, 2025
Shorter chapter book for middle grade readers. Ethan's future self comes back to have him stop a world dictator from claiming power. All he has to do is keep his substitute teacher from quitting. It sounds so easy but disaster after disaster keeps the story moving forward. I do like the subplot to encourage his classmate who later develops time travel and the meeting with her future self. The illustrations work to move the story forward.
May 26, 2025
This was such a fun story, I got a really good kick out of the mc Ethan, his inner monologue was extremely entertaining. I thought the story moved along at a good pace and didn't feel rushed at any point. There were a couple background themes in this book that I picked up on that I think worked really well. My kids also really loved the illustrations throughout the book.
June 10, 2025
Ahah! What a great premise. I wonder if the students, after reading this one, are going to be nicer to substitute teachers just in case. Great illustrations, fun story of changing the future, and saving all fun characters. Easy to read and motivate with humor but also relatable fears like chanfe, losing friends.
June 3, 2025
This was laugh-out-loud hilarious. My son tells me it's his "new favorite book." It's really entertaining and a great mix of text and illustrations -- perfect for kids who love to read but also for those who struggle. I highly recommend.
February 19, 2025
This is a fun, adventurous read for middle grade! It is perfect for kids who enjoy action packed stories but are not quite ready for slightly scary plots.
June 22, 2025
This book was so much fun! Also,it's a super quick read for an adult.
July 21, 2025
Entertaining story. I got a little confused by the complexities of the time travel, but overall it was well done.
August 27, 2025
always looking for a Wimpy Kid and/or Dog Man read alike - I need to see a physical copy to know if it can fill that slot. Fun story.
September 15, 2025
This is super not my kind of book. I think some boys will like the humor but it just wasn't for me. Agree with reviewers that it felt like we were starting mid-story somehow.
June 13, 2025
This was a really enjoyable read. Even as an adult, I enjoyed it a lot. It had a great plot, great characters, and I loved the time travel aspect. It’s interesting how it talked about growing up and how kids might not be close to their best friends as they get older because they drift apart. It goes through how even though someone might not be good at a certain subject at school, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t smart. And it shows that you might gain a new friend with someone unexpected. This book had a lot of great topics for kids that’s also relatable. I think this will be a book that kids can pick up and read again and again.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews