Candace, the Universe, and Everything

by Sherri L. Smith

A speculative middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls connected across time and space through a wormhole in their school locker.

On the first day of eighth grade, thirteen-year-old Candace Wells opens her locker and is astonished when an unusual bird flies out. Soon after, a notebook mysteriously appears on the top shelf. There’s a name written in it, Tracey Auburn, and a year, 1988. On a whim, Candace writes in the notebook—and she's shocked when a short time later, Tracey Auburn writes back.

Then an invitation appears from Loretta Young, who had the locker in 1948, and the three meet up in the present day. Tracey Auburn is now 53 and a college professor, and Loretta Young is 93 and a quantum physicist. Loretta tells them that her life’s work has been to study the portal and others like it across Chicago and the state of Illinois. But Loretta is now an old woman, and she needs Tracey’s and Candace’s help to complete her research.

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Friendship, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Sherri L. Smith is the award-winning author of YA novels LUCY THE GIANT, SPARROW, HOT SOUR SALTY SWEET, FLYGIRL and ORLEANS. In October 2015, she makes her middle grade debut with THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE from G.P. Putnam and Sons for Penguin Random House.

Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist.

She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected from the synopsis.
It was difficult to follow the storyline, which seemed to jump all over the place. It was just a strange, weird book for me, and I didn’t enjoy it.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

8th grade is not starting out well for Candace. Her bestie Dine (Deen?) ditched her to go camping with their other bestie Becca, and fledgling queen bee Becca seems determined to cut Candace out of their trio. Then a bird flies out of her locker. Seriously? In the locker, Candace finds a notebook, written by Tracey in 1988. Um, what? Turns out, there's something distinctly odd about that locker. Candace contacts Tracey, then they are both contacted by Loretta, who had the locker in 1948. Loretta, who could have been a physicist had she not been a woman and Black in the early 1950s, wrote some famous fantasy novels inspired by the "knot" in the locker, and has been exploring others in the area by looking for the unusual birds that seem to frequent them. As 8th grade unfurls for Candace, she's dealing with friend drama (and a boy who doesn't call when he says he will, urgh!), as well as going on explorations with Tracey and Loretta. Will they find the answer to the mystery?

This seemed like something I would really like, but I felt the author wasted a lot of the potential of the interdimensional birds (why have interdimensional birds in your book if you're not going to make the most of them?). So much of the plot was about Candace and her 8th grade ebbing and flowing friend dramas that I felt it took away from the cool ideas of the supernatural elements. The book was also way too long. It really dragged in the middle, with not a lot happening, and I got tired of the friend drama--maybe realistic, but not that exciting. I was really excited about the knots and all they implied, and would have loved more about them. Especially the time at the end when Candace went through one, and NOTHING WAS DESCRIBED. I mean, really? The most important part of the book, and the experience was NOT DESCRIBED AT ALL? Missed opportunity! Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of eighth grade is a struggle for Candace as she tries to stay close to her best friend who seems to be spending way too much time with another friend, to the point of transferring all of their traditions to the new friendship. Her worries, though, are soon overtaken by a mystery. Why does a bird fly out of her locker and why does a notebook keep appearing and disappearing? Candace discovers a world in which her locker is connected through time to two other women who previously shared her locker, each 40 years apart. What Candace bills to her parents as a legacy circle focused on birdwatching soon takes an intriguing turn into quantum physics and time travel, not to mention instantaneous travel around the world. This speculative fiction moves seamlessly back and forth through time as the author also explores relationships and family. I enjoyed reading this book and am sorry it seems to be a stand alone.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

This is such a great book of possibilities and science, and also the way times change but some things stay the same. I loved the glimpses of the past and the way the knots showed up for Candace, Tracey, and Loretta. This is also very much a story of friendship, and I loved the execution and the changes in Candace’s life. I had a lot of fun with this. I did feel a little like the ending happened abruptly, but overall this was such an enjoyable read that I found hard to put down.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A school locker is at the center of this book as the locker is literally a time portal. Candace is the newest owner of the locker and somehow a purple notebook disappears and reappears in the locker with notes written by Candace and another mysterious user. When Candace tracks down the original owner of the notebook – a middle-aged professor – they soon realize that they were the owners of the same locker several decades apart. They soon meet another previous owner of the locker and the three form a strong intergenerational friendship. Readers will enjoy this blend of realistic fiction, magical realism, time travel, and history.

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though told mostly from Candace’s point of view, the narrative travels back in time sharing more of Tracey and Elizabeth’s stories. I wish it had focused more on Elizabeth, a smart, scientific woman navigating a tough road of acceptance due to being Black in segregated America. However, from Candace, readers learn to navigate through acceptance and forgiveness. Read more on my blog about this ARC I was sent from the publisher in exchange for an honest review: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a 3.5, close to a 4, there's a lot to love about this book (I listened to the audiobook) that features birds and time traveling through a wormhole (in a locker of all places) to different time periods and experiences as Black women in America featuring present day, 1988, and 1948. They all work together to complete research and learn from one another but what I love as a trend in the last few years is intergenerational friendship. In this case, there's even a few scenes where Candace is looked at as a little odd because she invites her "friend" over who is quite an older woman.

[Renee Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure, curiosity, first crushes, middle school awkwardness, multigenerational friendships, powerful women, a strong sense of history, and BIRDING all come together in this sweet science fiction YA novel. This story will capture the hearts of all young readers who wish for something interesting to happen to them on an ordinary day and it will be relatable to preteens trying to navigate friendships and crushes while figuring out who they are and what’s important to them. Parents and grandparents will enjoy this one, as well.

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. When eighth grader Candace discovers a mysterious notebook in her locker, she does some research when she realizes it is from the 1980s. She tracks down the owner of the journal, and together they realize that they are part of a story with powers that span time and space. Lightly sci fi/fantasy, but mainly about the one between generations of Black women. This may be a tough sell to today’s middle school students, as it’s slower, but it was great. #audiobook #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating reflects the novel’s intended YA difference because it’s a very good story for that audience with strong black characters and role models, healthy life lessons, magic realism, and science. For an adult audience, it’s more of a three star due to some plot holes and unexplained situations that even with the magic could have been better explained. The relationships and friendships are the best and strongest aspect of this book.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't going to write a review, but after seeing others say they didn't get it, I wanted to point out that one of the metaphors throughout the book was the invisibilization of Black women and girls--their knowledge, contributions, abilities, etc. The metaphor is symbolized in the birds: They have see-some through (invisible) feathers, but are called "birds of unordinary coloring." The cover art also reflects this. I found the novel to be highly poignant, and even relatable in many respects.

[Morgan Gayles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought him back.”

I loved everything about this book. 40 years tethered between three women that share a locker at a middle school…a wormhole of sorts with magpies flying about. A book of multigenerational relationship, friendship, time travel, and science.

[Morgan Beynon (loriwaylittlelibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute middle grade read! I love the premise, and how the three different generations come together. I love how it’s also low-key a guide to middle school and relationships with friends! Definitely recommend for middle school readers!

(I was gifted a copy of the book by Random House Kids and Storygram Tours for my honest review)

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very unique sci-fi book. Not really time travel, more like a worm-hole kind of book. I loved the inter-generational relationship between Candace, Tracy and Loretta. I liked exploring the history in each time period and drawing the connection between what happens in history and how it affects current events.

[Haylee Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
I was hoping this book was going to be more sci-fi and time-loop-y but it was more about the annoying parts of friendship in middle school. Still an interesting and engaging read though! I really enjoyed Candace as a character as well as Tracey and Loretta (and the friendship they created).

[Lauren]

I was drawn to this book first by its cover (gorgeous!) and then by the premise. However, it took me a while to get through, and I didn’t feel like it was particularly well executed. I feel better imagining this as a first draft, knowing that another version with all the kinks worked out is on the way.

[Lisa Hoppe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t what I expected. I thought there would be more back and forth in the timelines and not most of it spent in the present/near future one. It was a nice exploration of different friendships and the multigenerational characters but the rest was kind of meh.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a creative and great story! The story starts with a magpie flying out of Candace's locker, and from there Candace meets two other owners of the locker, each mysteriously forty years apart. It's a great story about multigenerational friendships and worm holes.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review to come closer to publication date.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story of intergenerational friendships, strange phenomena that involve tangled space-time continuum knots spaced about 40 years apart, and an elusive bird. Sherri L. Smith at her best.

[Janet]

I was a little confused at the end of the book about what happened.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need more direction from the author when it switches perspectives or timelines. Just a quick date at the start of the chapter would help a ton.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come

[Hone]

(Audio courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio, Sherri L. Smith, and the Libro.fm Audiobook Listening Copy Program.)

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not what I’m accustomed to, but the story is interesting. I like the representation of women, especially Black women, in STEAM.

[Theo Scully · Rating 1 out of 5]

i desperately wish i can tell y'all what this book is about, but i don't think that Sherri L Smith even knows

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will appeal to a very specific reader, but I will purchase one copy.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty time travel novel novel with a multi-generational friendship that worked so well. The audiobook is great.