Try Looking Ahead

by Jason Rodriguez

A collection of stories featuring kids who don’t have much, yet carve out life lessons and minor victories for themselves in their fantastical worlds

This YA collection of Twilight Zone –inspired short stories is a stunning assortment of modern-day twists on classic fables and science fiction standards that tell of a girl who can live in yesterday, a boy who can see through mountains, and a closet monster hunter. These impoverished youth don’t have a lot, but make the most of what they have. As is always the case, every gift comes with responsibility, every vision comes with unwanted knowledge, and nothing is ever what it seems.

Genres: Science Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Jason Rodriguez is a writer and editor, whose books have been nominated for an Eisner Award and 8 Harvey Awards. Jason is currently editing a three-book series of graphic novel anthologies about colonial New England and the Mid-Atlantic region for Fulcrum Publishing scheduled to start being released in 2014. His first sci-fi book, TRY LOOKING AHEAD, will be released Spring 2015 from Rosarium Publishing. Jason lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and their two dogs, four cats, and a parrot. You can usually find him on a street corner, staring out into the future.

Complete Bibliography
As Editor
Colonial Comics Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (2014 - 2015; Fulcrum Publishing)
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened (2007; Random House/Villard)
Elk's Run (2007; Random House/Villard)
Western Tales of Terror #1-5 (2003-2005; Hoarse & Buggy Productions)

As Writer
The Boy Who Could See Through Mountains and Other Stories (2012; Self Published)
The End of Stars (2012; Self Published)
"The Stars Are Not Wanted Now" in Once Upon a Time Machine (2012; Dark Horse Comics)
The Monster Hunter (2012; Self Published)
"The National Pastime" in District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington DC (2012; Fulcrum Publishing)
The Little Particle That Could (2012; Self Published)
The Girl Who Could Live In Yesterday (2012; Self Published)
"The New Attrition" in Horrors of War (2010; DC Conspiracy)
"The Tell-Tale Scissors" in Shear Terror Anthology (2009; DC Conspiracy)
"Quarantined" in Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened (2007; Random House/Villard)
"All the Wrong Choices" in Elk's Run #2 (2006; Hoarse & Buggy Productions)
"Six Shots" in Western Tales of Terror #5 (2005; Hoarse & Buggy Productions)

Reviews

[ONYX Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, witty, heartwarming!

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim from the author at SPX in Bethesda, and I was pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly I was hooked. There are twelve short stories, and all of them have clever and/or heartwarming twists... well, except one might be a little sad, I suppose.

The cover illustrates "Rocket Ruiz Builds a Warp Drive": a story about a girl obsessed with building the fastest soapbox derby car to the point of defying physics.

"Detective Know-it-All and the Glittered-Up Glue Stick" solves the crime immediately, but the resolution is one with only winners, no losers.

"The Boy Who Could See Through Mountains" is a metaphor for prejudice that only he could see through.

I won't spoil the twist, but the titular "Try Looking Ahead" had me smiling for days... still has me smiling, in fact!

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves short stories for all ages... unless you're one of those folks who can't see through mountains, then nevermind.

[Umbreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories were all very cute, and I thought that the lessons they shared were valuable. My only complaint was that the collection was described as being very fantastical and larger-than-life. While there were some sci-fi and fantasy elements, it was not quite what I was expecting based off of the description. Having said that, I still enjoyed these short stories a lot.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.

A children's book of short stories influenced by Twilight Zone. Some are out there, some funny but most with a positive message to get across in the end.

[Critterbee❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of short stories that seem simultaneously modern and ancient.

Engaging, whimsical yet very thought-provoking.

Great for encouraging reluctant readers due to the short length and story appeal.

**eRC netgalley**