What do you think?
When Tomorrow Burns
Three middle school students embark on a quest to find a book that may just save their lives in this spectacular novel about fate and friendship—from the Newbery Award-winning author of
When You Trap a Tiger
.
Once there was a tree. There was a tree. There was a tree. Until the tree fell. And then there was a book.
When best friends Nomi, Vi, and Arthur were younger, they found a book that could predict the future. It was so very satisfying and comforting to know what was coming. But as the friends drifted apart, they forgot about the book. Except for Nomi. The final prediction says “How do you turn a girl into flame. You’ll never be the same.” What does it mean? It sounds dangerous—especially with wildfires raging in the distance. Nomi just knows there’s a sequel to the book; if only they could find it, everything would make sense.
As Nomi teams up once again with Vi and Arthur, they must navigate their complicated feelings about each other, their fears of the unknown, and the risks they aren’t sure how to take. In the end, will they be able to fight destiny?
Once there was a tree. There was a tree. There was a tree. Until the tree fell. And then there was a book.
When best friends Nomi, Vi, and Arthur were younger, they found a book that could predict the future. It was so very satisfying and comforting to know what was coming. But as the friends drifted apart, they forgot about the book. Except for Nomi. The final prediction says “How do you turn a girl into flame. You’ll never be the same.” What does it mean? It sounds dangerous—especially with wildfires raging in the distance. Nomi just knows there’s a sequel to the book; if only they could find it, everything would make sense.
As Nomi teams up once again with Vi and Arthur, they must navigate their complicated feelings about each other, their fears of the unknown, and the risks they aren’t sure how to take. In the end, will they be able to fight destiny?
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
About the author
Tae Keller
16 books556 followersTAE KELLER is the Newbery award winning and New York Times bestselling author of When You Trap a Tiger and The Science of Breakable Things. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she subsisted on kimchi, purple rice, and stories. Now, she writes about biracial girls trying to find their voices, and lives in Seattle with her husband and a multitude of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
August 23, 2025
DNF @ 5%
Unable to continue this book due to LGBTQ content.
One of the main characters has two fathers.
Unable to continue this book due to LGBTQ content.
One of the main characters has two fathers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Nomi, Violet, and Arthur used to be close friends, but as middle school wears on, they spend less time together. Arthur broke away first, spending more time with the boys on the cross country team, in part because he has a crush on Nomi and doesn't think she likes him that way. Nomi does, but she is obsessed with an old book the three kids found in Arthur's fathers' gallery. She thinks that the poems are prophetic, based on how things in her life were able to be interpreted. Violet is more interested in boys than Nomi, which Nomi finds irritating even though she has a crush on Arthur. There are wildfires in the area surrounding their Seattle home, so when Violet shows up wearing an uncharacteristic all pink outfit, Nomi thinks that the combination of pink and gray is signifying the end of her world. Violet is angry about her mother's blog, and when Lucas asks her to send him a compromising selfie, she does. She thinks he won't share it with anyone. Nomi goes full speed ahead to try to solve the mystery of the book, even contacting a scientist after she says something very similar to one of the prophecies. We also hear a back story of the book from the perspective of the trees. When Lucas shows other boys the picture of Violet in her bra, Nomi goes on the war path and attacks Lucas. This puts her scholarship in jeopardy, and since her single mother is struggling financially, she would have to leave the private school. Violet wants to quit and go to public school with Nomi, and the girls cause a fire when burning some of the unflattering sketches Lucas has spread around school. Luckily, Arthur saves the day by providing proof to the principal.
This reminded me of Rebecca Stead's 2015 Goodbye, Stranger. I appreciated the author's note that we shouldn't try to hide the horrible things going on in the world from tweens, but I'm not sure that the compromising selfie plot ARC will resonate with my students. Our school dress code is literally "all private parts must be covered", and there have been girls coming to school in low rise jeans and tube tops, which are much more revealing than bras. The cover makes this look like it might be about climate change, and there are glimmers of that, but it's more about social media use and friend difficulties. Hand this to students who will appreciate the interstitial Greek chorus sections from the point of view of the trees.
Nomi, Violet, and Arthur used to be close friends, but as middle school wears on, they spend less time together. Arthur broke away first, spending more time with the boys on the cross country team, in part because he has a crush on Nomi and doesn't think she likes him that way. Nomi does, but she is obsessed with an old book the three kids found in Arthur's fathers' gallery. She thinks that the poems are prophetic, based on how things in her life were able to be interpreted. Violet is more interested in boys than Nomi, which Nomi finds irritating even though she has a crush on Arthur. There are wildfires in the area surrounding their Seattle home, so when Violet shows up wearing an uncharacteristic all pink outfit, Nomi thinks that the combination of pink and gray is signifying the end of her world. Violet is angry about her mother's blog, and when Lucas asks her to send him a compromising selfie, she does. She thinks he won't share it with anyone. Nomi goes full speed ahead to try to solve the mystery of the book, even contacting a scientist after she says something very similar to one of the prophecies. We also hear a back story of the book from the perspective of the trees. When Lucas shows other boys the picture of Violet in her bra, Nomi goes on the war path and attacks Lucas. This puts her scholarship in jeopardy, and since her single mother is struggling financially, she would have to leave the private school. Violet wants to quit and go to public school with Nomi, and the girls cause a fire when burning some of the unflattering sketches Lucas has spread around school. Luckily, Arthur saves the day by providing proof to the principal.
This reminded me of Rebecca Stead's 2015 Goodbye, Stranger. I appreciated the author's note that we shouldn't try to hide the horrible things going on in the world from tweens, but I'm not sure that the compromising selfie plot ARC will resonate with my students. Our school dress code is literally "all private parts must be covered", and there have been girls coming to school in low rise jeans and tube tops, which are much more revealing than bras. The cover makes this look like it might be about climate change, and there are glimmers of that, but it's more about social media use and friend difficulties. Hand this to students who will appreciate the interstitial Greek chorus sections from the point of view of the trees.
May 21, 2026
Yes to all of this - three narrators, short chapters, a forest Greek chorus, prophecies and poetry. Vi’s story, both as a subject of her mom’s social media account and the fallout of sharing a private photo, was handled with such nuance. It’s inspired me to start working on a one pager with recommended fiction titles for my middle school Digital Literacy class and their families. Professional reviews have this grades 3-7, but this would be a grades 5-7 recommendation for me.
Read
June 1, 2026
Trigger & Content Warnings
Food & housing insecurity
Wildfires discussed
Food & housing insecurity
Wildfires discussed
April 19, 2026
I like Tae Keller’s books. But this was bad. The most woke book I’ve ever read but for MS? It was actually not appropriate for kids. I can see them being so confused. And for what? All it did was take away from the story.
September 7, 2026
Tae Keller is a genius at writing characters. This book feels so nostalgically middle school while also being completely of-the-moment. I want to hand this to every 8th grader out there. I loved this part of her author's note - "The truth is, there's no easy answer to how we live in a world on fire. But if I had to give one, I would say: together."
August 10, 2026
This ended up going in a completely different direction then I expected! What a powerful connection Keller wove between forest fires and the other ways our world can be on fire. I loved the friendship and the ways they stood up for each other.
March 18, 2026
2.5 stars
Three friends who have access to a special book that predicts the future grapple with the challenges of growing up. As they deal with confusing situations and changing friendships, they will have to figure out what’s important to hold on to and what they need to let go. Author Tae Keller’s prose is as beautiful as ever in a book that is at times confusing in its goals in When Tomorrow Burns.
Nomi, Vi, and Arthur are best friends—well, they used to be, until Arthur got all weird last year and stopped talking to Nomi and before Vi decided she no longer wanted to go by “Violet” and changed her wardrobe. Nomi loves her friends, but she can’t figure out what on earth is going on with them. She and Vi used to tell each other everything, but now Vi spends most of her time texting someone nonstop. Nomi doesn’t know anything else about it, and she misses her friend.
Vi wants to tell Nomi that she’s been chatting with Lucas, one of the most crushed-on boys in school, but she also likes having something to herself for a change. Lucas sees Vi as something special, and she doesn’t want to mess that up. And Nomi would never understand anyway. She’s too obsessed with the book of prophecies the three friends found years ago. Nomi is convinced it tells the future, and even though Vi can’t argue with Nomi’s logic she also wants to do more grown up things. Like talk to Lucas.
Arthur misses Nomi and Vi as best friends. The three of them used to do everything together. Then about a year ago, Arthur looked at Nomi and got a funny feeling inside. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since, but he doesn’t want to make things weird between them. Better to stop talking to her completely. It sucks, but it’s way less complicated than this squishy way he feels about her.
Then the wildfires around their home city of Seattle kick into high gear, and the friends are forced to change to life mostly indoors. Nomi is positive the fires are a sign from the prophecy book she and the others found years ago, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before the world collapses in total annihilation. She has to figure out how to stop it all, and the book is the only way to do it. If only that meant she didn’t have to see Arthur and try to ignore how sad she is about the end of their friendship.
Despite her better judgment, Vi gets on board with Nomi’s quest too but she keeps getting distracted by Lucas and his casual suggestion. Vi knows doing what he asks takes a lot of trust, and she’s flattered by Lucas’s trust in her but also scared by it. If only it didn’t take so much courage. But that’s what all three friends need these days, whole buckets of it, if they’re going to figure out how to save the world and their friendships all at the same time.
Author Tae Keller’s prose is an absolute delight, but the novel flounders in its main goal. Keller gives the friends their own alternating chapters, which allows readers to follow the kids, but she intersperses them with Greek chorus-style interludes from ancient trees. It’s not clear whether the book is meant to tell the story of the trees or the friends, whether it’s trying to make a comment on climate change or the difficulties of growing up in the current era. What is clear is that the book is trying to do too much.
In her author’s note, Keller says she wanted the book to reflect all the big life questions middle grade readers might face in these times. There’s no doubt the novel does that. However, without clarity in its teaching moments, the book feels like it’s covering too much.
The narration touches on the dangers of toxic masculinity and how harmful it is to young boys, but it doesn’t stay long enough on the subject. Keller also hints at the implied peer pressure young girls face as well as how the climate crisis and world events can weigh on young teens and affect their mental health. Yet none of these topics are examined to a great extent, which is a shame because all three of them on their own would have made compelling novels.
Fans of previous Tae Keller books may want to check this one out. Others new to her work should read her previous book, _Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone_, instead.
Three friends who have access to a special book that predicts the future grapple with the challenges of growing up. As they deal with confusing situations and changing friendships, they will have to figure out what’s important to hold on to and what they need to let go. Author Tae Keller’s prose is as beautiful as ever in a book that is at times confusing in its goals in When Tomorrow Burns.
Nomi, Vi, and Arthur are best friends—well, they used to be, until Arthur got all weird last year and stopped talking to Nomi and before Vi decided she no longer wanted to go by “Violet” and changed her wardrobe. Nomi loves her friends, but she can’t figure out what on earth is going on with them. She and Vi used to tell each other everything, but now Vi spends most of her time texting someone nonstop. Nomi doesn’t know anything else about it, and she misses her friend.
Vi wants to tell Nomi that she’s been chatting with Lucas, one of the most crushed-on boys in school, but she also likes having something to herself for a change. Lucas sees Vi as something special, and she doesn’t want to mess that up. And Nomi would never understand anyway. She’s too obsessed with the book of prophecies the three friends found years ago. Nomi is convinced it tells the future, and even though Vi can’t argue with Nomi’s logic she also wants to do more grown up things. Like talk to Lucas.
Arthur misses Nomi and Vi as best friends. The three of them used to do everything together. Then about a year ago, Arthur looked at Nomi and got a funny feeling inside. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since, but he doesn’t want to make things weird between them. Better to stop talking to her completely. It sucks, but it’s way less complicated than this squishy way he feels about her.
Then the wildfires around their home city of Seattle kick into high gear, and the friends are forced to change to life mostly indoors. Nomi is positive the fires are a sign from the prophecy book she and the others found years ago, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before the world collapses in total annihilation. She has to figure out how to stop it all, and the book is the only way to do it. If only that meant she didn’t have to see Arthur and try to ignore how sad she is about the end of their friendship.
Despite her better judgment, Vi gets on board with Nomi’s quest too but she keeps getting distracted by Lucas and his casual suggestion. Vi knows doing what he asks takes a lot of trust, and she’s flattered by Lucas’s trust in her but also scared by it. If only it didn’t take so much courage. But that’s what all three friends need these days, whole buckets of it, if they’re going to figure out how to save the world and their friendships all at the same time.
Author Tae Keller’s prose is an absolute delight, but the novel flounders in its main goal. Keller gives the friends their own alternating chapters, which allows readers to follow the kids, but she intersperses them with Greek chorus-style interludes from ancient trees. It’s not clear whether the book is meant to tell the story of the trees or the friends, whether it’s trying to make a comment on climate change or the difficulties of growing up in the current era. What is clear is that the book is trying to do too much.
In her author’s note, Keller says she wanted the book to reflect all the big life questions middle grade readers might face in these times. There’s no doubt the novel does that. However, without clarity in its teaching moments, the book feels like it’s covering too much.
The narration touches on the dangers of toxic masculinity and how harmful it is to young boys, but it doesn’t stay long enough on the subject. Keller also hints at the implied peer pressure young girls face as well as how the climate crisis and world events can weigh on young teens and affect their mental health. Yet none of these topics are examined to a great extent, which is a shame because all three of them on their own would have made compelling novels.
Fans of previous Tae Keller books may want to check this one out. Others new to her work should read her previous book, _Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone_, instead.
December 6, 2025
Tae Keller (Newbery winning When You Trap a Tiger, The Science of Unbreakable Things and more) gives middle grade readers another thoughtful look at the myriad of social and personal complexities faced by so many in that grades 5-8 age group. Nomi, Vi and Arthur are a trio of friends who find a book that seemingly predicts the future which provides them with, at times, both comfort and anxiety, and binds their friendship together. But time moves on, the book is shelved and friendships change. When fire threatens their Seattle home, the book’s importance surges and the threesome must come together once again. Told in alternating perspectives, including those of the trees that have been around longer than any of us have been, allows readers to see into the thoughts and minds of characters who may be experiencing similar things or allow them to view the world through the lens of someone/something very different. Slow at the start, the pace picks up as the fire and the friendships grow and change and all those who finish this one may find that they are still thinking about When Tomorrow Burns long after they turn the last page.
Target age group: grades 5-8
Representation: wide range of economic levels and family configurations, including Arthur and his two dads and the way society views these groups is included as one of the realities kids face today.
Free of profanity and physical violence is limited to that of nature.
Target age group: grades 5-8
Representation: wide range of economic levels and family configurations, including Arthur and his two dads and the way society views these groups is included as one of the realities kids face today.
Free of profanity and physical violence is limited to that of nature.
April 6, 2026
Nomi has been ardently following the predictions in the handwritten book of poetry she found one day, but when the final prophecy looks like it'll come true, she'll have to face the fact that Violet and Arthur are growing up and facing issues much more complicated than they appear.
I kind of assumed this book would be about climate change. And it's not like climate isn't mentioned. There's a forest fire and smoke, and the trees do come in with some gentle poetic chapters about how the world is changing. But actually this book is about why you shouldn't send n00ds. Which I suppose is an important topic but not one I am particularly vulnerable to. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of someone who will find it deeply meaningful and healing (which wasn't me, but I hope you found it if this is you).
I kind of assumed this book would be about climate change. And it's not like climate isn't mentioned. There's a forest fire and smoke, and the trees do come in with some gentle poetic chapters about how the world is changing. But actually this book is about why you shouldn't send n00ds. Which I suppose is an important topic but not one I am particularly vulnerable to. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of someone who will find it deeply meaningful and healing (which wasn't me, but I hope you found it if this is you).
November 10, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Wow. This book was just…wow. So many themes woven together. There were times I wasn’t sure it was working, but by the end I was blown away. Told through a middle grade perspective, Tae Keller reflects on the ways that fire destroys and rebuilds - trees, houses, communities, but perhaps most importantly, ourselves. How do you survive after the world burns? Sometimes the only thing left to do is regrow.
This one will be given a spot on the permanent bookshelf!
Wow. This book was just…wow. So many themes woven together. There were times I wasn’t sure it was working, but by the end I was blown away. Told through a middle grade perspective, Tae Keller reflects on the ways that fire destroys and rebuilds - trees, houses, communities, but perhaps most importantly, ourselves. How do you survive after the world burns? Sometimes the only thing left to do is regrow.
This one will be given a spot on the permanent bookshelf!
April 15, 2026
Seventh grade is a rough time, especially when three close friends are all moving in different directions. Vi (formerly Violet, but now only Vi), Nomi, and Arthur have been tight for years. But now Vi is trying out new ideas of who she is, Arthur is more and more aware of how people think of him, and Nomi just wants everything to stay the same. Years ago, the three friends found a book of poems that doubled as predictions of the future, but now they’ve come to the end, and Nomi knows they can’t successfully navigate middle school without it. As Seattle is cloaked in a haze of wildfire smoke, Vi is talking to a boy named Lucas, Arthur is on cross-country with Lucas, and Nomi is desperate to find the second volume of poetry that the first book refers to. But when everyone has drifted apart, something happens that pulls them back together.
This is the first Tae Keller book I’ve read, and it was stunning. Each character stands alone and unique, even as they all need each other to be fully formed. Seventh grade is such a strange time, and watching Nomi and Vi approach it in opposite ways reminded me so much of my youth. This touches briefly on Vi’s experience as the child of a mommy blogger, but the turning point in the story is Vi’s flirtation with Lucas, which leads to her sending him a (with bra) topless Snapchat, and then watching him screenshot it, helpless to stop it. When Lucas shows her picture to other boys without her permission, she’s violated and heartbroken, but I was so happy to see the united front of care and support from both her mom and Nomi’s mom. Vi was never blamed for making bad choices, but embraced and supported through the process of reporting it to the school and dealing with the fallout. The book clearly places the blame on Lucas for his choices, and he is suitably disciplined. I want to booktalk this to every fifth grade kid I see this spring, but I ran it by my school librarians first. Universally, they all said it’s appropriate and worth discussion. I’ll also be booktalking this to middle schoolers I work with as well.
This is the first Tae Keller book I’ve read, and it was stunning. Each character stands alone and unique, even as they all need each other to be fully formed. Seventh grade is such a strange time, and watching Nomi and Vi approach it in opposite ways reminded me so much of my youth. This touches briefly on Vi’s experience as the child of a mommy blogger, but the turning point in the story is Vi’s flirtation with Lucas, which leads to her sending him a (with bra) topless Snapchat, and then watching him screenshot it, helpless to stop it. When Lucas shows her picture to other boys without her permission, she’s violated and heartbroken, but I was so happy to see the united front of care and support from both her mom and Nomi’s mom. Vi was never blamed for making bad choices, but embraced and supported through the process of reporting it to the school and dealing with the fallout. The book clearly places the blame on Lucas for his choices, and he is suitably disciplined. I want to booktalk this to every fifth grade kid I see this spring, but I ran it by my school librarians first. Universally, they all said it’s appropriate and worth discussion. I’ll also be booktalking this to middle schoolers I work with as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2026
A few good things:
The author is a good storyteller. She is good at character building, and her 3-perspective storyline was an added bonus. The author did a good job with the bullying aspect as well. A lot of middle-grade books try to deal with this, but this book did a good job with it - except that distributing that material actually is illegal, so the kid should have gotten in trouble with the law as well, but oh, well.
A few bad things:
This book is full of liberal vomit. Misrepresentations, exaggeration and demonization of ideas contrary to liberal beliefs, and some outright lies. The number of trees in the United States has been increasing a lot over the last 70 years, fueled by... wait for it... commercial demand. And the polar bear population is actually increasing - a lot. It has tripled since the 60s, and despite what liberal organizations want to believe, and want you to believe, it continues to grow, though not at the same rate as a couple decades ago. But hey, they need your money.
https://thegwpf.org/publications/50-y...
But yeah, the author definitely went down the liberal checklist of things to include in her book. Too bad - she's a good writer.
The author is a good storyteller. She is good at character building, and her 3-perspective storyline was an added bonus. The author did a good job with the bullying aspect as well. A lot of middle-grade books try to deal with this, but this book did a good job with it - except that distributing that material actually is illegal, so the kid should have gotten in trouble with the law as well, but oh, well.
A few bad things:
This book is full of liberal vomit. Misrepresentations, exaggeration and demonization of ideas contrary to liberal beliefs, and some outright lies. The number of trees in the United States has been increasing a lot over the last 70 years, fueled by... wait for it... commercial demand. And the polar bear population is actually increasing - a lot. It has tripled since the 60s, and despite what liberal organizations want to believe, and want you to believe, it continues to grow, though not at the same rate as a couple decades ago. But hey, they need your money.
https://thegwpf.org/publications/50-y...
But yeah, the author definitely went down the liberal checklist of things to include in her book. Too bad - she's a good writer.
July 23, 2026
Three best friends found and read a strange journal of vague phrases when they were younger. But then the phrases, or prophesies, started coming true and the friends grew apart. Now Arthur ignores his former friends in favor of his cross country teammates. And Violet changes her look and her name because she wants lots of things to change.
When it’s time for the last prophecy to come true (a longer and ominous sounding verse), the friends join together once more. They search for the promised sequel to the journal of prophecies, wanting to learn more about the future and yearning for hope in a world that is burning.
There is a lot going on in this book. The story resolves but not in the way you think it will or the way the story first implies.
The three friends all narrate along with the omniscient forest.
When it’s time for the last prophecy to come true (a longer and ominous sounding verse), the friends join together once more. They search for the promised sequel to the journal of prophecies, wanting to learn more about the future and yearning for hope in a world that is burning.
There is a lot going on in this book. The story resolves but not in the way you think it will or the way the story first implies.
The three friends all narrate along with the omniscient forest.
September 27, 2026
I made an incorrect assumption when I started this middle grade novel. I thought it was going to have more of an environmental theme to it particularly in terms of the wildfires that have been running rampant here in the Northwest over the past several summers. Rather than being a major theme, however, I felt it was used more for analogies for challenges that often occur in middle school: friendship, privilege, neurodivergence, and especially cyberbullying. One quote that stuck with me in terms of trees and dealing with tough challenges during teen years was: "It is possible to grow after a burn. It is even possible to grow back stronger." Another quote that I loved was was from the author's note: "The truth is, there's no easy answer to how we live in a world on fire. But if I had to give one, I would say: together. . . It's the forest, not the trees."
September 19, 2026
I enjoyed the many layers of this novel, and Keller’s ability to interweave the voices of three 7th grade friends who are each navigating a confusing world. There is a whole lot going on in the story, but middle school readers will appreciate the honesty of Keller’s writing. The Greek chorus of trees may not have been essential to tell Nomi’s, Arthur’s, and Vi’s stories, but the touch of magical realism works well in bringing disparate elements together.
March 9, 2026
Fantastic! Love how it deals with male toxicity, cyber bullying and misogyny. What a wonderful friendship between Vi and Nomi!!!
May 4, 2026
A very honest and compelling read that deals with some tough topics.
May 13, 2026
I think the author perfectly described this book in her acknowledgments as one that doesn’t “give readers easy answers” but “offers a resting place for big feelings and big questions.”
Middle school kids will feel seen by this tenderly written, moving story about learning to live in the world around us (even though it may burn) and learning to live within ourselves.
Middle school kids will feel seen by this tenderly written, moving story about learning to live in the world around us (even though it may burn) and learning to live within ourselves.
September 22, 2026
My kids say this book is “heart-warming and the best book I’ve read this year”. As a parent, this book led to great conversations about toxic masculinity and online safety. Definitely a must-read!!
April 13, 2026
I read this book really fast because it was pretty engaging. I loved how there was three main characters and the overall plot of the story was fun.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books for Children for access to a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was an incredibly powerful story!! The world is a scary place right now, and not only do the kids know it, they experience it in ways that adults don’t completely understand, which more often than not, leaves them feeling lonely, worried, and hopeless. The problems that Keller tackles range from global disasters down to interpersonal relationships, and many others in between.
Nomi, Vi, and Arthur discovered an anonymous journal when they were younger, and its prophetic poetry has correctly predicted too many events for them to ignore its “magic” -from small things like predicting a new flavor of ice cream, to larger, friendship ending forecasts. But when an apocalyptic prophecy seems to be coming true, Nomi must gather her friends back together to figure out how to stop it.
I highly recommend this book, especially for kids who are struggling with dealing with the pressures of the world, their families, and the daily lives of middle schoolers.
This was an incredibly powerful story!! The world is a scary place right now, and not only do the kids know it, they experience it in ways that adults don’t completely understand, which more often than not, leaves them feeling lonely, worried, and hopeless. The problems that Keller tackles range from global disasters down to interpersonal relationships, and many others in between.
Nomi, Vi, and Arthur discovered an anonymous journal when they were younger, and its prophetic poetry has correctly predicted too many events for them to ignore its “magic” -from small things like predicting a new flavor of ice cream, to larger, friendship ending forecasts. But when an apocalyptic prophecy seems to be coming true, Nomi must gather her friends back together to figure out how to stop it.
I highly recommend this book, especially for kids who are struggling with dealing with the pressures of the world, their families, and the daily lives of middle schoolers.
December 23, 2025
Three middle schoolers search for an old book which may be able to predict the future. Along the way they renew friendships, experience crushes, and learn some hard lessons. This book was much heavier than I had expected and took some digesting afterwards to connect it all together. Multiple POVs, including trees, engage the reader and shed light on internal motivations. Overall a worthwhile read.
May 31, 2026
3.5 stars
I felt that this was a little bit too superficial to really work for me. For example, the whole question around vegetarianism and stuff is raised but never concluded beyond this empty „it doesn’t feel nice but if I don’t think about it it does taste good and that’s what counts,“ or pretty much anything else that Arthur thinks about - if you‘re not old and knowledgeable enough you’re not going to get anything out of these thoughts and concerns because the narrative fails to create a narrative. This weakens the book because it is, nominally, primarily interested in providing a sort of education (hence the casual inclusion of certain language and characters, all of which I appreciate but the casual representation of queer characters is very different from a „casual“ representation of misogynistic and borderline great replacement theory talking points - the latter needs unpacking even if it is associated with characters that are not talked about favourably).
Also, I felt like the book was in this weird double-bind, both wanting to talk about environmental aspects (hence the tree narrators) and then using a more metaphorical approach to „the world is on fire“. I appreciate the effort but I felt that the book consequently fails to actually thematize the former. That being said, I do think that the storyline with the was handled well. In terms of other positives: the aforementioned casual representation of queer characters, the cute group of protagonists, the idea for the museum and co.
I felt that this was a little bit too superficial to really work for me. For example, the whole question around vegetarianism and stuff is raised but never concluded beyond this empty „it doesn’t feel nice but if I don’t think about it it does taste good and that’s what counts,“ or pretty much anything else that Arthur thinks about - if you‘re not old and knowledgeable enough you’re not going to get anything out of these thoughts and concerns because the narrative fails to create a narrative. This weakens the book because it is, nominally, primarily interested in providing a sort of education (hence the casual inclusion of certain language and characters, all of which I appreciate but the casual representation of queer characters is very different from a „casual“ representation of misogynistic and borderline great replacement theory talking points - the latter needs unpacking even if it is associated with characters that are not talked about favourably).
Also, I felt like the book was in this weird double-bind, both wanting to talk about environmental aspects (hence the tree narrators) and then using a more metaphorical approach to „the world is on fire“. I appreciate the effort but I felt that the book consequently fails to actually thematize the former. That being said, I do think that the storyline with the was handled well. In terms of other positives: the aforementioned casual representation of queer characters, the cute group of protagonists, the idea for the museum and co.
March 5, 2026
When Tomorrow Burns is a powerful coming-of-age story centered on the messy, emotional world of middle school, where friendships, identity, and belonging can feel like everything. The book captures the intense pressure kids face at that age when they are trying to figure out who they are while also navigating the fear of standing out or becoming the subject of ridicule. It beautifully explores the struggle between doing what is right and simply wanting to fit in.
The way Keller weaves a prophecy throughout the story makes it even more compelling. Watching the written words slowly unfold was fascinating, especially as events came to fruition in ways neither the characters nor the reader expected.
This was an incredibly emotional read. It made me reflect on my own experiences during those middle school years and also think about the day my own children will reach that age and face similar challenges.
Keller also thoughtfully weaves in important social topics, including gender identity, stolen land, and the history of Japanese internment camps. Seeing these ideas through the perspectives of middle schoolers adds depth and encourages reflection without feeling overwhelming.
This is a thoughtful, emotional book that I will absolutely keep on my shelf and hope my children read when they are old enough.
The way Keller weaves a prophecy throughout the story makes it even more compelling. Watching the written words slowly unfold was fascinating, especially as events came to fruition in ways neither the characters nor the reader expected.
This was an incredibly emotional read. It made me reflect on my own experiences during those middle school years and also think about the day my own children will reach that age and face similar challenges.
Keller also thoughtfully weaves in important social topics, including gender identity, stolen land, and the history of Japanese internment camps. Seeing these ideas through the perspectives of middle schoolers adds depth and encourages reflection without feeling overwhelming.
This is a thoughtful, emotional book that I will absolutely keep on my shelf and hope my children read when they are old enough.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Tomorrow Burns is a middle grade novel about three friends navigating middle school all while ongoing wildfires shroud the Seattle sky in gray smoke. A book about how kids cope with the impeding sense of doom that they deal with on a daily basis from climate change to social media.
I really loved this book. I’ve read When You Trap a Tiger, so I went into this one with high expectations, and honestly... it delivered. It has mixed Asian representation, real issues kids must face in 2026, all while set in my home state – it all just worked. The way she wrote the trees at the heart of the story really anchored the story and was my favorite part. If you haven’t read Tae Keller yet, you really should.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s book for the gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book. I’ve read When You Trap a Tiger, so I went into this one with high expectations, and honestly... it delivered. It has mixed Asian representation, real issues kids must face in 2026, all while set in my home state – it all just worked. The way she wrote the trees at the heart of the story really anchored the story and was my favorite part. If you haven’t read Tae Keller yet, you really should.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s book for the gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2026
Richie’s Picks: WHEN TOMORROW BURNS by Tae Keller, Random House, March 2026, 272p., ISBN: 978-0-593-48558-3
“‘We have to prevent complete and utter annihilation,’ she announced, as if that were not a bizarre thing to say to someone you barely spoke to.”
“And the kindness that you show every day
will help someone along their way
You’ve got to try a little kindness”
— Curt Sapauch and Bobby Austin (1969)
“But the book–
It was Arthur who’d pulled it off the shelf. ‘Look what showed up last night,’ he’d said. Back then, he was always showing them things, eager and nervous like he cared what they thought.
They were buzzing with energy. Anything would’ve excited Nomi, probably.
But the book was another level.
There was something about it. Maybe it was the old leather binding and the crinkly, browned paper that said, This is old, like, ancient. Maybe it was the way the scrawled entries were written in faded blue ink, or the way the handwriting was just barely legible, which made each line feel like a puzzle, or the way the little poems and phrases had the lilt and tilt of fantastical prophecies.
She knew it was silly, but as she read them, the hairs on her neck stood up. She wouldn’t call it magic–she would never–but there was something there that she couldn’t quite describe.
And then the little poems started coming true.
In pea-green pockets, promises of tomorrow.
Nomi found an old pop quiz in her green coat, and the next day their teacher surprised them with another one.
When leaves flutter, too high to climb, too far to fall.
Violet tried to help her Dad clean the gutters in the fall, and then fell off the ladder, spraining her ankle,
A taste of something new, and something blue.
Arthur’s other dad, Brian, arrived at dinner one night with a brand-new flavor of ice cream: blue bubble gum.
These might’ve seemed like coincidences if they hadn’t happened so often, with the prophecies coming true in order, one after the other, reliable and undeniable.”
The book about which Nomi speaks–specifically an old, worn out diary–was discovered by Arthur amongst the donations to the “Museum of Lost and Found.” Arthur’s other father, Anthony, established the museum in their Seattle home, building it around pieces of artwork abandoned on the street or sitting at the curb, awaiting garbage day. These days, the “museum” is trendy and getting good press. Anonymous donations of paintings, sculptures, and poems are regularly being left outside the “museum” doors.
But that book!
“Pink and gray both on one day.
The world has tipped, you have no say.”
– beginning of the final prophecy
“Nomi spent months dreading the future. What would happen when the final poem came true? Something terrible, horrible, ominously awful, clearly, and then that would be it. No more safe, predictable world–
The only comfort she could find was scribbled in tiny script at the bottom of the last page. The words Volume 1 of 2. Somewhere out there, her future had a sequel.”
Now that they believe the final prophecy has reared its head, Nomi and Vi feel compelled to team up with Arthur–whose near-lifelong friendship with them has somehow become estranged–in order to seek out that second volume and save creation from “complete and utter annihilation.”
Meanwhile, in the concrete world of middle school, where Nomi, Vi, and Arthur are seventh graders attending a Seattle private school, that world is about to fall apart, too. The second-most popular boy at school has suddenly begun texting with Vi. Sadly, he is not what he seems, and he takes advantage of the situation.
Given the number of cautionary stories still being written about this most vulnerable time in a young person’s life, it seems certain that I’ll leave this planet with middle school kids still being mercilessly abused to the breaking point.
WHEN TOMORROW BURNS by Newbery Medalist Tae Keller is a creative, standout, coming-of-age tale that highlights the value of real friendships whilst dealing with the brutality of middle school. It’s a story that–I guarantee you–will sooner or later be responsible for saving a life. It’s one that will enlighten tween readers about the necessity of speaking out in opposition to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, rather than going along with the crowd or just looking the other way. I urge you to get it, read it, and booktalk it.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“‘We have to prevent complete and utter annihilation,’ she announced, as if that were not a bizarre thing to say to someone you barely spoke to.”
“And the kindness that you show every day
will help someone along their way
You’ve got to try a little kindness”
— Curt Sapauch and Bobby Austin (1969)
“But the book–
It was Arthur who’d pulled it off the shelf. ‘Look what showed up last night,’ he’d said. Back then, he was always showing them things, eager and nervous like he cared what they thought.
They were buzzing with energy. Anything would’ve excited Nomi, probably.
But the book was another level.
There was something about it. Maybe it was the old leather binding and the crinkly, browned paper that said, This is old, like, ancient. Maybe it was the way the scrawled entries were written in faded blue ink, or the way the handwriting was just barely legible, which made each line feel like a puzzle, or the way the little poems and phrases had the lilt and tilt of fantastical prophecies.
She knew it was silly, but as she read them, the hairs on her neck stood up. She wouldn’t call it magic–she would never–but there was something there that she couldn’t quite describe.
And then the little poems started coming true.
In pea-green pockets, promises of tomorrow.
Nomi found an old pop quiz in her green coat, and the next day their teacher surprised them with another one.
When leaves flutter, too high to climb, too far to fall.
Violet tried to help her Dad clean the gutters in the fall, and then fell off the ladder, spraining her ankle,
A taste of something new, and something blue.
Arthur’s other dad, Brian, arrived at dinner one night with a brand-new flavor of ice cream: blue bubble gum.
These might’ve seemed like coincidences if they hadn’t happened so often, with the prophecies coming true in order, one after the other, reliable and undeniable.”
The book about which Nomi speaks–specifically an old, worn out diary–was discovered by Arthur amongst the donations to the “Museum of Lost and Found.” Arthur’s other father, Anthony, established the museum in their Seattle home, building it around pieces of artwork abandoned on the street or sitting at the curb, awaiting garbage day. These days, the “museum” is trendy and getting good press. Anonymous donations of paintings, sculptures, and poems are regularly being left outside the “museum” doors.
But that book!
“Pink and gray both on one day.
The world has tipped, you have no say.”
– beginning of the final prophecy
“Nomi spent months dreading the future. What would happen when the final poem came true? Something terrible, horrible, ominously awful, clearly, and then that would be it. No more safe, predictable world–
The only comfort she could find was scribbled in tiny script at the bottom of the last page. The words Volume 1 of 2. Somewhere out there, her future had a sequel.”
Now that they believe the final prophecy has reared its head, Nomi and Vi feel compelled to team up with Arthur–whose near-lifelong friendship with them has somehow become estranged–in order to seek out that second volume and save creation from “complete and utter annihilation.”
Meanwhile, in the concrete world of middle school, where Nomi, Vi, and Arthur are seventh graders attending a Seattle private school, that world is about to fall apart, too. The second-most popular boy at school has suddenly begun texting with Vi. Sadly, he is not what he seems, and he takes advantage of the situation.
Given the number of cautionary stories still being written about this most vulnerable time in a young person’s life, it seems certain that I’ll leave this planet with middle school kids still being mercilessly abused to the breaking point.
WHEN TOMORROW BURNS by Newbery Medalist Tae Keller is a creative, standout, coming-of-age tale that highlights the value of real friendships whilst dealing with the brutality of middle school. It’s a story that–I guarantee you–will sooner or later be responsible for saving a life. It’s one that will enlighten tween readers about the necessity of speaking out in opposition to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, rather than going along with the crowd or just looking the other way. I urge you to get it, read it, and booktalk it.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
March 30, 2026
Keller’s new middle grade novel looks at growing up in challenging times and reaffirms that community will be the balm that can hold our society together. Nomi, Vi, and Arthur have been friends forever but 7th grade brings changes to their relationship. Arthur feels uncomfortable about his crush on Nomi and distances himself from the girls, instead spending all his time with the cross country boys. Meanwhile, Vi feels exposed when she discovers her mother’s blog, which exhaustively documents her daughter’s life; as a result, she tries shortening her name to Vi and changing up her look. Finally, brainy Nomi demands that the friends reexamine an old, handmade book that the three used to pour over exhaustively. In the past, its cryptic pages have seemed to predict their futures, but it ends on a dire note: “A girl who burns, a boy who breaks. How do you turn a girl to flame? When canopies burn, you’ll never be the same.” Stuck in the middle of Seattle during fire season, Nomi fears that the book foreshadows catastrophe and believes that only finding its sequel can avert disaster.
The book’s narration alternates between the 3 main characters (all speaking in the third person) and short, dreamy passages delivered in first person by a tree, which has been around long enough to remember the creation of the book and watch over everyone who’s come into contact with it. Keller touches on many hot button issues in this novel, including climate change, sexting, toxic masculinity, and income inequality, but the long range perspective provided by the tree will help readers keep everyday worries in perspective while also providing a striking model for mutualism. Although the cover and the description of the book allude to forest fire, the natural world functions more as a metaphor for the emotional upheavals of modern adolescence, with the book representing the magic and pureness that Nomi longs to hold on to, even as her devotion to facts comes into conflict with that wish. Nomi and Arthur are white, with a single mom and 2 dads respectively, while Vi is mixed race: Asian and white. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The book’s narration alternates between the 3 main characters (all speaking in the third person) and short, dreamy passages delivered in first person by a tree, which has been around long enough to remember the creation of the book and watch over everyone who’s come into contact with it. Keller touches on many hot button issues in this novel, including climate change, sexting, toxic masculinity, and income inequality, but the long range perspective provided by the tree will help readers keep everyday worries in perspective while also providing a striking model for mutualism. Although the cover and the description of the book allude to forest fire, the natural world functions more as a metaphor for the emotional upheavals of modern adolescence, with the book representing the magic and pureness that Nomi longs to hold on to, even as her devotion to facts comes into conflict with that wish. Nomi and Arthur are white, with a single mom and 2 dads respectively, while Vi is mixed race: Asian and white. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
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