Tomorrow, Maybe

by Brian James

A startling, heartfelt PUSH novel from the author of PURE SUNSHINE

Fifteen-year-old Chan lives on the streets. She's run away from home and has no intention to go back. She doesn't care about anyone or anything . . . until ten-year-old Elizabeth comes into her life. A rough world becomes even rougher when you have someone you care about . . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

I've written numerous children's books, including the Pirate School series and the Catkid series. I'm also the author of several novels: Pure Sunshine; Tomorrow, Maybe; Perfect World; Dirty Liar; Thief; Zombie Blondes; The Heights.

Reviews

[Mitchell Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a girl named Chan, she lives on the streets in New York. She ran away from home because of her step-mother. While living on the streets, Chan met a young 6 year old girl that ran away from her home because her father abused her. They took care of each other as if they were sisters. They had a problem raising the money they needed to be able to get out of the city.
I chose to read this book because the title made it seem very interesting. As I started to read the first chapter, the storyline started to get my attention. So I started to read it more and I have enjoyed it a lot.
I enjoyed how the author made the story so realistic. How it was based on first person speaking. It made the book interesting because it was as if Chan was telling you her story and how she lived. I liked how the plot was in New York. There are a lot of things a run away can do and not get in trouble or caught because of how big the city is.
The title didn't really have to do with the book in my opinion. Even though it made the book interesting, it didn't really go very well. I did not like how the book didn't really explain how they got their money. Just that they raised a lot. It would've made it better by explaining what they did for money and what they did for food. The other reason I did not like the book was the continuously swear words. They used it in almost every sentence.
My overall impression on the book was amazing. I loved the plot, the setting, and the conflicts they had to deal with on their way. How they had to move and find a new place almost every two weeks, how they had trouble with other runaways and became friends, and dealing with stuck up rich boys on the way as well. This book was overall amazing, interesting, and realistic.
I recommend that people who are interested in first person speaking and love to read about life changing stories should read this book. This book does contain swear words, so if you are against it, I advise you not to read it. Other than that, it is a very well book. And if you love twists, this book is definitely for you.
This book contains mild violence as in teen fights, and it contains most swear words. It also has a little bit of sexual content (mild) but not a major problem.

[Alyssa Austria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I enjoyed this book. It really opens up your eyes about the situations homeless people go through. Whether you ran away or have no where to stay, it really shows that anything can happen and anyone can end up in Chan or Elizabeth’s situation. The story of this book broke stereotypes about the homeless and teaches readers to appreciate what’s in front of you because anything can happen. This story taught me that nobody chooses to be in the situation they’re in and everything happens for a reason. I rate this book 4 stars because I feel that some of the chapters were extra or unnecessary for the plot of the book.

[Myss-Syckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian James did such a good job on this one!
This is one of my favourite books, actually.
Found it at the school library, a few years back
and COULD NOT put it down.
After reading Can't Get There from Here, I was on the hunt for books with similar plots, and similar GREATNESS.
Well, I found this one and loooooooved it.
I am going to add this to my bookshelf soon, thanks amazon.

[Pepper Gerstner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book because of some grammatical errors....they were done on purpose (non-use of capital letters at beginning of sentences)--but it really thru me off and I kept worrying about that instead of concentrating on the story. haha.
For the story....Made me feel for these girls--and made me think a lot of my 2 daughters.

[Isabel Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really good book. so much deatil every page u read has something special.. i have read this book many times because it is so great!the characters will saty with u. and so will this book

[Mariko Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even remember these books that well, except for remembering that preteen me really jived with them.

[Pollypan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm donating, but a powerful read, especially with the phone call to her dad.

[Francis Dolarhyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Made me cry

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Character was slightly less than believable at a few points but a satisfying read.

[Jaemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be a world of shadows, ghosts, haunted memories, and shame. But it can also be freedom, beauty, and solidarity bred of understanding. Every street kid has their story--they don't ask, but they know. For Gretchen, it was her Stepmother. Continued life under the same roof as her: impossible. At 15, she still feels like the baby, even though it's been two years. Two years learning to love the morning, before the city wakes up. Loving life while the sun is rising. Liking it less once there's a world to see. Two years on the streets take their toll. Lately, it's the dream of getting out that keeps Gretchen going.

Until Elizabeth.

Tiny, cold, and silent, she arrives one night on the stairs. It's not a place Gretchen usually stays. Still, she can't help but take a stand. They tell her a kid that young will only be trouble. But all she sees is someone who needs her. Someone to take care of. From that moment on, Elizabeth is hers.

At first it's simple. Easy enough to make Elizabeth smile. Easy to be happy just because she is. Then people start to drift, police start to raid, life gets more and more out of control. The streets aren't as fun anymore. The dream seems farther and farther away. Today isn't enough, tomorrow slips from her reach. Only the finality of total loss can bring resolution.

______________

Brian James is one of my favorite authors. He writes about the world as I know it, and does so well. And thanks to the MySpace craze, I've actually gotten to interact with him enough to know that he's a really cool guy. And should be coming to my Library this summer so I can meet him in person!

This is his second book, and marks the real start of his writing take-off. While I enjoyed his first book, it's a world apart from the rest that follow, in more ways than one. Starting with Tomorrow, Maybe his stories delicately intertwine. It's very cool. I'm currently awaiting his next release, which will pick up Elizabeth's tale a few years down the road.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl nicknamed Chan who ran away from home due because of her step-mother. It shows the kinds of things that she has to do to survive and the various dangers on the streets, including drugs.

She meets an even younger girl, Elizabeth, who is 11, who ran away due to a physically abusive father. They bond and go from place to place, sleeping in rat-infested basements, going to a party at a rich-boy's house while his parents are away, living in Chinatown for a while, and desperately running from some men who would use both of them as prostitutes.

This is not a pretty novel. It's not a happy-happy novel. It gives a person a good idea of what the homeless people have to do to survive and the types of conditions that they live under. It can be an upsetting story, to say the least, yet it's also well written and interesting.

[Mscout · Rating 1 out of 5]

there's a certain genre of music, in which earnest young men with acoustic guitars sing at a very high pitch of their undying love for someone or other, or of the Injustice Of It All...I call it the whiny-sensitive-guy genre. And I cannot stand to listen to it. This would be the literary equivalent. Perhaps the author thinks that watching boats go up and down the Hudson from his balcony gives him some sort of insight into the street kids of NYC. Perhaps he never leaves that balcony, so he truly believes that they all come in nice neat little boxes and all come to nice neat happy endings. Suffice to say, the characters are cardboard, the heroine obnoxious and the writing just too precious for words...

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I liked the writing style of this. It seemed the author was trying to hard to be 'innovative' and 'unique.' But I didn't see the point of starting new sentences if the words weren't even going to be capitalised. It'd make more sense to use commas like normal books do.

Everything seemed to happen so fast too. I lost track of how much time had passed, and because of this it seemed a bit rushed to me. Saying that, the ending was half good. On one hand, I liked what happened. But on the other hand, it seemed totally rushed like the author thought of the idea at the last minute.

It was an okay book for a short read. Story was okay. Characters were quite interesting. Ending was great, besides the rushed effect.

[Darcie Ragland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Tomorrow, Maybe
Author: Brian James
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I rate this book four stars because it was really interesting. You get a gist of what life is like through the eyes of someone who doesn't have a home. You lose friends, you gain friends, you lose family, and you gain family. It was a beautifully written book and I definitely recommend this book. I would have liked to see what life was like for Gretchen at the end of the book, but I assume Brian James wanted it to have a cliff hanger end like that

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, but it was alright. The characters are likable and confused and the plot is a bit of a commentary on homeless, friendship, society, and trust but aimed at a young adult audience. I picked up this book because I've seen James' other book Pure Sunshine around and while reading PS never appealed to me based on reading the cover, the author's name stuck and I also enjoy the soft cover publishing style of his books.

[justablondemoment · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book didn't blow me away I was impressed with the author's style. I felt myself being drawn into these children's lives and caring about them. Having never been on the streets and homeless myself, I can only imagine what they go through, but to be that young is just beyond me in how they cope. It breaks my heart to know there are children out in the world that feel safer in the streets than at home. A sad fact, but a true one.

[America Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because i like to read books about drama and how families break apart it is just an amazing book. I would say that all of my classmates would like this book because it has some language that we use and it would make the book more interesting.I would recommend this book to my friends because they read what i like to read. They would find it interesting.

[Claren Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Brian James writes. It definately intrigues me, and i just adore his style of writing. It is a very interesting story, and i woulold definately know, since i have read it probably 100 times minimum. I would definately reccommend this book.

[Asenath]

Bittersweet. Chan runs away from home after being emotionally abused by her step mother. About her life on the streets, the dangers, the people, and the emotions that drive her to do this.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tomorrow, Maybe by Brian James (2003)"

[Clarence thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this book was awsome.it is really intense and always make you go "dang thats crazy i really enjoy my life."The lesson i learned was to never run away from home

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Karina Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a touching book. I enjoyed reading this very much and have already recommended it to a lot of my friends.

[Kari Carter]

Caught me on the first page and drug me all the way through, this is a book i would love to own

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful who you become friends with and trust.
Always do what's best for you in life.