Truth

Chasing Yesterday #3

by Robin Wasserman

For use in schools and libraries only. Now that J.D. knows that she is a weapon with dangerous powers, she must return to the institute that created her to finally unlock the secrets in her mind.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens

Library Binding

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Robin Wasserman is the author of the novels MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE (June 2020) and GIRLS ON FIRE. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Tin House, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and several short story anthologies. A recent MacDowell Colony fellow, she is also the New York Times bestselling author of more than ten novels for young adults and teaches in the low-residency MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University.

Reviews

[Kit H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series in elementary school way back in the day. As a kid who struggles with staying interested in book this truly was the series that fully immersed me into the world and a lifetime of loving to read!

[Chance Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coming off book the last book this one has a real up hill battle. Did it make it to the summit or is it stuck on a rocky road? Let’s see what happened.
(I’m assuming you’ve read the last two so Spoilers for those.)

Cover
We are sticking to shattered glass concept. Looks great still love it. I did notice to the color reference. Bringing the first two books together creates the result of book 3. Blue + Red = Purple.
With the back cover I can’t quite tell if that is a custom made file (Easter egg) or just stock. That would be really cool if it was a reference to something though.


Interior
This book really like’s using special words like; Strong, Special, Unique, Power, Control.

I felt nothing through the first half of the book. I am not kidding. I didn’t feel sorry for J.D. in the slightest. I felt annoyed and I ended up shouting different idea’s that would have changed the story and increased the risks. The exact second Daniel appeared, I woke up and ended up getting really excited. Before then I didn’t have any sympathy for her.

Through the whole middle I just kept singing Pink Floyd’s The Wall. I liked how visual the building looked and the theme this section gave this really cool vibe. The manipulation control of Ansel is really cool. As a villain he is REALLY well written. Smart, Composed, and Intellectual from what we can see.
I do remember saying at one point it was even better than the first book but thinking back I don’t think I can truly say that.

Book 3 SPOILERS!!

I am not happy with this ending and I think all the issue’s I personally find with it are covered in this area.
I do respect how open ended it feels because I think I would have done the same thing but that’s about it. I do feel sorry for the author because she really wrote herself into a corner here and is trying her hardest to get around it. To a degree if the book ended with them parting as friends, I think it would have been a lot better than what came next. Even if I’m REALLY tired of this repeating theme of JD. ditching Daniel.
Like I said before with J.D. So desperate to be Strong and in Control she has terrible judgement and common sense. I have a number of issues about this ending.
One of the biggest things that bothers me is taking her mother’s hand.
All the ingredients are here but the concept of control broke what could have been a brilliant ending.
Her mother literally has been mentally abusing her for who knows how long. To take her hand is the equivalent of a victim going back to their assailant.
BUT this is another idea they didn’t even cover at this moment. Could Ansel be the one that placed this loathing in JD for his own advantage?
(Personal opinion) To go in the direction of rebuilding a bond have it start as go to a coffee shop or the mall. Not to a place where no one can find you it sounds insane.
I love to touch of a complete memory wipe I just wish rather than trying to calm JD, her mother should have started saying what she was like before the wipe. Give the reader and JD some personality insight.

Boiled down these are the main reasons.
NOTHING IS LEARNED IN THIS BOOK! She is still pushing Daniel away, going with complete strangers that stab her in the back… Keep in mind She HATED Daniel for going to the police and yet this woman made her into a weaponized lab rat. She is a control freak with abandonment issues.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It was interesting who her real mother turned out to be.

* So, JD is now at the institute, under the control of Sykes, and brainwashed into believing that he's helping her.
* Daniel turns up as a member of the staff and tries to convince JD that she needs to leave, which doesn't work well because she's brainwashed.
* One of the other girls is taken away after she claimed to have a headache.
* Something that her fake mother said lets JD regain control and she realises that Sykes is brainwashing all of the girls into being telekinetic robots for hire. JD knows that they have to get away.
* JD is shot by Sykes for snooping in her office, one of the other girls - Mara tells her to save the girls by using the mind control to get them to leave, then her fake mother tells her she has to destroy the server or the girls will never be safe.
* The girls end up being reunited with their families, Daniel goes to live on a ranch, and JD finds out that her fake mother is actually her real mother.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in the trilogy was just as good as the first two. In Chasing Yesterday #3, Truth, JD is back at the institute under the control of Dr. Sykes, until Daniel returns, and JD begins to question all of what she thinks she knows to be true. This was a very intriguing trilogy. This series would be excellent for reluctant readers. I highly recommend it for those looking for a quick yet enjoyable read.

[Brooklynn Manis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interrsting and in good detail. I enjoyed reading this book, and I hope you think the same

[Fiona Wuollet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is overall amazing! The end is really surprising as well.

[Katelyn Birchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I reread this entire series in less than 2 days? Yes I sure did. 😬

[Liv Degendorfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

this series ended strong tbh! author was really good at fooling me alongside the mc, made the reveal better

[Yasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
honestly I just think I'm a tad bit too old for this book bu that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. Also I took a peek at the last page and I thought they were gone kill of Daniel but that wasn't the case and I'm glad they didn't.

Also, also I finished this book a couple of days ago but I'm not sure which day. Thursday? Wednesday? not sure.

[Ari K · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good series. Personally I wish there was something that touched on her friendship with Daniel in the future. Whether it's them meeting on the farm in a few months, or when there are adults meeting up for the first time.

[Allie Mueller]

Type: Fiction, Chapter Book
Genre: Realistic fiction
Awards: None
Summary: This story picks up where the previous book left off. JD wakes up, revived and pumped full of "medicine" administered by Ansel Sykes. Dr. Sykes is warm and friendly toward JD, and she begins to accept the life that she has been led believe is hers. There are training sessions and secret lessons that JD doesn't get to attend, and her "friends" think that she is not advanced enough. JD starts to become suspicious of her school after one of the other girls has a strange fit. As JD comes to the realization that something is wrong, an old friend shows up to help her figure things out. The pair work together to discover the secrets held in Ansel Sykes' office and uncover the operation that they have unknowingly been a part of. Another character unexpectedly gives JD the information she needs to foil Sykes' plot, and turns out to be more friendly that JD thought.

Questions:
-What was JD's greatest quality? Why?
-Do you think JD could have escaped alone? Why/Why not?
-What were the most important events in the story? Why?

Critique: Chasing Yesterday is a great series, but this book was not my favorite of the three. Until more than halfway through the story, the plot was dry and uneventful, especially compared to that of the previous books. Although I understand that the more exciting sections of the book needed to be set up with background information, I think that the preparing information could have been presented in a more interesting way.

Craft elements:
Students could write responses to the above questions in essay form. They would be expected to supply reasoning behind their responses and include details in their writing.

[Atira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth(chasing yesterday book 3 )
Author: Robin Wasserman
Review: atira Meyer

In Truth, J.D is back at the institute that created her. But j.D is not afraid nor will she try to escape, because the place is so convincing that they are her family, not her enemies.She meets girls just like her,with the same abilities.

J.D is sure that everything is okay again,but that music still plays in her head, colored lights still mezmorize her, and she still has dreams of things that never happened, (or did they?). Then Daniel shows up at the institute and helps J.D realize that bad things were happening and J.D was not noticing.

"She struggled against the dark fog filling her mind; she tried to force her eyes open. But the music swelled and crested and echoed in her head, driving her thoughts away. Her eyes never fluttered, her lungs expanded and contracted in a smooth, even, rhythm, and her clouded mind lost it's grip. REMEMBER. FIGHT. "Sleep" Dr. Mersenne ordered. And she slept."

J.d comes to find that Dr. A. Sykes is training them to do bad things, to be weapons. J.d has to help the other girls escape from Sykes.

Can she do it without getting herself trapped at the institute forever, and can she help Daniel get out too?

J.D learns many things about herself in this book; she also learns about her past and how she can change her future.

Read "Truth(chasing yesterday book 3)" to find out what happens to J.D, Daniel, and all the girls at the institute.

[Abby]

Ditto to book #1.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Chasing Yesterday trilogy, and I can't see the point of reviewing each book separately, since they really can't stand on their own anyway. They might have been published as three separate books, but the first two read like partial novels; they don't really end. They just sort of...stop. You turn to the next page, to start the next chapter, and there isn't one. Nothing resolves. There's not even an attempt at closure. And the books are short enough that really, they could have been combined into one good book instead of three mediocre ones. In fact, they're written as if that were the case, and some editor or publisher decided to squeeze a little more buzz and/or money out of them by publishing them separately. Whatever the reason, I would recommend reading all three at once. Otherwise, there's no point.

Other than the strange setup, I liked the books. The story is intriguing, and the writing is fast-paced enough to hold the attention of a middle reader, without resorting to graphic violence or language.

[Arminzerella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just a quick note here...I didn't actually write a review for this one (as far as I can tell/remember). The second and third books in this series so disappointed me that I didn't want to waste any more time thinking about them. I don't know the history of this story/series, so I can't say for sure, but it seems like the publishers/author took a story that could be told in a single volume and streeeeeetched it out to span three - none of them particularly satisfying as standalones. It's frustrating because there are so many good teen and children's books that tell their stories in the amount of pages/space that they need, and manage to do it well - without having to resort to Suddenly!Action! in order to jumpstart things when they're starting to lag. If the protagonist isn't moping and feeling guilty about her actions, then she's in a situation that requires her to Move!Fast! It gets old, and it feels recycled.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the final book of Chasing Yesterday, J.D. is dead on a table and the book opens with "men" administering paddles to her chest after she has lain dead for three hundred and thirty seven seconds. She has also been receiving a serum, and now Dr. Sykes will try to make a full recovery for J.D. because he has a very big project for her---but she does not know this. J.D. is happy to be alive, clean, with a bed and clothes and the girls she is living with. They tell her she has always loved being here and is Dr. Sykes pet. Daniel gets a job as a cafeteria worker and J.D. realizes he is a true friend that she can count on...and so they begin to get back the old fighter in J.D. There is something very scary planned for J.D. and all the girls with their telekinetic abilities being put to use. A gripping read that I couldn't put down, one that reluctant readers and scifi and mystery lovers will want to devour.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book because it took me back to the days when I watched the series Dark Angel. I feel that the show was kind of based along the lines of this book because there are a few similarities. J.D. (Jordan) is the protagonist in this book. She isn’t really like most girls her age. She has a past that she doesn’t remember; she has these special abilities, she feels like she is trapped. She knows there is something a mist going on in this facility but she can’t put her figure on it. This is a page turner because there are some nail biting moments when your like “Oh my god. What’s going to happen to her next?” I recommend this to people who like a sci-fi/mystery kind of book.

[Shalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, done with all 3 parts about J.D finding her past.I kinda didn't like this book because it git boring cause all the fun stuff happened during the 2 first books and the last was talking bout her going back to the doctor that betrayed and her that was controlling her mind and thinking that she had special powers with her (which she doesn't know how to use).Finally, she got her best friend back Daniel and yeah...just gotta read the book to find out bout the beginning.I small kine like it because it had a lot of details to describe the books like I could just think if that would happen to me.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever felt alone and didnt have anyone to trust? I think this book is great because the protagonist has confidence and bravery that help her in what she is going thruogh. Int this book the main character doesnt know anything about her past so she wonders around on her own. She had someone who help her but he betrayed her. She had something insede that made her powerful. Also, becuase it seemed like she is being controlled by something. i recommend this book to anyone who is interested in suspense and drama.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been trapped in your onw mind and were not able to get out? I think this book is awesome because the main character feels like she is alone and that something is controlling her. This book kept me wanting to keep reading and see what happens next. It had suspense and I didnt know what to expect was going to happen. Also, there were others like her but not as strong. She was able to gain control of her own and find out what was really going on in the institute tht she was in. I recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and who wants to know how to not let go of yourself.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conclusion to the story of a young woman who can't remember who she is or anything about her past and how she comes to terms with her powers. I like how it ended, giving J.D. some closure but also leaving it open to a fourth installment. At the end when we learn the final details of who J.D. really is, its a bit of a surprise. It wasn't a complete total shock, but it gave an explanation I hadn't considered while reading this and the two previous books of the series.

[G H · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME ENDING!!! This is a really awesome last book! I really liked that she learned, or thought she learned, the truth about her parents. And then, BOOM. Actually, her enemy is her MOM!!!! I liked how we found out her real name and met her old friends. And I really liked how we found out what J.D. really is, what they were doing with her, and how she beat them and saved the day!! :P My only lament is: WHY DID DANIEL LEAVE!!!!????? THEY WERE PERFECT FOR EACHOTHER!!!! :(

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow...it took me forever to get this third book in the Chasing Yesterday series. For some reason, no bookstores, libraries, or even book orders had it in there. This is an intense ending book to a suspenseful trilogy that is both chilling and intriguing. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

[Kme · Rating 4 out of 5]

make sure youve read #'s 1&2

finally the answers are here!!!

everything comes together in this book

JD finds her answers and even more

she doesnt become controlled once her best friend Daniel comes to LysenCorp and saves her from Sykes.

she saves herself and the other girls, with plenty of obstacles along the way.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good riddance to this series! I was five pages away from finishing it last night. The book got to be so tedious to read that I went to bed before finishing it just because I was BORED. Not good. I think my students might enjoy this series (fans of Shadow Children series, Zach's Lie books, and maybe the Uglies series), but I sure didn't.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really makes you think about whether ignorance is truly bliss....In some ways, J.D feels blissful when she believes and does everything she's told...but feels angry and horrified as she comes to learn the truth of everything. So, in that sense, it is bliss. But would you rather be blissfully ignorant, or angrily knowledgable? I choose the latter.

[Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book felt like it was just stalling for time due to a plot shortage. J.D. would gain some ground but lose it just as fast, over and over again. After the first couple times, it didn't have any kind of suspense to it. However, the second half of the book, once things actually started happening, was quite good.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a page turner. I never wanted to put it down. I thought the author really channeled the reader's feelings. The author really brought the main character to life and I felt like I was in the book with the character. I loved the entire series and can't wait to read more from Robin Wasserman.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chasing Yesterday, book three.

J.D. is running out of places to hide, so she goes to the one place where the mystery of her past might be solved--the institute. Is she strong enough to fight, or will she be controlled once again?

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is where the story rally gets interesting. Especially at the end of the book when her fake mom survived the fall (she thought it was her fake mom) but really her fake mom was her birth mom!!!