Absence

by Melanie Tem

Nothing is simple in fifteen-year-old Casey’s life. She has two families and two houses and two rooms of her own. Sometimes this makes her feel lucky, but other times she feels practically homeless. She also has a brother with Asperger’s. He’s interesting to have around, and she loves him very much, but he’s also complicated. And speaking of complicated, Casey discovers she's a time traveler. She’ll be doing her Algebra homework, or on her way to work at the restaurant, when suddenly she’s in some other time and place, in some other body, and she’s supposed to do something. Help somebody. Fix some problem. But how?

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

Melanie Kubachko was born and raised in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. She received a degree at Allegheny College and went on to earn a master's degree in social work from the University of Denver. Apart from a varied career in social work she has published short fiction in numerous publications, including Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Skin of the Soul, and Final Shadows. Her work has also been included in such anthologies as Women of Darkness and Women of the West.

Married to Steve Rasnic Tem.

Reviews

[Alex Nonymous · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Absence in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly don't really know what to think about this one. I'm not saying stories of racism can't be told in shorter form or that every aspect of a book's plot has to be told in the description, but it definitely felt really weird picking up a short book that only mentions its si-fi aspect as:

"She’ll be doing her Algebra homework, or on her way to work at the restaurant, when suddenly she’s in some other time and place, in some other body, and she’s supposed to do something. Help somebody. Fix some problem. But how?"

going "surprise! That someone was Harriet Tubman and now we're in the POV of this modern white girl travelling to the past to feel bad about slavery and racism. I'm sure it was written with good intentions, but it was so jarring and felt like such a weird way to market this kind of story that I think definitely needed more nuance that the less than 200 pages didn't allow.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book from Melanie Tem. I've read her before, years ago, and just as good as I remembered. A kind of mismatch of genres, with elements of science fiction and horror. Will need to re-read some of her earlier work. #Absence #NetGalley

[Louise Tong (shadybookdragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 RTC