Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I liked this book but it also confused me. The narrative opens with the discovery of impending doom aka the three day away collision of an asteroid knocked off its course. Kemi, the main character, spends most of these days trying to come to grips with what this impending doom will mean and also creating a time capsule of people's favorite things for future Earthlings to remember them by. For most of the book however, I could not square what was happening with Kemi's actions. When the final reveal came, it sort of made sense but Kemi kept going with the original plot line until nearly the end which confused me and affected my reading experience. This had a lot of promise but unfortunately it did not deliver.

This book left me speechless. It went in a completely different direction than I anticipated. It is beautifully written. It is funny, smart, thought-provoking, heartbreaking....just everything. This will most certainly be going into my classroom and I will be recommending it at every chance I get.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A beautiful story by Sarah Everett, The Probability of Everything follows Kemi Carter as she navigates grief and what to her, feels like the end of the world.

I loved the representation of this book and seeing a BIPOC woman interested in STEM. This book is about grief and the author is very good at making the book relatable to kids in that aspect.

This book was everything and nothing like what I expected!! Wow!!! I wish I saw more people posting about this, but I will be shoving it into everyone’s hands

This book is the one that I saw lots of librarians talking about this summer, and I was excited to get an ARC. The main character hears a news report that the world will be destroyed by a comet in a few days but it becomes clear early on that something else is going on. As an adult reader, I was confused at first but then was able to predict the eventual twist. It was definitely a unique plot, and I have to wonder if MG readers will persevere through that initial confusion and get to the twist or not.

Incredibly happy to hear this has been nominated for the Governor General awards for 2023. I’ve heard a lot about it and we will sell a lot in the upcoming Christmas season.

"If you're reading this, the world has probably ended..." When Kemi wakes up one morning, she is going about her day as usual: getting dressed, eating breakfast, etc. But when her dad calls them in from the other room, their world will change forever. An asteroid will hit the earth in 4 days. How do you spend your last days knowing the world is going to end? Kemi's family spends it together. Eating, planning, hugging, just being togther because family is the most imprtant. Kemi decides to make a time capsule so that hose who survive won't forget her family. She has each member of her family contribute something to the time capsule. Somthing important to them that they love more than anything. She is frantic to find something for her dad. Most of the rest of the family has already given their stuff to her, but her dad cannot decide on anything.

And then the day the asteroid is supposed to hit the earth arrives. The world will end. Her family as she knows it will cease to exist. But then... a plot twist I definitely did not see coming!

This was an amazing book that shows how different people deal with grief. As Kemi's family is nearing the end, they all react differently, but they all come together and are there for one another. I loved this book and the characters in it. They were real and raw and made me think. This is an excellent book for anyone dealing with hard things.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A book that hooks you quickly in the beginning and stays with you long afterwards. I would recommend.

At first, I found this book a bit odd. I couldn't really understand why characters were responding the the impending end of the world the ways that they were. There were moments that simply didn't make sense.And then it clicked what was actually happening (which I won't discuss here because spoilers) and it all fell into place. And then it kicked me in the guts. Getting to the end of this book is visceral and painful and completely worth it. That does mean that it is likely to be too intense for some readers and that it will require patience from most. But it's well worth it for the discussions it could inspire.

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. What an enjoyable twist that bumped my rating up to the top.

For anyone who is grieving something so heavy like the end of the world would feel…and how to prepare for that but also live in it. Powerful, Powerful book for middle school and up!

This book destroyed me. I sobbed. Multiple times. And it was completely cathartic and unexpected. Sarah Everett has created a unique, heartbreaking and gorgeous story that will stay with me for a long time.

I am so very glad this book was recommended to me. I thought it had so much depth, insight and heart, and I sincerely hope that it gets the attention it deserves. This would be such a good choice for YA readers and strong middle grade readers as well—it is smart, timely and the messaging is ideal for kids grappling with identity and friendship.

Beautiful and important story that may break your heart. This has certainly felt like the most buzzed about book of the summer of 2023. Try to go into it without learning too much about it. Loved the math.

One of those books that slowly clues in the reader that our narrator is not a reliable one . . . it's well done and bittersweet. A book that showcases family and the strength of family and friend connections and how grief is terrifying and unstoppable. Throughout the story we gain the intimate snapshot of a family's life and love and the process of coping with the unthinkable and coming back around to finding the strength to move on.

“It’s the end of the world as we know it,” played in my head as I flew through this unputdownable book. The author kept me wondering and on my edge of my seat. You’ll experience so many emotions as you read this. Surprise and deep sadness were my two biggest.

Just read it! Don’t read anything about it. You’ll be glad you did. Then tell other people to read it.

Stunning middle grade novel that will move you to tears and leave you reflecting on your own choices and relationships- whether you’re a child or an adult reader. Kemi is preparing for the end of her world, waiting for an asteroid to hit Earth, by being surrounded by family and creating a time capsule with each of her family members’ favorite things. Struggling to help her dad choose his most favorite thing, will she be able to complete the time capsule before saying good-bye? This book is an absolute must-read for 10-adult!

What a great twist to a great tale! I really enjoyed The Probability of Everything especially when the deeper meaning became clear.