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.

🔥 When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller is a gripping story about friendship, fate, and fiery choices. 📚 Nomi, Vi, and Arthur once discovered a magical book that could predict the future—but now, with wildfires looming and cryptic warnings, they must reunite to search for its sequel. 🌲 As they navigate broken bonds and uncertain paths, the line between destiny and choice begins to blur. Can they change what's been written—or will the flames consume more than they expect? 💔🔥✨

I really enjoyed this read. So many life lessons packed into this short book. A really important lesson for the pre-teens and teens out there. Wish there was more to the story afterwords. Like did Vi end up at the same school as Nomi even though her mom wouldn't have wanted that. I also really enjoyed how it talks about the trees and how one book can connect and reach people for so many years.

This book was interesting. I liked the friendships and how they grew and changed. But some of the mystery and magical elements were just not working for me.
I did want to know what was going to happen, but I didn't find myself really connecting with the characters.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I don't have a whole lot to say about this book, but the bit about Salem Witch trial victims being burned at the stake annoyed me so much I almost stopped reading. I'm a former resident of Salem, Massachusetts. Nobody was burned there. That is a myth. The accused were hanged, aside from Giles Corey, who was crushed to death with stones. For a book woven with historical details, that's a pretty big inaccuracy. I couldn't take the rest of the story seriously after that.

Tae Keller delivers another heartfelt, imaginative tale with a touch of mystery. While the slower pacing may feel gentle for readers expecting nonstop action, the emotional depth makes it a standout. The friendships felt real. The story was mysterious keeping my attention. Would recommend to anyone who likes middle‑grade friendship stories with mystery and magic.

Really enjoyed this read! The friendship between Nomi, Vi, and Arthur- feel like this is a great coming of age story as friends navigate crushes and how their changing and growing. The mystery element adds a intriguing plot that will keep readers engaged and racing to the finish!

Another awe-inspiring work from Keller tells the story of three kids living life while the world burns. What made this book difficult to read was that it wasn't a dystopian future; the story takes place here and now, in the context of real-life problems and mistakes. This title is definitely not for every kid, and I would read it before recommending for sure. It was excellent, but deals with heavy topics for sure. The writing is pure poetry, though, and it was worth every page.