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Correlation
When the past and the present collide…
Hailey Kent knows how she wants to spend the summer before her junior year in high school: hanging out at the pool with Jenna, her BFF; riding her new trail bike on Vermont’s country roads; and flirting with Jenna’s hot older brother, Cody.
Hailey’s plans are shattered when a post-graduation accident puts her brother into a coma. Feeling guilty for not stopping him from going out that night, she seeks solace in exploring an old house and its overgrown gardens.
A mysterious correlation of events propels her back in time to the Vietnam War era, where she realizes she can use her knowledge of one boy’s fate to save his life.
But first, Hailey needs to convince him of her sanity.
Hailey Kent knows how she wants to spend the summer before her junior year in high school: hanging out at the pool with Jenna, her BFF; riding her new trail bike on Vermont’s country roads; and flirting with Jenna’s hot older brother, Cody.
Hailey’s plans are shattered when a post-graduation accident puts her brother into a coma. Feeling guilty for not stopping him from going out that night, she seeks solace in exploring an old house and its overgrown gardens.
A mysterious correlation of events propels her back in time to the Vietnam War era, where she realizes she can use her knowledge of one boy’s fate to save his life.
But first, Hailey needs to convince him of her sanity.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
198 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
339 people want to read
About the author
Mia Grace
2 books4 followersMia Grace lives in rural Vermont and works as a consumer advocate and educator in New Hampshire. When she’s not hiding away in her writer’s garret, she can be found enjoying her boisterous extended family, her menagerie of dogs, cats, and laying hens, and her perennial flower gardens.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 1, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
I am not really a fan of time travel books - they seem to be more of a miss than a hit with me - but I am a huge fan of Red Adept Publishing, having not read a book published by them that I haven't liked yet, so when they asked me to be a part of their Young at Heart Blog Tour, I decided to give this one a go.
I am SO glad that I did. Have you ever read a book and you just wanted to hug the author after you finished? I would totally hug Mia, but not in an awkward or creepy sort of way haha. She made me laugh, made me cry, and made me angry - all within the few hours it took me to get through this book (one sitting, couldn't put it down).
Have you ever had something very serious happen in your life - something really bad - that changed you and your entire life? Have you ever thought back to the bad times in your life and wondered what would happen if you could change the outcome?
That is exactly what happened to Hailey in this book. After her brother was injured in the accident, her whole world was turned upside down. Feeling the need to fix something, she decides to do what she can to save a boy from the past's life ... and that one act changed everything for the people of this small town. But even with a new future because of a changed past, some things always stay the same.
This book really shows how interconnected all of our lives are and was a very powerful book to read. A definite recommend!!
Favorite line: "She thought back to what the minister had said at the funeral of Jenna's grandfather a few months before - about celebrating his life, not dwelling on his loss. That when one's time on earth was up, that was how it was meant to be, and everyone should be happy to have had that person at all, even for a short time."
I am not really a fan of time travel books - they seem to be more of a miss than a hit with me - but I am a huge fan of Red Adept Publishing, having not read a book published by them that I haven't liked yet, so when they asked me to be a part of their Young at Heart Blog Tour, I decided to give this one a go.
I am SO glad that I did. Have you ever read a book and you just wanted to hug the author after you finished? I would totally hug Mia, but not in an awkward or creepy sort of way haha. She made me laugh, made me cry, and made me angry - all within the few hours it took me to get through this book (one sitting, couldn't put it down).
Have you ever had something very serious happen in your life - something really bad - that changed you and your entire life? Have you ever thought back to the bad times in your life and wondered what would happen if you could change the outcome?
That is exactly what happened to Hailey in this book. After her brother was injured in the accident, her whole world was turned upside down. Feeling the need to fix something, she decides to do what she can to save a boy from the past's life ... and that one act changed everything for the people of this small town. But even with a new future because of a changed past, some things always stay the same.
This book really shows how interconnected all of our lives are and was a very powerful book to read. A definite recommend!!
Favorite line: "She thought back to what the minister had said at the funeral of Jenna's grandfather a few months before - about celebrating his life, not dwelling on his loss. That when one's time on earth was up, that was how it was meant to be, and everyone should be happy to have had that person at all, even for a short time."
September 27, 2014
4.5
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hailey Kent’s 16th birthday didn’t exactly go as planned. She had to postpone her official celebration because her older brother David was graduating from high school on the same day. She did get a special breakfast and the bike she coveted, but the rest of the day was all about David. She resented it until she was woken up in the middle of the night by her mother’s scream. An officer at the door said David had been severely injured in a car accident. Hailey’s resentment fades and just wishes David would wake from his coma. Spending time with her best friend Jenna and Jenna’s grandmother Susan Wells keeps Hailey sane during the weeks that follow. Until Hailey thinks she’s traveling back in time. Now, she really does believe she’s going insane. Time travel isn’t possible. Is it?
Wow. This book started off a bit slow as the foundation was laid, but once Susan’s story about Peter Wells was told to Jenna and Hailey the plot took off. The writing is excellent capturing Hailey’s life and feelings after David’s traumatic accident. What do you feel and how do you act when your best friend’s brother, the one you’ve been crushing on, is responsible for your brother’s injuries? Maybe even his life?
Jenna’s fascination with the old Wells house is what eventually sends Hailey into the past. Time travel is such a fun subject to weave into a story. It blows the mind and creates all sorts of possibilities. Hailey uses her trips to connect with Peter in the hope that she can change his destiny, but she never thought about what kinds of changes would happen if he actually believed her. One small change creates alternate ripples and what once was is no more. That’s the mind boggling part. I’m not sure if I’d want to change history if I could. There is just no way to know what kind of damage might be caused by trying to undo something bad and make it good. History is history for a reason. When Hailey meddles in the past it has repercussions she never even thought of and she’s lucky they weren’t too bad. If you want a wonderful YA contemporary with a little bit of romance and some time travel thrown in I recommend this one. It’ll leave you with a smile.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hailey Kent’s 16th birthday didn’t exactly go as planned. She had to postpone her official celebration because her older brother David was graduating from high school on the same day. She did get a special breakfast and the bike she coveted, but the rest of the day was all about David. She resented it until she was woken up in the middle of the night by her mother’s scream. An officer at the door said David had been severely injured in a car accident. Hailey’s resentment fades and just wishes David would wake from his coma. Spending time with her best friend Jenna and Jenna’s grandmother Susan Wells keeps Hailey sane during the weeks that follow. Until Hailey thinks she’s traveling back in time. Now, she really does believe she’s going insane. Time travel isn’t possible. Is it?
Wow. This book started off a bit slow as the foundation was laid, but once Susan’s story about Peter Wells was told to Jenna and Hailey the plot took off. The writing is excellent capturing Hailey’s life and feelings after David’s traumatic accident. What do you feel and how do you act when your best friend’s brother, the one you’ve been crushing on, is responsible for your brother’s injuries? Maybe even his life?
Jenna’s fascination with the old Wells house is what eventually sends Hailey into the past. Time travel is such a fun subject to weave into a story. It blows the mind and creates all sorts of possibilities. Hailey uses her trips to connect with Peter in the hope that she can change his destiny, but she never thought about what kinds of changes would happen if he actually believed her. One small change creates alternate ripples and what once was is no more. That’s the mind boggling part. I’m not sure if I’d want to change history if I could. There is just no way to know what kind of damage might be caused by trying to undo something bad and make it good. History is history for a reason. When Hailey meddles in the past it has repercussions she never even thought of and she’s lucky they weren’t too bad. If you want a wonderful YA contemporary with a little bit of romance and some time travel thrown in I recommend this one. It’ll leave you with a smile.
December 7, 2013
Correlation strikes me as a book that breaks, or at least stretches, a couple rules and, as a result is both an enjoyable read and unique because of it.
The first half of the story is a well put together contemporary young adult story with a protagonist, Hailey, who is the kind of main character I like to see in a YA story responsible, yet not perfect, with the normal struggles of someone on the cusp of adulthood. This part of the story also has a crisis which causes Hailey a lot of internal conflict. But midway through the book it takes a turn into light science fiction when Hailey finds herself involuntarily time traveling. This makes Correlation harder to pigeon-hole, is it science fiction? (probably not for hardcore science fiction fans), but this twist goes far enough it has to be mentioned.
The other thing that struck me as unique (at least not something I’d seen before, although I saw it happen in two books I read the same week) was Grace broke one of Marty McFly’s basic rules of time travel. Saying more would be a spoiler for sure, so I won’t. Through the second half of the book I found that I (and I expect most readers) understood what was happening to Hailey, while she spends much of it confused, trying to figure out what is going on. Down the stretch I was eager to see where the story was going and for Hailey to figure everything out, but also wondered how (or if) she would ultimately do that.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The first half of the story is a well put together contemporary young adult story with a protagonist, Hailey, who is the kind of main character I like to see in a YA story responsible, yet not perfect, with the normal struggles of someone on the cusp of adulthood. This part of the story also has a crisis which causes Hailey a lot of internal conflict. But midway through the book it takes a turn into light science fiction when Hailey finds herself involuntarily time traveling. This makes Correlation harder to pigeon-hole, is it science fiction? (probably not for hardcore science fiction fans), but this twist goes far enough it has to be mentioned.
The other thing that struck me as unique (at least not something I’d seen before, although I saw it happen in two books I read the same week) was Grace broke one of Marty McFly’s basic rules of time travel. Saying more would be a spoiler for sure, so I won’t. Through the second half of the book I found that I (and I expect most readers) understood what was happening to Hailey, while she spends much of it confused, trying to figure out what is going on. Down the stretch I was eager to see where the story was going and for Hailey to figure everything out, but also wondered how (or if) she would ultimately do that.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
September 4, 2014
Hailey Kent is having the summer of her life, hanging out with her best friend Jenna and crushing on Jenna’s older brother, Cody. When Hailey’s older brother David is critically injured in a car crash, all of their differences melt away. Hailey only wants David to wake up and her family to be back to normal. Hailey starts spending time with Jenna and her grandmother, Susan Wells. When Hailey and Jenna find the house which belonged to Mrs. Wells’ former fiancé, Jenna wants to clean it up. Hailey’s happy enough to not spend any time at home, but something mysterious happens when she visits the abandoned property alone. Hailey doesn’t believe in time travel – it’s not possible…right?
CORRELATION is an excellent soft science fiction novel. I liked Hailey right from the start – she’s responsible, practical, and level-headed. Since the accident, she’s been trying to hold her family together, but nothing seems to work. When a strange confluence of events thrusts Hailey into a situation where she could make a difference, she’s not sure at first if she is 1) making this all up or 2) if she should meddle. CORRELATION is a sweet story, mixing some light romance and time travel. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages!
CORRELATION is an excellent soft science fiction novel. I liked Hailey right from the start – she’s responsible, practical, and level-headed. Since the accident, she’s been trying to hold her family together, but nothing seems to work. When a strange confluence of events thrusts Hailey into a situation where she could make a difference, she’s not sure at first if she is 1) making this all up or 2) if she should meddle. CORRELATION is a sweet story, mixing some light romance and time travel. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages!
December 2, 2013
This is a very interesting book. It takes on a very interesting thought, what if you could go back in time and change things? Would you make them better, different, or worse?
Hailey is faced with a dilemma. Her brother has been in a terrible car accident. He is in a coma and if he wakes up his life will be altered. He will need to be taken care of, and not live a normal life.
In a twist of fate, she finds that she can travel back in time about 50 years. Circumstances are such that she might be able to save her family from heartache.
I enjoyed this look at time travel and the ramifications that can happen. Mia Grace has written a very good story that is different from others. It starts a little slow, the time travel happens about half way through the book. She lays the groundwork well so that the reader can grasp the significance of the events.
Hailey is faced with a dilemma. Her brother has been in a terrible car accident. He is in a coma and if he wakes up his life will be altered. He will need to be taken care of, and not live a normal life.
In a twist of fate, she finds that she can travel back in time about 50 years. Circumstances are such that she might be able to save her family from heartache.
I enjoyed this look at time travel and the ramifications that can happen. Mia Grace has written a very good story that is different from others. It starts a little slow, the time travel happens about half way through the book. She lays the groundwork well so that the reader can grasp the significance of the events.
August 18, 2014
This review was originally posted at ITIO Book Reviews.
The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from BB). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.
This book was definitely not what I expected… in a good way! I love getting my hands on time travel books, and this one was no exception. I mean, time travel is nothing new to me. Every once in a while, I travel to the nearest Circle K (strange things are afoot) and rewind to the time of So-crates and Napoleon in the tradition of Bill and Ted. Just a normal day for me. No big. Hailey Kent is just an normal sixteen-year-old girl who loves riding her bike around town and hanging out with her best friend, Jenna. When Jenna’s grandmother, Susan Wells, shares that her childhood flame’s house is located on Redemption Hill, Jenna and Hailey vote to go check it out. Finding it in a horrible state of disrepair, the dynamic duo vow to clean up the space. When Hailey’s bike is stolen, Susan gives her her old, childhood bike. For some reason, Hailey finds herself transported back to the past when she rides this bike up Redemption Hill.
Changing something in the past can mean waking up to a completely different future…
MORAL RATING:
G: kissing and I’m pretty sure that’s it… :)
THE GOOD:
This book is split into two parts. Some reviewers say that they were thrown into a confused state when switching from Part I to Part II, but I acclimated really easily! This book was a fun read. I liked how this book showed the consequences of Hailey’s impulsive decisions that she made in the past. Part I deals with her present life and Part II deals with the outcome of the things she imparted to a certain someone in the past that completely revolutionized her future! I haven’t read a book that dealt with that aspect before, so Correlation was refreshing! The writing flowed smoothly and kept my attention.
THE BAD:
At first, I had problems with Hailey’s narration and voice. In the first couple of pages she complains (A LOT) because she’s upset that her brother’s high school graduation is the same day as her birthday. Honestly, I sort of wanted to slap her in the face (an. Like, GIRL, high school graduation is a flippin’ big deal. Your birthday happens every year. Take a chill pill. Then, when her brother gets in a car crash after whinepocalypse, she starts to feel badly about all of her complaining about him. I don’t really believe in karma, but THANKYOUVERYMUCH KARMA. Serves you right, Hailey Kent.
I’m snapping my fingers in a Z-Formation right about now, but you can’t really see that over the interwebs. That being said, Hailey did grow on me. She was only unbearable for the first couple chapters, but I grew to love her inquisitive spirit and thirst for the truth. Also, her love interest with Peter seemed way too fast-paced and unrealistic. I don’t usually say this, but I think the book would have been better without any romance. It didn’t add anything and felt unnecessary to me.
I felt that this book ended strangely. There’s never really any explanation of the time travel or how it happened. The reader knows that the old bike had something to do with her trips to the past, but it’s never really fleshed out or explained fully. I don’t need a play-by-play or scientific definition/algorithm about the specifics of time travel, but I wished it had been speculated about more.
I’d give this one a 3/5 heart rating! It was a nice “filler” read, but I don’t feel that attached to it. I’d recommend this one for anyone that wants to read a lighthearted, clean YA time travel story with just a touch of romance.
The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from BB). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.
This book was definitely not what I expected… in a good way! I love getting my hands on time travel books, and this one was no exception. I mean, time travel is nothing new to me. Every once in a while, I travel to the nearest Circle K (strange things are afoot) and rewind to the time of So-crates and Napoleon in the tradition of Bill and Ted. Just a normal day for me. No big. Hailey Kent is just an normal sixteen-year-old girl who loves riding her bike around town and hanging out with her best friend, Jenna. When Jenna’s grandmother, Susan Wells, shares that her childhood flame’s house is located on Redemption Hill, Jenna and Hailey vote to go check it out. Finding it in a horrible state of disrepair, the dynamic duo vow to clean up the space. When Hailey’s bike is stolen, Susan gives her her old, childhood bike. For some reason, Hailey finds herself transported back to the past when she rides this bike up Redemption Hill.
Changing something in the past can mean waking up to a completely different future…
MORAL RATING:
G: kissing and I’m pretty sure that’s it… :)
THE GOOD:
This book is split into two parts. Some reviewers say that they were thrown into a confused state when switching from Part I to Part II, but I acclimated really easily! This book was a fun read. I liked how this book showed the consequences of Hailey’s impulsive decisions that she made in the past. Part I deals with her present life and Part II deals with the outcome of the things she imparted to a certain someone in the past that completely revolutionized her future! I haven’t read a book that dealt with that aspect before, so Correlation was refreshing! The writing flowed smoothly and kept my attention.
THE BAD:
At first, I had problems with Hailey’s narration and voice. In the first couple of pages she complains (A LOT) because she’s upset that her brother’s high school graduation is the same day as her birthday. Honestly, I sort of wanted to slap her in the face (an. Like, GIRL, high school graduation is a flippin’ big deal. Your birthday happens every year. Take a chill pill. Then, when her brother gets in a car crash after whinepocalypse, she starts to feel badly about all of her complaining about him. I don’t really believe in karma, but THANKYOUVERYMUCH KARMA. Serves you right, Hailey Kent.
I’m snapping my fingers in a Z-Formation right about now, but you can’t really see that over the interwebs. That being said, Hailey did grow on me. She was only unbearable for the first couple chapters, but I grew to love her inquisitive spirit and thirst for the truth. Also, her love interest with Peter seemed way too fast-paced and unrealistic. I don’t usually say this, but I think the book would have been better without any romance. It didn’t add anything and felt unnecessary to me.
I felt that this book ended strangely. There’s never really any explanation of the time travel or how it happened. The reader knows that the old bike had something to do with her trips to the past, but it’s never really fleshed out or explained fully. I don’t need a play-by-play or scientific definition/algorithm about the specifics of time travel, but I wished it had been speculated about more.
I’d give this one a 3/5 heart rating! It was a nice “filler” read, but I don’t feel that attached to it. I’d recommend this one for anyone that wants to read a lighthearted, clean YA time travel story with just a touch of romance.
September 8, 2014
I would like to thank Red Adept publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
It was lovely to be approached by the company to see if I would like to join their promotions. This book was up for review and the cover grabbed my attention, so reading on from that and the blurb it seemed like my kind of read. I'm terrible for reading books with tragedies!
It was a bit slow to take off for me, but stick with it as it does liven up and get really engrossing. I found myself not wanting to put this down in the end. I had to read the ending today.
There were several bits in there that stood out for me. One of them being when Haley was looking forward to her 16th Birthday, only to have it over shadowed by her brothers graduation, so that meant her birthday was postponed until the following weekend. Well, imagine! a 16 year old's emotions and feelings on that one! SHE was not happy. Mind you, I wouldn't have been either and I'm not 16. I would have sulked forever.
There is another part where they are all sat eating and chit chatting about things, they are potentially making plans to go visit their Grandparents in the coming near future [not that Haley is taking too much notice of the chatting, she's still narked] You can see inside of Haley's head how she resents her brothers graduation taking priority over her 16th birthday.....now c'mon!
She's sacrificed her birthday, in her head she's thinking, yeah right, if it were the other way around bet her brother wouldn't have done this.
On that evening he was due to meet friends at the Project graduation. He did did go there but he left with his friends. Haley had some insight but didn't say anything to her parents.
She decided to sit and watch a film or two, but her Father comes and sits and falls asleep there snoring, so she goes to her bed to sleep. What a day she's having....not!
She's woken with someone screaming "NO, NO NO oh no" she discovers its her Mother.
Her brother has been involved in an accident and is in hospital. The story really comes into its own then. Keep with it, its really good.
I'm not saying anymore, as you need to read it.
Its a YA book but I am 55 years old! So I'm a YA adult? is there such a thing Ha! :-)
I've not read anything by this author so she's new to me. And then I discovered her website. I see she writes YA as Mia Grace and adult as Rosemary Fifield. I then discovered I have 2 of her books written as Rosemary Fifield so I am a happy reader discovering this.
She really does weave a quality read.
It was lovely to be approached by the company to see if I would like to join their promotions. This book was up for review and the cover grabbed my attention, so reading on from that and the blurb it seemed like my kind of read. I'm terrible for reading books with tragedies!
It was a bit slow to take off for me, but stick with it as it does liven up and get really engrossing. I found myself not wanting to put this down in the end. I had to read the ending today.
There were several bits in there that stood out for me. One of them being when Haley was looking forward to her 16th Birthday, only to have it over shadowed by her brothers graduation, so that meant her birthday was postponed until the following weekend. Well, imagine! a 16 year old's emotions and feelings on that one! SHE was not happy. Mind you, I wouldn't have been either and I'm not 16. I would have sulked forever.
There is another part where they are all sat eating and chit chatting about things, they are potentially making plans to go visit their Grandparents in the coming near future [not that Haley is taking too much notice of the chatting, she's still narked] You can see inside of Haley's head how she resents her brothers graduation taking priority over her 16th birthday.....now c'mon!
She's sacrificed her birthday, in her head she's thinking, yeah right, if it were the other way around bet her brother wouldn't have done this.
On that evening he was due to meet friends at the Project graduation. He did did go there but he left with his friends. Haley had some insight but didn't say anything to her parents.
She decided to sit and watch a film or two, but her Father comes and sits and falls asleep there snoring, so she goes to her bed to sleep. What a day she's having....not!
She's woken with someone screaming "NO, NO NO oh no" she discovers its her Mother.
Her brother has been involved in an accident and is in hospital. The story really comes into its own then. Keep with it, its really good.
I'm not saying anymore, as you need to read it.
Its a YA book but I am 55 years old! So I'm a YA adult? is there such a thing Ha! :-)
I've not read anything by this author so she's new to me. And then I discovered her website. I see she writes YA as Mia Grace and adult as Rosemary Fifield. I then discovered I have 2 of her books written as Rosemary Fifield so I am a happy reader discovering this.
She really does weave a quality read.
November 1, 2014
Hailey Kent and Jenna Wells are pretty much typical teenaged best friends. Hailey is brooding at the moment because her sixteenth birthday happened to fall on her older brother David’s high school graduation day, so she is not the center of attention. Then a tragic car accident happens and her brother’s life hangs in the balance. The whole Kent family’s life is turned upside down. Hailey is dealing with depression and the pressures of an unknown future.
Jenna, whose brother was driving the car, tries to occupy Hailey’s mind with a distraction that has recently become an obsession of her own. Cleaning up around an old abandoned house that used to belong to her grandmother’s first love. Hailey is not thrilled with this project but goes along with her friend because she has nothing better to occupy her time. She finds herself surprisingly invested in the house’s history and the people who lived there.
The first part of the story is very slow moving and I had a hard time keeping interested in the story, which is mostly a set up for the second half of the book. I liked the characters, and the story is laid out well, they just didn’t draw me in. I have a problem investing myself in sad stories and all the themes in the first half of the book are sad. However, if you hang in there, the pay-off is in the second half of the story. The change is abrupt and it took a while to understand what was going on. Everything has changed, no one is the same as they were in the first half of the book.
It was interesting to see the interconnectedness of our lives and how we can affect the lives of others who are not even close to us. The ripple effect that we can and do cause with our actions and thoughts is a bit mind-boggling. I found it fascinating how Ms. Grace managed to weave this story into such a believable reality. This is a thought provoking book that I ended up enjoying a lot more than I thought I would in the beginning.
FYI: I viewed this story as more of a series of paranormal events rather than a science fiction story. Perhaps that is just me, I prefer paranormal to sci-fi.
Format/Typo Issues: I noticed no issues with editing or formatting.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** October 24, 2014
Jenna, whose brother was driving the car, tries to occupy Hailey’s mind with a distraction that has recently become an obsession of her own. Cleaning up around an old abandoned house that used to belong to her grandmother’s first love. Hailey is not thrilled with this project but goes along with her friend because she has nothing better to occupy her time. She finds herself surprisingly invested in the house’s history and the people who lived there.
The first part of the story is very slow moving and I had a hard time keeping interested in the story, which is mostly a set up for the second half of the book. I liked the characters, and the story is laid out well, they just didn’t draw me in. I have a problem investing myself in sad stories and all the themes in the first half of the book are sad. However, if you hang in there, the pay-off is in the second half of the story. The change is abrupt and it took a while to understand what was going on. Everything has changed, no one is the same as they were in the first half of the book.
It was interesting to see the interconnectedness of our lives and how we can affect the lives of others who are not even close to us. The ripple effect that we can and do cause with our actions and thoughts is a bit mind-boggling. I found it fascinating how Ms. Grace managed to weave this story into such a believable reality. This is a thought provoking book that I ended up enjoying a lot more than I thought I would in the beginning.
FYI: I viewed this story as more of a series of paranormal events rather than a science fiction story. Perhaps that is just me, I prefer paranormal to sci-fi.
Format/Typo Issues: I noticed no issues with editing or formatting.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** October 24, 2014
November 27, 2013
Where to begin with this book? It's true that Mia Grace has found a combination that I've never seen before. The first half of Correlation reads like contemporary fiction, while the second half brings in the time travel aspect. I have to admit that it was the first half that was slow going for me. While I understood that it was setting up what was to come, there really wasn't much going on. I was treated to a look at Hailey's family, her friends, and the way her link to the woman who would soon become so important to the story. I pushed forward, hoping for the action.
There's time travel here, but it skips straight over the why and goes directly into the when. I'm used to most books that have a time travel being a little heavier in the science fiction department. There's generally an explanation, some reason as to why the travel is a possibility. In Hailey's case, you just have to take it at face value. It happens, and then the story takes off at a crazy pace. I didn't mind so much once I caught up. The twist added a nice element to the story. However I definitely would have appreciated a tiny bit of an explanation.
On a happy note, I loved Hailey and her family. To me, she felt like a "real" teen. Someone who has the problems and mentality that you'd associate with her age, but the strength that you know would be there too. Her love for her brother was real, and I appreciated that. I do wish I would have had a little more time to get used to her life before the time travel twist was thrown in though. No spoilers here, but once it happens things change drastically.
The ending left me wondering if there might be more books coming. Hailey's story has closure, but it is definitely left at a point where more might be possible. In all honesty, I'd welcome it! I'd love to see where she ends up and, most of all, what happens to the other characters in the story. In truth, I think to enjoy Correlation you really just need to take it at face value. It reads much more like contemporary fiction than anything else, but the time travel twist does add something interesting to the mix.
There's time travel here, but it skips straight over the why and goes directly into the when. I'm used to most books that have a time travel being a little heavier in the science fiction department. There's generally an explanation, some reason as to why the travel is a possibility. In Hailey's case, you just have to take it at face value. It happens, and then the story takes off at a crazy pace. I didn't mind so much once I caught up. The twist added a nice element to the story. However I definitely would have appreciated a tiny bit of an explanation.
On a happy note, I loved Hailey and her family. To me, she felt like a "real" teen. Someone who has the problems and mentality that you'd associate with her age, but the strength that you know would be there too. Her love for her brother was real, and I appreciated that. I do wish I would have had a little more time to get used to her life before the time travel twist was thrown in though. No spoilers here, but once it happens things change drastically.
The ending left me wondering if there might be more books coming. Hailey's story has closure, but it is definitely left at a point where more might be possible. In all honesty, I'd welcome it! I'd love to see where she ends up and, most of all, what happens to the other characters in the story. In truth, I think to enjoy Correlation you really just need to take it at face value. It reads much more like contemporary fiction than anything else, but the time travel twist does add something interesting to the mix.
September 30, 2014
CORRELATION is a well-written and intriguing novel, treating its characters as individuals, not as stereotypical adolescents. Even more importantly, the story is believable. The plot, both present and past, thrums with serious issues: responsibility, fatality, survivor guilt, love, war; and the populous cast of characters are well-developed and examined. I turned pages, quite involved with both characters and plot lines, and was never disappointed as the events played out.
December 16, 2015
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
I haven't read many time travelling books, so I will admit that I had high expectations going into this book. With that said, Correlation by Mia Grace surpassed all of those expectations and more and has now become one of my favorite summer reads ever!
Correlation is the story of sixteen year old Hailey Kent and the whirlwind of things that happen to her in the mid-summer of 2013.
Hailey has wanted a bicycle for the longest time and she finally gets one for her sixteenth birthday from her parents. Her and her friend Jenna have a blast going around town on their bikes and one day after eating lunch with Jenna and her grandma, Hailey finds out about a house that used to belong to Jenna's grandma's late husband Peter Wells and his family. After the lunch Jenna and Hailey decide to go see the house and when they find that it's broken and battered, they decide to clean it up and get it looking nice again.
One day when Hailey is cleaning up the house by herself, her bike gets stolen and she asks Jenna's grandma to borrow her old bike which Jenna's grandma agrees to. It is through riding this bike up Redemption Hill Road that Hailey travels into the past by 45 years and alters history.
What would you do if you woke up one day and everyone you ever knew was someone else or didn't exist entirely? Welcome to Hailey's world.
This book was amazing and I was so close to giving it five stars right off the bat. The only reason that it got knocked down half a star was because of the confusion I had between Part I and Part II in the book. For quite awhile during Part II, I had no idea what was happening.
Overall, Mia Grace did an amazing job with this book and I highly recommend you check it out if you're looking for a timeless summer read.
I haven't read many time travelling books, so I will admit that I had high expectations going into this book. With that said, Correlation by Mia Grace surpassed all of those expectations and more and has now become one of my favorite summer reads ever!
Correlation is the story of sixteen year old Hailey Kent and the whirlwind of things that happen to her in the mid-summer of 2013.
Hailey has wanted a bicycle for the longest time and she finally gets one for her sixteenth birthday from her parents. Her and her friend Jenna have a blast going around town on their bikes and one day after eating lunch with Jenna and her grandma, Hailey finds out about a house that used to belong to Jenna's grandma's late husband Peter Wells and his family. After the lunch Jenna and Hailey decide to go see the house and when they find that it's broken and battered, they decide to clean it up and get it looking nice again.
One day when Hailey is cleaning up the house by herself, her bike gets stolen and she asks Jenna's grandma to borrow her old bike which Jenna's grandma agrees to. It is through riding this bike up Redemption Hill Road that Hailey travels into the past by 45 years and alters history.
What would you do if you woke up one day and everyone you ever knew was someone else or didn't exist entirely? Welcome to Hailey's world.
This book was amazing and I was so close to giving it five stars right off the bat. The only reason that it got knocked down half a star was because of the confusion I had between Part I and Part II in the book. For quite awhile during Part II, I had no idea what was happening.
Overall, Mia Grace did an amazing job with this book and I highly recommend you check it out if you're looking for a timeless summer read.
June 28, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Correlation is clean YA contemporary fiction with a little time travel and a little romance thrown into the mix. While I found it to be a fast and easy read with enough conflict to keep me engaged, it was light on depth. Emotions are fairly surface and motivated by clear factors. Characters are angry, sad, or surprised, but there isn't a lot of complexity, probably due to the third person point of view. That is okay. Sometimes I don't want to wallow in emotions, and I didn't really have to in this book. The method of time travel, too is quite simple and I was able to accept the hows and whys I was given as a reader. I think I enjoyed the second half of the book more because Hailey, the protagonist wasn't as snotty teen (understandably so). However, I had some conflicted feelings for the enormous shift, and I think most readers will find a lingering dismay at some of the consequences of Hailey's decision. The romance is light and sweet, and this is a book that can be enjoyed by readers in both middle school and high school. I'm not sure adult readers of YA will be as satisfied as a younger reader will, but it if you want something light to while away a few hours, Correlation will fit the bill.
July 6, 2015
Big thanks to Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC copy for review.
I love time travel novels and this one was definitely right up my alley. It was engaging, puzzling, a little heartbreaking , but also pretty life altering for these characters. This story had me intrigued the whole way through. What happens when a simple bike ride throws you 30 years into the past? What if you had a chance to change a person's life? Ever since receiving an old bike from her best friend's grandma, things for Hailey Kent will never be the same.
I really enjoyed Hailey Kent as the main narrator. She's very mature for her young age of sixteen, insightful and caring. She wants to help those around her, especially when it comes to Mrs. Wells and her lost love, Peter. It was quite interesting seeing Hailey thrown back in the late 1960's though. Some of her conversations with Peter about cell phones and iPods were funny. It wasn't until the middle of the book that it had me a little surprised with how things turned out for the future with Hailey's going back to the past. But I do like how everything turned out for the characters in the end.
I love time travel novels and this one was definitely right up my alley. It was engaging, puzzling, a little heartbreaking , but also pretty life altering for these characters. This story had me intrigued the whole way through. What happens when a simple bike ride throws you 30 years into the past? What if you had a chance to change a person's life? Ever since receiving an old bike from her best friend's grandma, things for Hailey Kent will never be the same.
I really enjoyed Hailey Kent as the main narrator. She's very mature for her young age of sixteen, insightful and caring. She wants to help those around her, especially when it comes to Mrs. Wells and her lost love, Peter. It was quite interesting seeing Hailey thrown back in the late 1960's though. Some of her conversations with Peter about cell phones and iPods were funny. It wasn't until the middle of the book that it had me a little surprised with how things turned out for the future with Hailey's going back to the past. But I do like how everything turned out for the characters in the end.
June 26, 2015
I received a copy of this story from Net Galley. Yay books!
Spoilers possible ahead...
This story had a little bit of a slow start. I also wasn't really fond of Hailey. I know some bad things happened in part one, but she seemed selfish at times.
I know it wasn't really selfishness, really. But she changed a lot of things by going back into the past. For starters. Her best friend, Jenna, is no longer living. Why? Because Hailey messed up her ancestry. Which in turn, also caused Jenna's brother, Cody, to never been born. And what in turn did that change?
Cody was not driving the car that Hailey's brother David was in that caused him to be in a coma.
You can say that her intentions were noble. That she went into the past in hopes that Peter wouldn't go off to war and die...but everything that changed, was just all the better for Hailey. Not that she knows, because in part 2 she has no idea that the past has changed.
I think, me thinking about it is making me irritated...and I'm not all too sure why.
Spoilers possible ahead...
This story had a little bit of a slow start. I also wasn't really fond of Hailey. I know some bad things happened in part one, but she seemed selfish at times.
I know it wasn't really selfishness, really. But she changed a lot of things by going back into the past. For starters. Her best friend, Jenna, is no longer living. Why? Because Hailey messed up her ancestry. Which in turn, also caused Jenna's brother, Cody, to never been born. And what in turn did that change?
Cody was not driving the car that Hailey's brother David was in that caused him to be in a coma.
You can say that her intentions were noble. That she went into the past in hopes that Peter wouldn't go off to war and die...but everything that changed, was just all the better for Hailey. Not that she knows, because in part 2 she has no idea that the past has changed.
I think, me thinking about it is making me irritated...and I'm not all too sure why.
June 26, 2015
I would like to thank Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy to review. To be honest, Correlation feels like it is two separate books: the first part is contemporary fiction and the second is science fiction. The beginning portion is all about setting the stage, letting the reader learn about Hailey Kent's life with her friends and family. The ending portion, however, is where the book gets interesting. The idea of time travel is interesting and the author's interpretation is a unique take on a classic subject. With regards to the time travel itself, the author did not explore enough of the mystery surrounding how Hailey travels. The author allows the reader the imagination to fill in the blanks, but I personally do not feel that enough information was given. I would have liked to have seen the two parts of the novel tied together better, as I feel that there were too many possibilities left unexplored. Overall, Correlation is a quick read with an interesting twist to keep you reading.
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November 17, 2013Review to come.
Read
July 7, 2015I don't like it
October 5, 2016
this book was a quick read. it's been awhile since I have read a book this good
I wish it had been longer. I read it on my kindle.
I wish it had been longer. I read it on my kindle.
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