Ida

Alison Evans's 'Ida' is a thought-provoking young adult novel about a twentysomething named Ida who possesses the unique ability to shift between parallel universes. While this power initially offers her endless possibilities, she begins to question her control over it, especially after encountering a mysterious doppelganger. The story delves into deep themes of identity, the anxiety of making life-altering choices, and the fear of losing what is truly important. It's an intelligent and emotionally resonant read for teens aged 12-18 who are grappling with their own paths and futures, offering a unique blend of science fiction and contemporary realistic fiction.

How do people decide on a path, and find the drive to pursue what they want?Ida struggles more than other twentysomethings to work this out. She can shift between parallel universes, allowing her to follow alternative paths.One day Ida sees a shadowy, see-through doppelganger of herself on the train. She starts to wonder if she's actually in control of her ability, and whether there are effects far beyond what she's considered.How can she know, anyway, whether one universe is ultimately better than another? And what if the continual shifting causes her to lose what is most important to her, just as she's discovering what that is, and she can never find her way back?Ida is an intelligent, diverse and entertaining novel that explores love, loss and longing, and speaks to the condition of an array of overwhelming, and often illusory, choices.