Candace, The Universe, and Everything by Sherri L. Smith
13 May 2025
Written by: Magz H
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. There are no spoilers in this review.
Synopsis
Candace, Tracey, and Loretta are connected by a wormhole in their eighth grade locker. While Tracey and Loretta are adults in Candace's time, their school objects manage to breach through space and time to push the three into each other's orbit.
Of course, this is exactly what Candace needs on top of the awkward time that is eighth grade, with changing friendships, more responsibilities, and trying to figure out who she is.
With the help of newfound friendships with Tracey and Loretta, maybe Candace can find the answer to the universe and everything.
Thoughts
I came for the wormhole in the locker that pushes Candace, Tracey, and Loretta together. I stayed for the eighth grade shenanigans.
There was potential to expand the wormhole's function in the overall narrative, however, it made sense to trim down on the speculative portions to focus on how Candace grows throughout the book. Because, make no mistake, this is Candace's story. Tracey and Loretta are the adult foils to Candace's coming-of-age as she navigates the awkward transition that is eighth grade. Gaining new friends, reshaping old friendships, and finding out who she wants to be are enough without time-space fully warping reality.
Overall
I give this book 4/5.
Smith balances each story beat between being grounded in our known reality and something unpossible. I was just hoping for more time-space chaos in the story.
For the young teenagers who may want to try speculative fiction for the first time, this would be a good read to find out if it's for them.