Best of All Worlds

By Kenneth Oppel
** Publication Date 3 June 2025 **
​4 stars


As the world hurtles toward the effects of climate change, you have to wonder, what will happen to all of us when the Earth is no longer habitable? Would a benevolent galactic neighbor take pity on us? Would it just be our demise? What if you woke one morning and found your home, exactly as it is, in a brand new world?


Xavier, his dad Caleb, and stepmom Nia, head to the lake to spend a week at their cottage. Zay’s brother Sam stayed home with his mom, but Caleb wanted a week with his 13 year old son before Nia gave birth to a new baby. They get to the cottage late, and head to bed. Zay is first up in the morning, and what he finds isn’t what they left last night.


Their cottage, down to the sandwich wrappings in the trash, has moved. The lake that used to be outside the cabin has been replaced by a barn and goats in a field. GOATS! Zay thinks he’s lost his mind, so he wakes his dad. Sure enough, they aren’t where they should be. They are now in a new place. They’ve got running water and electricity, but no car, and nothing to be seen for miles.


After some exploration, they determine that they are the only place in a roughly six mile diameter dome. No way out. They get to work farming, and make the best of their new life in this place. 


Until another family arrives and puts the hope of maybe getting out of the dome into Zay’s head. Can they learn to live peacefully with another family? Or will the differing views of the two families be the end of all of them?


What a thought provoking and amazing novel. You won’t want to put this one down as you watch one family adapt to their new surroundings while the other fights it tooth and nail. All along the questions arise as to how they got there, why they are there, and is there any chance of ever returning to their old lives? Really amazing novel. As with so many books, I want more. I want to know what the future brings for these people. 


Loved it.