Communication is the name of the game in The Future of Us. Whether we're watching Emma and Josh awkwardly interact as they struggle to get their footing after stumbling over romantic feelings, witnessing Emma's status update spews in the future, or joining Emma's mom's crusade to get her to pick up the phone and call her dad already, communication—and miscommunication and failure to communicate—abounds in this book. But so it goes in the teen years, right? With or without Facebook in the mix.
Questions About Language and Communication
- What are some of the ways that Facebook can be used for communication? What are some of the limitations the book explores?
- Emma often gets mad at Josh for not understanding her. Is this all Josh's fault, or is Emma failing to communicate with him as well? Use the text to support your claim.
- Is language the most important way to communicate? What other forms of communication do we see in this story? Is one always the most effective, or does the best mode change depending on the situation?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In The Future of Us, Emma and Josh both have to learn how to interact with each other as well as other people who are important to them.
Social media is presented as the least effective form of communication in The Future of Us.