Ever wondered what our world could become years into the future? A Familiar Future by 9th grader Parker J. Hilton is a science fiction book that takes place 400 years from now, portraying a dark and broken world. This story is set during a time when the planet is dying, the government is corrupt, and people are struggling to survive. Overpopulation has become a huge problem, and most other problems have been caused by a “miracle drug” called the Cortezeon Pill. The pill was made for the purpose of expanding human life. This put a huge strain on Earth’s limited resources because this pill was keeping people alive too long.

The main character, Lieutenant Brian Walton, lives in this harsh world. He is a soldier and a single father. Struggling to raise his only son, he wants nothing more than to give his boy a better future. When he is offered a big promotion, he feels like he has no other choice but to take it. What he doesn’t know is that this promotion will drag him deeper into a government filled with dark secrets and lead him to question everything he believes in.

Hilton does a great job of making readers think about what might happen if humanity keeps chasing power without paying any attention to or caring about the planet or each other. The book explores themes like survival and how far someone will go to protect the people they love and care about. It also shows how greed and technology can majorly affect the balance of our lives if people aren’t careful.

Many other students might think of writing books, but very few actually do. Writing can be a way to express who you are. Even though the process of publishing can be confusing or stressful, the students who are committed won’t care because they truly love to write. Advice from Mr. Hogan, a creative arts teacher is to, “Write every day and try to make writing a habit.”

The inspiration behind “A Familiar Future” began when Hilton was in 6th grade. He describes the experience as feeling like he had to write. “It started when I just felt as if I needed to write, like I didn’t have another option. The word I was seeing manifested itself in my mind and took another form,” shared Parker. With this inspiration, he was able to create a world that feels similar but has never existed. His goal was to make readers open their eyes, reflect, and feel humbled by what humanity might become.

Even though this story takes place hundreds of years in the future, for some, it can feel close to reality. This is because many of the problems in the book, like government control and selfishness, exist today. “A Familiar Future” could not only be taken as a warning of what could happen, but also a reflection on parts of the world we live in today.