Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Incisive sci-fi captivity tale for deep-thinking teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In BEST OF ALL WORLDS, Xavier wakes up in his family's vacation cabin to find that it's no longer on a lake. In fact, nothing around the cabin looks familiar. There's a barn with bleating goats that need milking, egg-laying hens, farmland, and woods and a pond in the distance. When his father and very pregnant stepmother wake up, they start to explore. After a few miles, they hit an invisible wall and walk the circumference of the enclosure for hours. There's no sign of people and no direct communication from their captors. But when they return to their cabin, they find a crib waiting for them on the porch. The message is clear: they're not going anywhere.
Is It Any Good?
There's much to ponder in this excellent sci-fi tale—freedoms, the state of our planet, the failings of humanity, conspiracy theories—and there's no better character to ponder them with than Xavier. Xavier is 16 for most of Best of All Worlds and straddles the strange fake agrarian world he's thrust into and the modern one he left behind. He's resourceful and strategic and perpetually hopeful, the best of humanity in a microcosm where the worst is also on display: xenophobia, violence, and mistrust.
This review is deliberately vague on details because part of the power and fascination of this tale is the tension in the unknown. And readers who embrace this tension, and spend as much time as Xavier's family developing their own theories about their unusual circumstances, will reap the most reward. Because Best of All Worlds is a lean 250 pages, it's also an easy one to pass around to many other deep-thinking friends. It begs to be discussed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about guns in Best of All Worlds. What happened to the ammo? What are the dangers of having guns in that environment? How do each of the adults feel about guns and why? When do opinions shift and why?
Riley believes in conspiracy theories. How does Mackenzie's curiosity help her learn the truth? How can a community shape your beliefs? Where are the best places to find factual information about conspiracy theories without encountering actual conspiracy theorists online?
Where did you think the Oak family was at the beginning of the story? Did Riley start to change your mind? If the same thing happened to you, what would you miss most about your other life? What would you be happy to leave behind?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals , STEM
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : June 3, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate