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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Middle grade mystery. This book didn’t resonate with me. The characters seemed flat and the mystery was hardly mysterious. Additionally, the characters’ ages were problematic. I might have bought in more readily if they had been slightly older and more vividly drawn. Also, the actions of the adults, especially the parents, gave me a lot of pause. They didn’t feel authentic. Maura’s grandfather suffers a stroke, is comatose, and is admitted to the hospital, but Maura’s mother decides to go home a short time later because she’s tired and really, what could she do? Even though her own father is unresponsive and in ICU. Then, even though there’s no way for her to communicate with the hospital, she decides not to go back the next morning because she’s low on gas in her car and there might be long lines or shortages to get gas. So, in the midst of city wide blackout and civil unrest, she sends her eleven year old daughter on her bike to check in? And, she only grudgingly shares food with Luis and doesn’t want to give him a ride home? Not that I can’t appreciate her selfishness and concern for herself and her family but this was not a zombie apocalypse. The blackout was limited. Other places, not too far away, were not affected. Life as we know it was not about to be eradicated. Shortages were of an inconvenient and short term nature, not permanent. So why be stingy? It smacked of something else, honestly.
Maura and Luis are supposedly best friends but it never feels like it. They’re pretty antagonistic towards one another. Luis’ parents are absentee parents, partly plausible given their work schedules, but also described as self absorbed partiers with little parental involvement or caretaking. He’s eleven. Not that these circumstances don’t seem real, they are for many kids, but in this story it felt more convenient than real. When Luis’ parents do finally show up, two days into the blackout, to say they are getting out of the city for awhile, Luis tells his mom he’s not going with them to his aunt’s house, he can take care of himself, thanks. And his mom is like okay, if you’re sure. Bye. Huh?
The narrative was flat for me. We need diverse characters from diverse backgrounds with heroes journeys but we also need strong narratives with great prose to breathe them into life. The science seems sound to describe the cyberattack and how electricity works, but it also seemed rote and uninteresting. I skimmed a lot of that. The pieces just didn’t fall together for me with this novel. I found the note to the reader and resources at the end the most enjoyable part of this reading experience.
Maura and Luis are supposedly best friends but it never feels like it. They’re pretty antagonistic towards one another. Luis’ parents are absentee parents, partly plausible given their work schedules, but also described as self absorbed partiers with little parental involvement or caretaking. He’s eleven. Not that these circumstances don’t seem real, they are for many kids, but in this story it felt more convenient than real. When Luis’ parents do finally show up, two days into the blackout, to say they are getting out of the city for awhile, Luis tells his mom he’s not going with them to his aunt’s house, he can take care of himself, thanks. And his mom is like okay, if you’re sure. Bye. Huh?
The narrative was flat for me. We need diverse characters from diverse backgrounds with heroes journeys but we also need strong narratives with great prose to breathe them into life. The science seems sound to describe the cyberattack and how electricity works, but it also seemed rote and uninteresting. I skimmed a lot of that. The pieces just didn’t fall together for me with this novel. I found the note to the reader and resources at the end the most enjoyable part of this reading experience.
Zap introduces the life of a poor community in New Jersey. The communication between characters with inter mixed Spanish added to the story which certainly kept readers on their toes as Luis tries to solve the cause of the town blackout.
I almost DNF'd this, but it was easy enough to skim. The book read more like someone trying to explain electricity and the dangers of simply clicking on an image or link than anything else. Luis' questions felt so forced that it was really a science class clothed in a mystery.
I just couldn’t get into the book. The topic was pretty dry and the characters had no depth.
BOTTOM-LINE:
Okay, but expect most middle-graders would find it slow
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
A blackout hits New Jersey and two kids try to figure out how it happened and how to fix it.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The level is middle-grade and moves along at an okay pace. The cause of the blackout comes down to computers, and the solution is relatively straightforward without seeming too simplistic. Good interesting characters, for the most part.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There's a plot hole in the solution -- without revealing spoilers, the solution might fix homes and businesses but it wouldn't have fixed the street lights, for instance -- but it's a small quibble. The real challenge is the level of exposition that is frequently dumped heavily into the story. Since they're kids, they don't know the "details" so everything they find out, they ask someone to explain it to them. At length. It really slows down the pace. The book tries to ramp it up a bit with a bit of suspense and violence, but they seem more amateurish than threatening.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
Okay, but expect most middle-graders would find it slow
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
A blackout hits New Jersey and two kids try to figure out how it happened and how to fix it.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The level is middle-grade and moves along at an okay pace. The cause of the blackout comes down to computers, and the solution is relatively straightforward without seeming too simplistic. Good interesting characters, for the most part.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There's a plot hole in the solution -- without revealing spoilers, the solution might fix homes and businesses but it wouldn't have fixed the street lights, for instance -- but it's a small quibble. The real challenge is the level of exposition that is frequently dumped heavily into the story. Since they're kids, they don't know the "details" so everything they find out, they ask someone to explain it to them. At length. It really slows down the pace. The book tries to ramp it up a bit with a bit of suspense and violence, but they seem more amateurish than threatening.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book, intended for for primary - early middle school readers. It was a easy-to-follow mystery with plenty of information about how power grids and electric circuits work, combined with casual emotional prods such as: "Not having something focused your mind, he thought, like how you think of nothing but food when you're hungry." (p. 41) "It was always true, Luis guessed, but the power outage had made it real: Your world could flip over in an instant." (p. 75) "How was a person supposed to stay brave in a frightening, terrible world?" (p. 179). The author does not shy away from discussing tough subjects such as looting, gang violence, health and racial issues, etc., but does so in matter-of-fact terms that many children appreciate.
I thought the author's choice to use italics to emphasize new concepts rather than the Spanish terms sprinkled throughout was interesting (see https://quartzy.qz.com/1310228/bilingual-authors-are-challenging-the-practice-of-italicizing-non-english-words/ for additional discussion); I especially appreciated the addition of references, appendices, and glossary - as well as practical tips for assembling an emergency kit.
I thought the author's choice to use italics to emphasize new concepts rather than the Spanish terms sprinkled throughout was interesting (see https://quartzy.qz.com/1310228/bilingual-authors-are-challenging-the-practice-of-italicizing-non-english-words/ for additional discussion); I especially appreciated the addition of references, appendices, and glossary - as well as practical tips for assembling an emergency kit.