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A review by backonthealex
Cloudy With a Chance of Destruction by Gwenda Bond
4.0
In this teaser short story, "Cloudy with a Chance of Destruction," Lois and her family have moved once again, and she finds herself in yet another high school. Because she began the semester late, she doesn't have a partner in chemistry class. Working alone gives her time to observe what is going on at the workstation next to hers between studious cheerleader Sophie and basketball bench warmer Mike. Sophie is breaking up with Mike, who refuses to accept that. But Mike won't do the work and Sophie needs to keep her grades up.
Trying her best to mind her own business, Lois can't help but try to make Mike understand that Sophie in no longer interested in him. Finally, Mike vows to help Sophie with their experiment the next day, but the smug look on his face when he says that makes Lois wonder what he is up to.
The next morning on the bus, Mike is carrying a bag containing a mysterious device and with the logo of the Atomic Heights National Laboratory on it. He's nervous and sweaty, but won't let Lois see what's in the bag, just claims that it's a big surprise for Sophie.
Suspicious, Lois sends a text message to SmallvilleGuy telling him about Mike's mysterious device. Trouble is, however, that the device is a mystery to Mike, too. All he knows is that is will cause a reaction, one that people have been trying to do for a long time. So when Mike enters the code to start the device, Lois notices some hazard signals light up on it.
Questioning Mike, she learns his father is a nuclear scientist. Suspecting she needs to evacuate the class, and maybe the whole school, Lois decides to make an explosion of her own. But will it work in time?
Most of us know Lois Lane as the female reporter for The Daily Planet. But Bond has imagined a younger Lois, and a smarter, more independent person than the character we are accustomed to from comic books, TV, and movies. But trouble still manages to find her, just like her adult counterpart, so there's always excitement in Lois's life. I really like this Lois Lane and I think that these two short stories are nice introductions to her. Both stories take place before Lois and the Lane family move to Metropolis, a move that they are hoping will be permanent.
The best part is that you can download, read and enjoy both of these short stories for free right HERE on Gwenda Bond's website.
Up next: my review of Lois Lane: Fallout, Gwenda Bond's first LL novel (and if you like it, you will be happy to know that the next book, Lois Lane: Double Down, will be out in May 2016.
These short stories are recommended for readers age 14+ though I think some savvy middle grade readers will enjoy them as well.
Trying her best to mind her own business, Lois can't help but try to make Mike understand that Sophie in no longer interested in him. Finally, Mike vows to help Sophie with their experiment the next day, but the smug look on his face when he says that makes Lois wonder what he is up to.
The next morning on the bus, Mike is carrying a bag containing a mysterious device and with the logo of the Atomic Heights National Laboratory on it. He's nervous and sweaty, but won't let Lois see what's in the bag, just claims that it's a big surprise for Sophie.
Suspicious, Lois sends a text message to SmallvilleGuy telling him about Mike's mysterious device. Trouble is, however, that the device is a mystery to Mike, too. All he knows is that is will cause a reaction, one that people have been trying to do for a long time. So when Mike enters the code to start the device, Lois notices some hazard signals light up on it.
Questioning Mike, she learns his father is a nuclear scientist. Suspecting she needs to evacuate the class, and maybe the whole school, Lois decides to make an explosion of her own. But will it work in time?
Most of us know Lois Lane as the female reporter for The Daily Planet. But Bond has imagined a younger Lois, and a smarter, more independent person than the character we are accustomed to from comic books, TV, and movies. But trouble still manages to find her, just like her adult counterpart, so there's always excitement in Lois's life. I really like this Lois Lane and I think that these two short stories are nice introductions to her. Both stories take place before Lois and the Lane family move to Metropolis, a move that they are hoping will be permanent.
The best part is that you can download, read and enjoy both of these short stories for free right HERE on Gwenda Bond's website.
Up next: my review of Lois Lane: Fallout, Gwenda Bond's first LL novel (and if you like it, you will be happy to know that the next book, Lois Lane: Double Down, will be out in May 2016.
These short stories are recommended for readers age 14+ though I think some savvy middle grade readers will enjoy them as well.