Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Prendergast (Aftershock) chronicles the epic adventure of two white-cued foster brothers trying to survive a natural disaster in this intense climate drama. For the past three years following his parents' deaths in a car accident and his grandfather's refusal to become his guardian, 17-year-old Zack has been living with kindly foster parents the Tates, who help him manage his ADHD. Zack's relative peace is disrupted by the arrival of 14-year-old Peter. Having been removed from his neglectful parents' care, Peter struggles adjusting to his new circumstance, an experience that's further complicated by his fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which he says "makes him slow to learn. And clumsy. And sometimes he makes bad choices." During a rainstorm, Peter runs away, prompting the Tates to search for him, leaving Zack alone at home. When Peter returns without their foster parents, the two boys must journey together to safety after the town levee breaks. Though Zack and Peter continuously clash over the course of this harrowing read, their growing bond and mutual realization that they are stronger together than apart emphasizes the simple messaging of this brief story about family. Ages 12--up. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up--A haunted house streamer encounters a real ghost. A high school boy angers a super-sentient AI. Another young man falls in with a bad crowd. Two neurodivergent brothers must survive in a terrible storm. All these stories are modern and relevant, with some, obviously, being more realistic than others, but an important kernel of truth lies at the heart of all these stories, even the sci-fi and fantasy ones. The writing is high-quality across the board: believable dialogue, layered characters, and fast-moving plots. However, made-up video games and social media sites like "Outlaw Auto" and "VidVibe" feel corny and misplaced. Some of the books tackle heavy themes like racial profiling, gang violence, economic struggles, foster care, mental health. Some of the stories even have abrupt or depressing endings, no tidy resolutions, just like real life. VERDICT Just Kickin' It, despite having the worst title of the bunch, is the standout story. All have appeal.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
"Messed-up kids get attention. Good kids get left alone." After his parents died and his grandfather refused custodianship, 17-year-old Zack ended up in foster care. He's spent the past three years living with kindly Susan and Jon Tate. With the arrival of 14-year-old Peter three months ago, Zack's peaceful existence has fractured. While Zack and Peter both share ADHD diagnoses, the similarities end there. Peter's turbulent home life with his neglectful biological parents and his fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prompt him to bristle and lash out at the Tates and their stability and behavioral expectations. When Peter runs off in a fit of frustration during a dangerous storm, Susan and Jon trust Zack to stay home alone as they head out to find Peter. But Peter returns before the adults do, and with the water levels rising and the house flooding, the boys must work together to survive a harrowing trek to higher ground. Zack's first-person narration and the straightforward vocabulary will quickly engage readers. The imagery describing ADHD provides a generalized introduction to the condition, and a mention of medication is framed in a way that honors bodily autonomy. The pacing and tension rise and flow with the floodwaters, whisking readers along but leaving little opportunity for richer exposition and characterization, leading to an abrupt conclusion. Main characters read white; names signal some ethnic diversity among supporting characters. A fast-paced, plot-driven story for reluctant readers. (Adventure. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
