Monday, April 25, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/25/16




Thank you to SheilaJen and Kellee for inspiring and hosting the #IMWAYR meme.

I have been a fan of Rodman Philbrick's work since I read The Young Man and the Sea when it came out back in 2006.  That book remains a favorite in my library and resonates especially with my middle grade boy readers who, like the protagonist, live on the water here in mid-coast Maine.


Philbrick's new offering is an apocalyptic tale set in a world that is just like ours, except for the fact that a geomagnetic storm has destroyed all forms of electricity.  Cars won't drive, lights won't illuminatebatteries won't power; there's no TV, no radio, no running water, no heat, no phones, no computers.  Charlie, his younger sister, and his mom hunker down and make do with that they have.  As long time residents of Harmony, New Hampshire, they are industrious and creative, so they find ways to stay warm and fed, despite the fact that it is the dead of winter.  The community, however, starts to splinter, and there are those who use the chaos to their advantage, including one particularly scary right wing militant family.  When Charlie's diabetic mom slips into a coma because she doesn't have the medicine she needs, Charlie makes a bold decision to try to help her, even though it means risking his own life.  

This is a page turner, with pretty much non-stop action, but I also like that Philbrick addresses some bigger questions about how we take care of one another in our communities, how dependent we are on "the grid" and how doing the right thing can sometimes be incredibly scary.  

The Big Dark addresses deep philosophical questions within a remarkably short (under 200) page span, which makes this a great choice for both reluctant and avid middle grade readers.

6 comments:

  1. That is a terrible scenario. I just hugged my computer! It does sound like an engaging story. Come see what my reading week was like. Happy reading!

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    1. It is a terrible scenario, but fortunately, without giving too much away, I can happily say that the ending is hopeful. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I didn't know about this author but will definitely check him out. This book reminds me of Eric Walter's series The Rule of Three.

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    1. Oh, and I didn't know about the Eric Walter series - thank you so much for the recommendation!

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  3. Have you heard of his The Last Book in the Universe - I enjoyed that one. Will be on the lookout for this particular title, thanks for sharing.

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