ISBN: 0307981274
Genre: Middle grade, fantasy, adventure, dystopian
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Themes: Post apocalyptic, bravery, adventure, hope, finding strengths
Add it on: Goodreads, / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*
About The Book: What happens when you can’t do the one thing that matters most?
12-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. The bombs destroyed almost everything that came before, so the skill that matters most in White Rock—sometimes it feels like the only thing that matters—is the ability to invent so that the world can regain some of what it’s lost.
But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of air that covers the crater the town lives in—than fail at yet another invention.
When bandits discover that White Rock has invented priceless antibiotics, they invade. The town must choose whether to hand over the medicine and die from disease in the coming months or to die fighting the bandits now. Hope and her friends, Aaren and Brock, might be the only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath and make the dangerous trek over the snow-covered mountain to get help.
For once, inventing isn’t the answer, but the daring and risk-taking that usually gets Hope into trouble might just save them all.
First Line: You would think I'd never jumped off a cliff before, based on how long I stood there. Not jumping.
What Others Are Saying: "A general sense of adventure and wonder permeates this tale, making it a fun, quick read. Eddleman brings a strong sense of atmosphere to this post-apocalyptic coming-of-age piece, and the underlying message—that it’s possible to contribute in unexpected ways—is a positive one." —Publishers Weekly
"Sky Jumpers is an absolutely thrilling, seat-of-your-pants adventure for middle school readers. Fans of The Emerald Atlas and Percy Jackson will rush to this tale about a village that, after WWIII, is one of only a few remaining on what is left of Earth, as ‘green bombs’ have devastated the planet." —American Bookseller’s Association
Bloggers Weigh In:
Commutinggirl
What I Thought: Edleman's debut, set in a post-apocalyptic world after WWIII, is an original adventure and once it winds up really gets moving. I found that the characterization was more telling than discovering through action, which might explain the slow start. I also found myself jolted from the first person perspective when Hope seems to know what's going on in the minds of the other characters. The world she builds is unique. I liked the way she organized her world as small townships separated by harsh terrain that bandits roam created by "green bombs" used in the war.
What I Thought: Edleman's debut, set in a post-apocalyptic world after WWIII, is an original adventure and once it winds up really gets moving. I found that the characterization was more telling than discovering through action, which might explain the slow start. I also found myself jolted from the first person perspective when Hope seems to know what's going on in the minds of the other characters. The world she builds is unique. I liked the way she organized her world as small townships separated by harsh terrain that bandits roam created by "green bombs" used in the war.
About The Author:
Peggy Eddleman
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Who: Peggy lives at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains with her three hilarious and fun kids (two sons and a daughter), and her incredibly supportive husband. Besides writing, Peggy enjoys playing laser tag with her family, doing cartwheels in long hallways, trying new restaurants, and occasionally painting murals on walls.
Blog
Who: Peggy lives at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains with her three hilarious and fun kids (two sons and a daughter), and her incredibly supportive husband. Besides writing, Peggy enjoys playing laser tag with her family, doing cartwheels in long hallways, trying new restaurants, and occasionally painting murals on walls.
I read this last month and enjoyed its unique premise.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a real winner. I will be telling my grandson about this one. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI was a little unsure about this one-- I liked it, and my younger readers think it is great dystopia. The older ones want more blood and gore. Sigh.
ReplyDelete