My students and I are huge fans of middle grade author Gordon Korman. I preorder his books with absolutely no hesitations knowing they will be entertaining, timely, and appropriate. When NetGalley had his upcoming book, Unplugged, available I jumped at the chance to request it and was awarded a copy of the eARC.
It is the story of Jett Baranov, son of a tech billionaire, who is shipped off to a wellness, growth mindset retreat in the backwoods of Arkansas. Jett is constantly getting himself into major trouble and was named the most spoiled child in Silicon Valley. Oasis, the rural retreat, is anything but a sanctuary for Jett and many of the kids there. All of their electronics are confiscated upon arrival and all food is healthy vegetarian fare, no candy or sugar allowed. Needless to say, Jett does not adjust very well. Thanks to the discovery of a strange lizard, Needles, Jett and the other kids bond over its care. Jett manages to actually establish some friendships as he rebels against the retreat’s philosophies and gets himself into trouble.
I flew through this book and I know my students will too. Kids will enjoy the multiple perspectives with chapters being told by different characters. They will also relate to the difficulties of being banned from their electronics. Students may also connect with how having a project or task with a team leads to empathy and understanding. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this one and get some feedback from kids.
5 Stars
