Tag Archives: Heroism

MG – Happy Town

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Van Eekout, Greg. Happy Town. Harper Collins Books, 2024. 978-0-063-25336-0. 208 p. $18.99. Grades 6-8.

Keegan; his stepfather, Carl; and his mom have moved to Happy Town, a chance at a life in an idyllic environment established by Arlo Corn. All the adults have been surgically fitted with an imp (short of implant), that guides them in their assigned jobs and other life choices. Keegan misses food choices other than the Happy Corp Meat Cramwich (the Microwaveable Sandwich Crammed with Meat), and the usual school routine with teachers who actually pay attention to the students and proceed with the curriculum. Usually a compliant person who stays under the radar, Keegan rebels when he refuses to relinquish the rights to his carefully drawn picture. Before long, Keegan realizes this apocalyptic world is far from perfect. The one advantage to his new living quarters is the two good friends he makes, fellow rebels Glorianna, who always wants to destroy something, and Tank, who is a fountain of wisdom from the many (unsanctioned) romance novels he reads. The loop of advertisements constantly playing in Happy Town  influence the adults’ consumerism. When it gets stuck, the adults/consumers crave meat–in any form–causing a zombie riot. To escape this melee, the kids have to stick together; Keegan even discovers a way to deactivate the consumers/zombies by electrifying them. Author van Eekout has written a kid-centered satire that pokes fun at a thinly veiled Amazon delivery culture, headed by a narcissistic, greedy billionaire, Arlo Corn. The kids emerge the heroes of this brief story that pokes fun at consumerism and dictatorship disguised as a persuasive liar. Moreover, the descriptions of Keegan’s daily life and his musings in this weird new world are laugh-out-loud hilarious. The novel ends with the trio of friends shooting off into outer space. Hard to tell what representation characters are.

THOUGHTS: Short, kooky book with sophisticated themes, drawing parallels between Amazon, Elon Musk (or other wealthy men like him), and a strong dose of consumerism. For those who want to graduate from Diary of a Wimpy Kid or like M.T. Anderson’s Landscape with Invisible Hand. 

Science Fiction

YA – Squire

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Alfageeh, Sara, and Nadia Shammas. Squire. Quill Tree Books, 2022. 978-0-062-94585-3. 336 p. $21.99. Grades 7-10.

As an Ornu, Aiza exists on the outskirts of the Bayt-Sajji empire. Her parents are content with their simple but restricted life, while Aiza longs for adventures beyond the borders of the Ornus’ designated community. Opportunity arrives with an announcement that the Bayt-Sajji military is expanding its ranks, offering successful recruits the position of Squire and full citizenship in the Empire. Aiza’s parents reluctantly agree to let her enlist, but ask that she hide her Ornu markings for her own protection. Recruitment involves intense physical training, history lessons, sparring, military strategy, and a general who rules with an iron fist. Aiza’s scrappiness, zeal, and big personality serve her well in training (not so much in history lessons). With the help of a few key allies, she makes steady progress. When Ornu rebels ambush Aiza’s patrol group, secrets and betrayals come to light and everyone must choose a side. Themes of heroism, loyalty, and identity are depicted through bold artwork with plenty of swordplay and action sequences. The author/illustrator team of Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh include a must-read “Making of a Page” section that has insights into the script, artistic inspiration, and more.

THOUGHTS: Squire is a fast-paced read with depth, and the creators leave the door open for follow-up installments. It is a must-read for fans of Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series.

Graphic Novel          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

MG – Playing a Dangerous Game

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Ochieng, Patrick. Playing a Dangerous Game. Norton Young Readers, 2021. 978-1-324-01913-8. $17.95 186 p. Grades 5-8.

A coming-of-age young adult novel by a skilled Kenyan author, this book offers a glimpse into the life of Kenyan boys in the 1970s.  Lumush and his family are doing quite well after his father gets a promotion at his job, but the teenager is understandably worried about changing schools and still being able to relate to his long-time neighborhood friends. As Lumush and his friends hang around after school each day, talking and playing small pranks and games, they eventually work up the nerve to explore a nearby abandoned house that many people think is haunted. What the group find during their explorations is more than they bargained for, and they are caught in the middle of a dangerous, and perhaps murderous, illegal smuggling operation. 

THOUGHTS: Mystery, adventure, friendship and personal growth are all major elements of this unique novel. Lumush’s life, including his family, his friends, and his school troubles, are described in rich detail. This book offers a fascinating peek into the lives of Kenyans during the 1970s; although politics and economics are mostly mentioned in passing by adults in Lumush’s life, students with an interest in Kenyan history could use this novel as a way to contextualize the facts found in traditional history books. 

Mystery           Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD