Unplugged
Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: Scholastic
From New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman comes a hilarious middle grade novel about a group of kids forced to “unplug” at a wellness camp—where they instead find intrigue, adventure and a whole lot of chaos. Perfect for fans of Korman’s The Unteachables, the Masterminds series, and Carl Hiaasen’s eco mysteries.
As the son of the world’s most famous tech billionaire, Jett Baranov has always gotten exactly what he wanted. So, when his father’s private jet drops him in the middle of Little Rock, Arkansas, at a wellness camp called the Oasis, Jett can’t believe it. He’s forced to hand over his cell phone, eat grainy veggie patties and participate in wholesome activities with the other kids.
At the Oasis, he meets Grace, who is his polar opposite. She thrives in the wellness atmosphere and resents Jett’s terrible attitude. Then there’s Tyrell, who suffers from a dizzying list of food allergies that render him constantly itchy. And also Brooklynne, a girl who definitely seems to be hiding something. As the weeks go on, Jett starts to get used to the unplugged life and even bonds with the other kids over their discovery of a baby lizard-turned-pet, Needles. But he can’t help noticing that the adults at the Oasis are acting really strange…
Jett is determined to get to the bottom of things, but can he convince the other kids that he is no longer just a spoiled brat making trouble?
This novel is hilarious and yet offers some depth of thought on families and society. It’s certainly a spoof on health freaks: from vegetarianism to meditation, this isolated camp in the woods takes itself way too seriously, and is uproariously over-the-top. The same could be said for each and every character, which is why it’s more of a four-star than five-star read, and yet the rollicking plot allows readers to roll with that. The action is constant and well paced, the dialogue is crisp and laugh-out-loud funny, and the originality of the plot twists is refreshing. The characters definitely seem older than twelve; the book straddles middle grade and young adult. It’s told in first person from numerous campers’ points of view, even from one adult’s perspective, which is unusual and can be slightly confusing at times, but it works. And it turns out that even parodies can have heart-warming character arcs.
- P.W.