Gr 7-10
Terrorists design a virus to take over the world, but something goes wrong. On a vacation at the Isles of Wonder, a theme park similar to Disney World, Josh and his little sister watch as all of the adults die around them, leaving them and thousands of others under age 13 to fend for themselves. With no other choice, the youngsters start working to create their own society, barricading themselves from the outside world and its dangers. Led by the charismatic Milo, a group of the older children become the central government, the Core. Eventually, barricades will not be enough to keep danger out of their utopian world and the community will be threatened in unexpected ways. This thriller has gripping writing that makes it hard to put down. The characterizations of the older children are well done, especially the main protagonists. The details of the society that the children create are nicely crafted, as is the setting of the theme park. As the book's pacing picks up toward the end, the darkness, uncertainty, and violence are well handled. The themes of safety and danger speak to our larger society as well. Even with the large number of survival stories on the market, this is one worth adding to your collection.-Tasha Saecker, Menasha Public Library, WI
