The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....
Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....(goodreads summary)
A very unlikely mix of teens are thrown into a survival mode situation when a blizzard hits part of a New England area and stalls for a week. Each one has their own diverse personality that they will need to manage with as well. Scotty is the basketball athlete, there are his best friends Pete, who is just an ordinary guy and Jason who has a weird fascination with anything military, Les is labeled as the school thug who is the last person you'd want to be alone with, Eli is the creepy antisocial guy and Krista and Julie are the freshman cuties. But as the days go on, Scotty is realizing that labels aren't always what they seem to be. One nights stay turns into another as the mounting snow covers the schools windows and doors. They must do what they can to survive the next day or the question is will they? I thought it made for a good survival against-all-odds read and I liked how it was told in Scotty's voice. The characters were placed in a do-or-die situation and I felt they handeled it quite maturely for their ages. Nobody came across as panicky or whiny but instead level-headed enough to think in order to work out the situations of no heat, water, or food without any adult involvement. This is a quiet book throughout and you will have to read to the end to find some excitement. I am glad that I don't recall any offensive language (which is rare in today's YA books) There were a couple suggestive references, nothing acted on early in the beginning but that was skimmed over quickly enough. Unfortunately, I was left feeling disappointed that the ending wrapped up fast and leaving me with many lingering questions. All-in-all, it wasn't the greatest read for me but it did turn out to be a good realistic, survival story and with the authors writing he did give it a serious "what if" feel to the novel. Kids may relate with the high school scene and social aspects portrayed. I think this would be a "just right" book for ages 14 and up.~
Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrup
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pub. Date: February 2011, Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 232 pgs.
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