It's a Ford Falcon - No, not the car!
Maggie is a nice name, but it doesn't have the power of Ford Falcon ... the car in which she also happens to live. her name change is mild compared to the life that she and her family must live Out Bubble: scouring the junkyard for material to trade for what they can't grow. Their biggest challenge is fighting off the GreyDevils - zombie-like creatures addicted to URcorn, Cornvivia's genetically modified corn designed to cure just about anything.
After a bartering trip to town with neighbor Toad, Ford returns home to discover her home has been destroyed and parents have been kidnapped. After finding her brother hiding in a tree, she realizes that she will need all the strength her new name conveys. How is she going to keep her brother safe? Can she make a life for them? Will they ever see their parents again?
Parent Perspective:
I love Ford's voice. She speaks her mind, has the moxie you want in an adventurer, but also has the fears and curiosities you'd expect of a teenage girl. Ford's relationship with her parents is also quite genuine. It is hard to find books that don't make parents caricatures or foils. Together they face some interesting choices (especially at the end). I wasn't sure what Ford would do. Although not explicitly stated, Dookie has traits and behaviors that are akin to autism. Ford adores him (in an honest way). For those looking for a strong brother-sister relationship, this is a great choice.
Suspense, adventure, and humor fill this story from beginning to end. Anyone who likes zombie-like creatures will love this book. This is a science fiction / dystopian novel with a strong subplot about family, including Falcon's relationship with her specially abled brother. It has great potential as a high interest / low readability option.
None. Just be aware that CornVivia addiction sounds like drug addiction behaviors.
This is a science fiction / dystopian novel with a strong subplot about family. It has potential as a high interest / low readability option.
Although the story is dramatized, it can introduce some interesting questions about how the government works and the power of commercialism. Ford's Dad's clues and Toad's spoonerisms make for a fun "code breaking" that engage the reader, too.
5.7
12 and Up
10 and Up
Borrow. Fun to read, but probably not one you'll keep on your permanent bookshelf.
Title | The Scavengers |
Author | Michael Perry |
Publisher | HarperCollins Publishers © 2014 |
ISBN | 9780062026163 |
Material | Hard Cover |
Cost | $16.99 |
Genres | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Friendship, Coming of Age, Science Fiction |