Title: Sky
Jumpers
Series: Sky
Jumpers, #1
Author: Peggy
Eddleman
Publisher: Random
House Children’s Books
Publication Date: September
24, 2013
Genres: MG,
Sci-fi, Fantasy
Reviewed by: Ellen
Fritz
Ellen’s rating: 4/5
SUMMARY
What
happens when you can’t do the one thing that matters most?
12-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. The bombs destroyed almost everything that came before, so the skill that matters most in White Rock—sometimes it feels like the only thing that matters—is the ability to invent so that the world can regain some of what it’s lost.
But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of air that covers the crater the town lives in—than fail at yet another invention.
When bandits discover that White Rock has invented priceless antibiotics, they invade. The town must choose whether to hand over the medicine and die from disease in the coming months or to die fighting the bandits now. Hope and her friends, Aaren and Brock, might be the only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath and make the dangerous trek over the snow-covered mountain to get help.
For once, inventing isn’t the answer, but the daring and risk-taking that usually gets Hope into trouble might just save them all.
12-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town struggling to recover from the green bombs of World War III. The bombs destroyed almost everything that came before, so the skill that matters most in White Rock—sometimes it feels like the only thing that matters—is the ability to invent so that the world can regain some of what it’s lost.
But Hope is terrible at inventing and would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath—the deadly band of air that covers the crater the town lives in—than fail at yet another invention.
When bandits discover that White Rock has invented priceless antibiotics, they invade. The town must choose whether to hand over the medicine and die from disease in the coming months or to die fighting the bandits now. Hope and her friends, Aaren and Brock, might be the only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath and make the dangerous trek over the snow-covered mountain to get help.
For once, inventing isn’t the answer, but the daring and risk-taking that usually gets Hope into trouble might just save them all.
REVIEW
Although
Sky Jumpers is clearly a book for
younger readers, I enjoyed it as much as I would have when I was twelve. In a
world mostly destroyed by the green bombs of World War III, all known
technology is gone. The strength and properties of most metals have been
changed and magnets can no longer be created. Progress and survival lies in
agriculture and inventions. Apart from the dangerous, ruthless bandits roaming
the plains between towns and settlements, the ever present Bomb's Breath at
high altitudes is the main threat. Could said Bomb's Breath be used to benefit
the remainder of mankind as either a weapon or as part of an invention?
Though
not always quite as realistic as one would hope, Sky Jumpers is an exciting, suspenseful read. Starting with a
couple of extremely adventurous kids cliff diving into the lethal Bomb's
Breath, the story progresses to bandit attacks, journeys through vicious snow
storms, and even some highly exciting stunt riding.
Hope,
the main character, is rather useless at inventing but her bravery knows no
bounds. Fortunately she is a born leader and proves her worth when bandits try
to take the valuable Ameiphus antibiotic from the town of White Rock. The other
two main characters, Aaren and Brock, are likable and probably even more
realistically crafted than Hope. I particularly liked the silent Brock who
accomplishes more than most without ever saying much.
The
whole book is a tale of adventure but the action gets particularly riveting
towards the conclusion of the story. I recommend Sky Jumpers as a safe, clean and yet thrilling read for younger
readers.
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT the AUTHOR
Peggy Eddleman is the author of the middle grade
post-apocalyptic adventure SKY JUMPERS (Random House), and the forthcoming THE
FORBIDDEN FLATS (Random House). She lives at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains
with her three hilarious and fun kids (two sons and a daughter), and her
incredibly supportive husband. Besides writing, Peggy enjoys playing laser tag
with her family, doing cartwheels in long hallways, trying new restaurants, and
occasionally painting murals on walls.
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