SMITH, Roland. Storm Runners. 160p. Scholastic Press/Scholastic. 2011 ISBN: 978-0-545-08175-7
“The bus hit the water like a torpedo, pushing Chase’s face into the seat frame. He felt a front tooth snap, followed by the coppery taste of blood. Franticly he felt around for his go bag. He’d need the first aid kit and everything else in the bag if they survived the crash…”
MG- What if your Dad got struck by lightning and survived? What if he sold everything he owned and became a nomad storm runner? What if he took you with him? All of the above apply to Chase Masters’ life. Most people are afraid of natural disasters; normal people try to avoid them at all costs. Not Chase’s Dad who makes his living as a handyman by being in the right place at the right time offering the services of “M.D. (Masters of Disaster) Emergency Services.” Hurricane Emily is swirling off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico, and Chase’s dad wants in on the action. Quickly enrolled in a new school, Chase finds himself in a life or death situation with friends he’s only known for a matter of hours. Not knowing the full story behind Chase’s dad’s “job”, fellow students think that Chase is some kind of “Super Boy Scout” when he begins to use the survival skills instilled in him by his dad. In this quirky, fast paced adventure, filled with cheesy newscasters, dwarfs, exotic animals, dangerous alligators, and a dead school bus driver, Smith takes readers on a wild ride that will leave them on the edge of their seats. For the kid who has ever wondered, “What if?” this book is for them. Filled with survival strategizing and high-pressure action sequences, this fast paced story unfolds within twenty-four hours. Passages of satisfying, realistic news broadcasts and flashbacks to important events from Chase’s past help build a multidimensional narrative. Drawing on extensive research and experience with extreme weather and exotic animals, the author delivers a gripping adventure story sure to captivate the reader. The heart-stopping cliffhanger at the end of this novel will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the Storm Runners series: The Surge.
© Kristin Lum