5 stars YA Realistic Fiction
Read this! This book is fabulous! Although written about a subject we are unfortunately all too familiar with, this book has many laughable moments and moments where you where you want to reach inside the book and hug the characters. Imagine being 12 years old and moving into the National Quiet Zone. What is that? You’d be living in the only place in the United States without internet! No TV’s, cell phones, cable…..think about it. For Simon, this place sounds perfect as finally, the limelight will be off him for a change.
The story of his father’s Blessing of the Animals started the book off but this was just the beginning of the humor that fed through the story. As a Catholic Deacon, dad was trying to perform his duties when things got out of control and the inside of the church erupted in madness and disorder. Dad should have set up more boundaries but now, dad was unemployed, and Simon blamed the llamas for their move to Nebraska. Anxiety plagues Simon and I wondered as I read what caused this. Was his family plagued by bad accidents? Did something happen in his past? It’s as if Simon wants to remain invisible.
Simon meets Agate and she is a feisty character. In the National Quiet Zone, Simon finds that there is a lot of scientific research occurring. Without the internet, scientists can focus on the vast unknown areas of space without interference. When Simon meets Agate, he gets an education in space as she has done her research. Agate is one feisty individual and I loved her personality. She senses that something is wrong with Simon and that he is anxious. When she brought him a puppy, my heart soared, and I laughed as this new adventure with them began.
When Simon met Agate’s dog, I cracked up laughing as the dog retrieved a beer out the refrigerator by himself. As Simon stares, Agate tells Simon that it’s okay, “he only has one.” As a person who trains service dogs, Agate explains to Simon that her dog Todd doesn’t like pleasing people. What a hoot! Later, Ash Wednesday arrives and then comes the incident in the church with the consecrated host, I’m still laughing today about those.
Simon tries to move forward with his new life but every day moves him closer to the anniversary. How will he be able to survive the day? As the truth comes out, I’m lost for words as Simon tries to grasp the extent of being a survivor. Why or why me?
Wowza…. fantastic book that put me on a roller coaster. The fun-facts in the book were interesting and funny too, 5 stars!!!
One Chapter 