Book Review: Trapped

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….

–From Goodreads

Cover Inspection:
The cover of this book definitely conveys the story. Trust me. I’d be terrified of that much snow.

First Thoughts:
Oh boys, come on! GO HOME!

***

My Review:
Any tale of survival has it’s low points and it’s action filled points. I knew that as soon as I opened Trapped and dove into Scotty’s story. What I was most curious about was how Michael Northrop was going to fit a story of survival into a YA book. We all know that sometimes circumstances cause people to do unspeakable things, especially in the name of survival. I was hoping that this book wouldn’t go that route.

Truth be told, I was rather impressed with the way that that Scotty’s story was written. From the very first mention of the snowfall there is a pervading sense of doom over the little band of misfit survivalists. However, like young people often do, they choose to laugh it off as a coping mechanism. As the snow continues to fall, and reality sets in, we see the group morph into a more unified group. They learn to work together and make well thought out decisions. We see them grow up in a matter of days, all because they need one another in order to survive.

The one thing that kept me from being completely enamored with the book was simply that I wanted to know more about Scotty. I understand that his sole focus in the story is survival, but I would have liked to see more into his life. Really Scotty is, and he mentions this during the story in fact, kind of a “john every kid” if you get my meaning. He’s the boy who is involved in sports, has friends but not too many, and kind of just blends into the background. I wish I would’ve felt more for him.

It’s honestly hard to say a lot about this book without giving it away. The story is very survival focused, as it should be. The reader watches as the characters come to terms with their situation and figure out how to escape. That’s honestly the whole story. However it’s not at all slow or lagging. Northrop introduces several issues over the course of the book that cause the characters to stop, think, and react in kind. I was on the edge of my seat while reading, hoping to see what they would ultimately decide to do.

In the end, Trapped was a satisfying read. I liked the slower buildup of the action, and really felt like I was a part of the story based on the writing style. It is one of those books that you can’t tear your eyes away from. You feel like if you leave the book for just a moment, something important might happen and you’ll miss it. I’m being honest. I felt like I was trapped in there with those kids. I definitely recommend this book. Go out, get a copy, and prepare to be trapped.

Book Details
Title: Trapped
Author: Michael Northrop
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: Hardcover; 224
Source: Received for promotional tour.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Final Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart