  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 11/01/2016 Gr 4–6—Jed has returned home after being dropped off alone in Yellowstone National Park and has discovered a keyhole in the back of the dishwasher, which his parents told him about in a note they left behind before vanishing. And all of this on his 12th birthday! Jed has not had an average childhood, and the survival training his parents have put him through serves him well as he reaches the world that emerges from the tunnel in the back of the dishwasher. This dystopian realm of sky ships and floating cities is completely covered in junk. The crew of the ship that picks up Jed is comprised of the usual rowdy band of brigands. Jed's parents have given him very specific instructions that propel him on his quest to find his grandfather and the truth about his identity. The author does not spend a great deal of time on character development, but the variety of quirky personalities are entertaining. The inclusion of the reassembled "dreads," creatures intent on sucking the life out of the "pink sacks" (humans) so that they can use their bodies for parts, is creepy and adds to the tension and pacing. VERDICT A solid futuristic pirate tale with a quest element that fantasy readers will enjoy. The surprising conclusion leaves many questions unanswered; perhaps a sequel will tie up loose ends.—John Scott, Friends School of Baltimore - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 12/15/2016 Jed’s parents have the unusual habit of dropping him in the middle of nowhere and expecting him to find his way home in a timely manner, with nothing more at his disposal than SPLAGHETTI (Self-Reliance, Perspicacity, Lemons, Artistry, Gregariousness, Heroism, Tenacity, Tuxedos, and Insanity). But none of it is enough to prepare him for his twelfth birthday and his parents’ disappearance. A cryptic note, an emergency pack of bottled water and batteries, and a tunnel behind the dishwasher is all he has to find his kidnapped (possibly dead) parents. The tunnel leads to a world where natural resources are mythical, junk falls from the sky, and marauding groups of Dreads—zombielike mash-ups of human and mechanical parts—hint at a sinister future. Jed’s experiences, particularly at the beginning, are frustratingly contentious; as his trip through the rabbit hole progresses, the tone changes from snarky fantasy to menacing dystopia. The book starts as an awfully big adventure but finishes on a grim note of revelation. Prepare for a sequel. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Loading...
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