Shot Down

Gr 6 Up—In postapocalyptic Iowa, Malik and his pal, Captain, are stranded after their hot-air balloon gets shot down. Left pondering why and what hit them, they consult their survival guidebook for tips on fleeing from bloodhounds and a father and son, Kyle and Pop-Pop, who believe in hunting the weak to make the world fit for the strong. After they trap Malik and the Captain, a series of escapes reveals how true friendship can survive the perilous bonds of savagery. A turning point surfaces when Kyle injures himself and Malik decides to help him, teaching him that there's another type of strong-putting those who are in need of help before oneself. Reluctant readers will most likely snatch up this short action-adventure. Futuristic and fast-paced, this series entry is sure to appeal to fans of Jeff Hirsch's The Eleventh Plague (Scholastic) and Veronica Roth's Divergent (HarperCollins, both 2012).—Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJ