What are kids reading these days?

When I was young, nothing creeped me out more than a good ghost story. Alvin Schwartz’ “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series was pretty much perfect: Classic, bare-bones tales that scared or surprised you at different turns — and don’t even get me started on those creepy illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

Of course, that series ended in 1991, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that today’s spooky books are quite a bit different. Beyond the classics-turned-horror stories, ala “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead,” we’ve got the Skeleton Creek series.

Read the rest here – weblogs.baltimoresun.com

For those of you that have not heard about Patrick Carman’s Skeleton Creek series, you are in for a real treat. That is, if you like to be scared out of your shorts. Ghost in the Machine in the second book in this multimedia series, written by Patrick Carman and directed by Jeffrey Townsend. The story itself involves a small town that has a lot of history and holds a mystery deep within its past. Teenagers and best friends Ryan and Sarah work to uncover the mystery very stealthily, even when they are banned from even speaking to each other. You see, Sarah is a video expert and uploads videos of her discoveries to send to Ryan, all of which the reader gets to view as well. Kind of a cool concept, huh?

Read the rest here – literarywife.wordpress.com

They call themselves Trackers, and they use their varied and incredible skills to find people who don’t want to be found. One might ask how a group of kids could do such a thing. As Adam so precisely puts it, “Because here’s the thing about the digital age: Everyone leaves a trail.” Adam is the leader, and he happens to be a technological genius. He fixes computer problems that even his dad, who owns a computer repair shop, can’t figure out. Adam’s room at the back of the store is filled with every digital component available to the public, along with his very own inventions. But he can’t do it alone; he needs Lewis, Emily and Finn for their talents and skills as well.

It all started out as a game, as their first case involved someone stealing skateboards at the local skate park. But as they practice and perfect, they stumble into something larger than any of them could have thought possible. During a practice mission, an equipment testing session, they discover a secret message slipped into the recorded video. With his curiosity peaked, Adam decodes the clues and messages. It turns out that someone dangerous has hacked into his system and stolen valuable information about his inventions, which is now being held hostage as the Trackers are blackmailed. Before they realize it, they have dug themselves into something so deep and dangerous that top government officials take them into custody for a highly classified interrogation.

Patrick Carman has created a new multimedia series that is unique and thrilling. As Adam is being grilled by a federal agent, he must reveal all that happened leading up to the big situation into which he and his friends have fallen. The interview is fast-paced and determined, leaving no room for unimportant details or boring descriptions, and it infuses many clues to hint at all of the adventure and excitement to come. Interspaced throughout the story are sections caught on video, and you can log on to www.trackersbook.com to take a look at the footage. If you don’t have a computer available at the time, printed transcripts of the videos are listed in appendices at the back of the book. As for the characters, most readers will be able to identify with one or more of the four friends. All of them are realistic and have their own sense of humor and quirks to enjoy.

The bestselling author of such series as The Land of Elyon and Atherton has delivered yet another clever, intense and technological adventure that is quite different from the average reading experience and follows up on the success of his interactive Skeleton Creek novels. Fans will be waiting impatiently for Book Two. And who can blame them?

Read the original article here – www.kidsreads.com

The team prides themselves on being trackers — able to find anyone or anything, online or in the real world. Adam, the leader, is a computer genius with a photographic memory. Lewis, the analyzer, is the cautious one who keeps the rest in check. Emily is the levelheaded one with nerves of steel. Finn is the brave and occasionally impetuous one. The actors recruited for these roles are engaging and likeable. The actor playing Finn does a particularly good job.

Read the rest of the review at The-Trades.com

Trackers is a thriller/adventure/science fiction story about 4 kids who are trackers. They are pretty much spies with very cool gadgets that they’ve created and perfected. This may sounds Spy-Kid like and it is but it is intended for a more sophisticated audience than Spy Kids. My thinking is 5th grade and above. There is a lot of technical “stuff” that kids need to semi-understand in order to understand this book.

Adam, the main character in the book, has created a space for himself that he calls “The Vault”. His father owns and operated a computer repair shop and since he was little, Adam played around with gadgets, etc. When he turned 9, his father gave him a little room in the back of the shop for him to fiddle around in. The room is an amazing concept and one that hooked me into the book immediately. A kid who has a place to play and create and figure things out on his own. He is quite the little prodigy.

I won’t give too much away about the book but Adam is discovered by some people who threaten him unless he solves a very important computer code for them.
The entire story is told by Adam who is relaying it in a “classified location” letting the readers assume that Adam has been “caught” and is in trouble. The entire story unfolds as Adam tells the story and then “shows” videoclips throughout. As we get to each clip, we, as readers, are given a site and password so that we can watch the videos. As with Skeleton Creek, Carman has done a great job of embedding the video throughout. The two forms of media work together to tell the complete story.

The one difference in this book, which I think I like, is that you CAN read the book without watching the videos. Each video is transcribed in the Appendix of the book. So, instead of watching the clip on a computer, the reader can instead read the transcript at the back of the book. I tried a bit o both. I liked watching the videos–it breaks up the story for kids a bit and gave me scenes, etc. visually.But the appendix pieces did a great job too. I know that I had kids who could not read Skeleton Creek because they did not have Internet access at home. This will allow kids who do not have access to the Internet to experience the entire book. There were also times when I was reading at night,when I really did not want to get up and watch the clip. Having the option of the transcribed video was a nice option to have:-)

The only thing I didn’t like is that the book ended in quite the cliffhanger!? Now I have to wait for the 2nd book! I should have remembered this from Skeleton Creek but I don’t think I was totally aware that Trackers is the first in a series. My thinking was that things would tie up and fall together neatly by the end of the book. I guess I’ll have to wait for the next book in the series to get some more answers.

This book will be released on May 11. I am thrilled to see Patrick Carman continue with these books for kids. I already have several 5th graders who are dying to read this one–even without knowing the basics of the story, they know that Patrick Carman writes fresh stories that grab them from the beginning. So many kids have moved on to Carman’s other books once they discovered Skeleton Creek.

Kirkus: March 1, 2010

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT
Written by Patrick Carman
April/ Ages 12 up
ISBN: 978-0-316-00403-9
 
A ward of the state for most of his life, Jacob has bounced from home to home until landing with the eccentric and mildly iconoclastic Mr. Fielding—who, when the car they’re in hits a tree at 60 miles an hour, dies, but not before passing on an unusual attribute. And with the same three simple words, the 15-year-old forever alters his life and the lives of his two friends, Milo and Ophelia, as he passes along his power of invulnerability. Using the power for altruistic purposes after a period of extreme experimentation, Jacob learns that protection from death comes with a steep price. Instead of offering a horror movie rip-off, Carman explores survivor’s guilt and raises theological issues, all within an action-packed and twisted tale. Ophelia’s haunting breakdown adds a second layer of complexity to the narrative, though Milo seems to avoid any sort of development. Mr. Fielding’s journals offer slightly more exposition than is necessary, but the author pulls the story together without too heavy a hand. Page-turning suspense through the end.

PW: March 15, 2010

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT
Written by Patrick Carman
April/ Ages 12 up
ISBN: 978-0-316-00403-9

In this largely successful contemporary dark fantasy, Carman’s first book for YA readers, 15-year-old Jacob Fielding has both a secret power and a guilty secret. He is literally indestructible―nothing can hurt him―but gaining this new-found ability cost the life of his kindly but mysterious foster father. When Jacob discovers that he can share his invulnerability with others, he, his friend Milo, and the school’s new girl, Oh, test its limits (in cringe-inducing scenes involving a lighter, a 12-foot fall onto a lamp, and a batting cage) and begin using it to save lives. But they learn that playing God―even with the intent to help―has consequences, and as Oh becomes increasingly obsessed with borrowing Jacob’s indestructibility, he realizes the power has a dark will of its own, with “unrelenting claws digging into my bones like a cancer.” The novel occasionally suffers from moments of incoherence and its attempts at moral complexity can seem forced, but it produces serious chills and should appeal to readers who have grown out of Carman’s Atherton and Land of Elyon series.

Booklist: May 1, 2010

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT
Written by Patrick Carman
April/ Ages 12 up
ISBN: 978-0-316-00403-9

The author of the Land of Elyon series crafts a creepy fantasy-mystery for older readers. Grieving over the sudden death of his well-liked foster parent (and harboring a guilty secret about that), Jacob discovers that his inheritance includes the power of invulnerability. Bemused, he shares his imperviousness to pain or physical damage with his impulsive best friend, Milo, and a beautiful, intense new classmate named Ophelia—and discovers that he can temporarily pass the ability on to them. He quickly comes to regret the sharing, as Ophelia engages in an increasingly dangerous round of tests, stunts, and life-saving rescues. Ominously, the power also begins to feel darker and wilder as it fends off death after death. Carman cranks the suspense up smoothly on the way to a horrifying revelation, a (literally) shocking climax, and a not entirely happy, but at least not tragic, ending. A provocative take on the theme that every superpower comes with a price.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: May 2010

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT
Written by Patrick Carman
April/ Ages 12 up
ISBN: 978-0-316-00403-9
 
While many teenagers might think they are invincible, fifteen-year-old Jack actually is; miraculously surviving the violent car crash that killed his foster father, Mr. Fielding, he has since found that Mr. Fielding’s last words, “You are indestructible,” were a revelation. When Jake realizes he has temporarily transferred indestructibility to gorgeous, thrill-seeking new girl Ophelia, known as Oh, Oh suggests that she, Jake, and friend Milo test the power and use it to help others. As indestructibility is passed around, however, something dark and deadly begins to envelop the trio, and they are forced to consider their own mortality, the line between saving and killing, and the unintended effects of their actions. In order to manage the power and emerge unscathed, Jack, Oh, and Milo will have to unravel the mystery of Mr. Fielding’s cryptic life and discover the origin of the power. The book is at once superhero story, philosophical pondering, and eventually, horror, and each of these strands is managed effectively. While the novel’s pacing stumbles occasionally, the compelling ethical dilemmas provide sufficient interest between bouts of pulse-quickening action, and Jake’s vibrant first-person narration keeps the reader engaged and smoothes out any rough spots in the plot. Invincibility is a what-if that is intriguing to consider, and this version of the life/death conundrum is enticing and ultimately entertaining.

School Library Journal: May 2010

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT
Written by Patrick Carman
April/ Ages 12 up
ISBN: 978-0-316-00403-9

Jacob Fielding shouldn’t have survived the car accident that killed his foster father, but he did. A week later, he writes “You are indestructible”–Mr. Fielding’s last words to him–on the wrist cast of Ophelia, a new girl at school, and soon after, she comes through a devastating skateboard crash without a scratch. With his final words, Mr. Fielding had gifted Jacob the power to keep death at bay, and the boy, along with Oh and his friend Milo, begins to play with life and death. Jacob can pass his power to others, and he does: first to Oh, and then to anyone the three can find who is in a situation likely to be fatal. What they don’t know, and only discover when Oh’s behavior becomes violently erratic, is that death cannot be stopped entirely. For every life they save, someone else must die. This page-turner is a natural choice for reluctant readers and fans of both adventure stories and supernatural thrillers. While Jacob and his friends seek out and shun death, they also explore the bounds of friendship and first romance. The story behind Jacob’s power, an intriguing tale involving Harry Houdini, may encourage readers to delve further into the magician’s history. Despite a few underdeveloped plot points, this novel will engage many readers.

“The Grim Reaper doesn’t disappear….he catches up.”

At first glance of the tagline, I can already tell that I am in for a thrilling ride; an epic tale of intrigue, action and the involvement of life versus death, written by a Messiah of modern day writing, American-born author Patrick Carman. But first impressions are never the solid truth. 13 Days to Midnight is far more than what I expected. Quoted as a hybrid of Stephen King’s “Carrie”, Unbreakable, Flatliners, and Donnie Darko, Patrick Carman has delivered something that is truly spectacular.

Origins

As Patrick Carman’s first foray into young adult fiction, 13 Days to Midnight began as a high-school fantasy, inspired by the likes of iconic comic books he read as a teenager. Quite different from his previous works, the superpower cleverly acts as a backdrop against a powerful love story, told in first-person perspective through the eyes of a high school senior. Upon reading, 13DTM is a much more mature storyline than the previous Carman books have never before explored. Providing this maturity is where the story really shines: the characters.

The Cast

There are only a few central characters in the storyline; positive or negative, this helps the reader connect far more personally than usual.

The main character, Jacob Fielding, is an average Catholic high-school student; an orphan, as the story explains. Thankfully, the time it spends on his back-story and the relationship with his foster parent, known only as Mr. Fielding, is decidedly brief. Some of the dialogue-heavy moments such as these in the beginning prove to be a bit slow. However, these moments (or flashbacks) are crucial, as it helps the pipeline of the plot move forward. Jacob is a normal kid, or just as normal as he wants to be. When 13DTM starts, he is reeling from the shock of a horrific car crash that has taken the life of his foster parent. But something is not right; Jacob hides a deadly secret.

Within the paradigm of the story is his best friend Milo, a reserved voice of reason that sticks by him at all times. Friendship is hard to earn in times like these, but unfortunately, the superpower threatens to rip it apart. And then there’s the beautiful and alluring Ophelia James, who is introduced early on in the story. Almost immediately, Jacob feels a strong pull towards her, a mesmerizing scent that dazzles him. It is this attraction that forces him to reveal the truth of his secret.

A Powerful Force

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Right off the bat, readers are asked this thoughtful question; because really, as it says, any superpower can bring in heaps of additional trouble. Unfortunately, his power also proves to be the spectre of a curse.

For Jacob is indestructible. Not only that, but he can also pass this power on to other people. This is what reveals his secret, and this is why he emerged from the car crash physically unscathed. The reactions from his two friends are different; once again, this shows Mr. Carman’s gifts as a writer to create multi-layered characters. Oh proposes to use this blessing of a power to save and help other people in need; Milo, on the other hand, is slightly more cautious. They agree to go through with their plan, on the risk of being caught. But like always, things take a wrong turn and the game becomes a battlefield. How do you choose who is worthy to save and who should die? Is it even fair, to hold the power of Death in your bare hands?

In this book, I realized that everything has a balance: love and hate, life and death, and good and evil. How do you know when to tip this balance? These are teenagers making life-threatening decisions; one wrong choice and it could change everything. The blood shall be on your hands. It is morally shocking as it is downright disturbing at times; this is not a joke. Everything is fatal, and Patrick Carman has communicated this perfectly throughout.

Setting and Format

13DTM not only makes good use of its characters, but also the concept of which it is based in, the rain-swept streets of Salem, Oregon. Most of these locations are based on true events or experiences the author had, used as foreshadowing techniques or synchronization with the story. Coffin Books is one of my favourite areas that the book took place in, reclusively often. As a hideout for the main characters, the dreary and gothic library was reminiscent of a darker and more realistic Batcave. It is their territory, and as the book flies along, Jacob begins to feel uncomfortable even here in familiar surroundings. The mood only gets grimmer; the book is set over a thirteen day period and as the clock ticks down, tensions rise to an explosive (and unpredictable) finale.

In terms of cover design, the book is marvellous. Sleek and glossy, the cover is symbolically accurate to the book itself. A paved narrow road is shown, retracting to the light horizon. At the end stands a teenage boy, outfitted in common clothing. Tire tracks run parallel, leading from his feet to the forefront of the road. In my opinion, I dissected this as Jacob leaving behind the regretful burdens and sinister sins of his past. It also illustrates the effect a certain car crash will have on his life forever.

Temptation

In the end, 13DTM is largely a story on temptation. It examines the facets of a character, and their moral code. What do they value largest: the calling of power, or the relationship between friends and family? It is not sometimes who or how many you save; it is rather a question of why you decide to use it. Before long, indestructibility can become addicting, like walking through fire or being immune to a public beating. However, once it becomes too addicting, or one becomes too cocky, then the world will crumble as a rule is crossed. It is human perception to seek above and beyond; with indestructibility, there is no limit to this fact. Power is unpredictable, and it is liable to betray you in the moment you need it most. A person either dies a hero, or lives long enough to become corrupted as a villain.

With 13 Days to Midnight, Patrick Carman has created an unpredictable examination of how far someone is willing to go to save someone they cherish. Like a double-edged sword, it shows the morality between the good and evil in everybody, and a force more powerful than even indestructibility: pure and unconditional love.

By Daniel Goodman

(daniel.goodman@hotmail.com)

Early teen readers have piped in on Thirteen Days to Midnight, but first a word from Kirkus, one of the toughest book reviewing organizations around.

A ward of the state for most of his life, Jacob has bounced from home to home until landing with the eccentric and mildly iconoclastic Mr. Fielding—who, when the car they’re in hits a tree at 60 miles an hour, dies, but not before passing on an unusual attribute. And with the same three simple words, the 15-year-old forever alters his life and the lives of his two friends, Milo and Ophelia, as he passes along his power of invulnerability. Using the power for altruistic purposes after a period of extreme experimentation, Jacob learns that protection from death comes with a steep price. Instead of offering a horror movie rip-off, Carman explores survivor’s guilt and raises theological issues, all within an action-packed and twisted tale. Ophelia’s haunting breakdown adds a second layer of complexity to the narrative, though Milo seems to avoid any sort of development. Mr. Fielding’s journals offer slightly more exposition than is necessary, but the author pulls the story together without too heavy a hand. Page-turning suspense through the end.

And these from teen readers – thank you for taking the time participate!

Hip Scout Reviews 2/10
Thirteen Days to Midnight

Patrick Carman fans will be in awe when they finish Thirteen Days to Midnight.  Being a huge fan myself, I can easily say this is quite simply his greatest work yet.  The reader is immediately caught from the beginning and thrust into the mysterious life of Jacob Fielding.  Thirteen Days to Midnight is simply excellent and shows the dark side of having a super power.

-Jeff, 17

This supernatural novel is an excellent addition to young adult literature. This new novel makes fantasy and superpowers real and believable. It’s got laugh-out-loud moments and reads like a movie in the reader’s head, perfect for drawing more teen boys into reading. Thirteen Days to Midnight is compulsively readable entertainment from cover to cover.
-Chloe, 17

Thirteen Days to Midnight was unlike any other book I have ever read. It was well put together and had an awesome plot. Though the middle of the book was a little “let’s get this over with already” in the end, it all made sense and the wait was totally worth it. While I had previously never heard of Patrick Carman, I will be looking for more of his books in the future.
-Victoria, 17

I think Thirteen Days to Midnight was a great book. Suspenseful and engaging. I’ll definitely recommend this to my friends.
-Hannah, 16

Thirteen Days to Midnight is a thrilling read. Immerse yourself in this exciting story as you’re pulled into the race to keep life and figure out the mysteries of death.
-Alexandra, 15

I really enjoyed the latest book from Patrick Carman, /Thirteen Days to Midnight/. The story of Jacob, his friends, and their quest to stop death and save people was both fascinating and terrifying. Jacob’s power seemed like a gift at first, but as the plot progressed it was clear there was more to the “dark lion” inside him than met the eye.
The novel reads like a serial killer-in-reverse: Jacob feels compelled to keep death away from his friends at first, but then he tries to save strangers and even enemies. Jacob’s relationships with Milo and Ophelia were complex and realistic. Milo and Jacob are best friends, and although Ophelia comes between the two they remain close. I was really struck by the intensity of Ophelia’s character. The first impression of Ophelia is that of the typical teenage “beauty”, but she takes a dark turn early on and the end result was shocking (literally and figuratively). I would definitely recommend this book to teenagers of all ages, especially those interested in supernatural and unexplainable events.
-Jess, 20

A mix of science fiction, with some romance sprinkled over, and fantasy. Thirteen Days to Midnight is a captivating read. It churns with emotion. A tale of friendship, magic, love, betrayal, forgiveness, and hardships. It is an excellent choice for high school students.

-Rachana, 16 

I read Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman and absolutely loved it. From the very first page, the author humorous tone drew me in, and the plot itself was fascinating. I feel that this is a book that many young adults will love, as they can relate to some of the difficult choices the protagonist has to make throughout the novel. This story of suspense, intrigue and adventure   will draw in readers.

-Caroline, 16

Patrick Carman is back with another stunning literary adventure with Thirteen Days to Midnight. The last words Jacob Fielding’s stepfather ever said to him said were, ‘You are indestructible.’ The second after, the two were in a car crash that should’ve killed them both. But Jacob survived, beginning a dizzying chain of near-death experiences with Jacob and his quirky friends Milo and Ophelia, who prefers to be called Oh. Jacob, Milo, and Oh work together to learn about the mysterious power Jacob gained, but, like Spider-Man, Jacob must balance great power with great responsibility. The countless tests, challenges, and heartbreaks Jake, Milo, and Oh face make Thirteen Days to Midnight one of the most thrilling page-turners of the year!
-Zoey, 16

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman is about a boy named Jacob Fielding who inherits a mysterious power from his father that makes him indestructible. When his new girlfriend, Ophelia, suggests that he use the power to save other people he agreed, until a darkness began to show through power, and he only has thirteen days to figure  out how to put things back to normal. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a thrilling read full of mystery!
-Kayla, 19

This was one of the most interesting books I’ve read so far. The plot was new and different without being completely out there; Carman managed to make it seem completely plausible, by discussing Jacob’s own disbelief. It was a great read, and I very much enjoyed it.
-Maggie, 18

What an amazing read! Had a hard time putting this one down. Characters were very relatable and the details were spot on. I will have to say I willing be looking for other titles by him.
-Noelle, 22

Thirteen Days to Midnight, like the power it describes, is addicting.  The take on the superpower (indestructibility) is original, and I enjoyed seeing its effects slowly play out over the course of the novel.  The main characters work well together.  Milo, small but scrappy and incredibly amusing – as well an unexpected source of wisdom – is my favorite.  Perhaps it’s that his parents own a book store or that he’s the first to realize something’s a little off about Jacob’s power; whatever the reason, he’s the character with which I most identified and would most want by my side if I suddenly became indestructible.  Jacob, too, I could relate to, sympathizing with his guilt over Mr. Fielding’s death and his many stays in foster homes. I particularly loved seeing Milo and Jacob’s friendship react to Oh, the power, and the secrets everyone — from Milo’s father to Father Tim — were keeping.  I also enjoyed the contrast between what Jacob, Milo, and Oh were doing and the intermittent scenes of normal life — the priests and their morning habits, the bullies, the other students at Holy Cross, and Oh’s protective mother.  It made the darkness of the superpower that much more pronounced and intriguing.     
A very good read; at times hysterical, at others disturbing, but always worth it.
-Sacha, 17

Thirteen Days to Midnight was an amazing book! I will admit that it was a little slow at first.  And the characters weren’t as thorough as they could have been with the testing of their “powers,” but other than that it was very well written and realistic. I like that fact that the kids did their best to keep the power a secret while still trying to help other. The draw back to the power was a very creative idea as well as the way it was fixed. The ending was fantastic and I stayed up to finish it until 1am. It was that good!
-Bella, 15

University of Waterloo's student paper Imprint Review Ghost in the Machine. Click to view full size.

The University of Waterloo’s student paper Imprint reviewed the second book in the Skeleton Creek series: Ghost in the Machine. They call it a “fantastic story by an amazing story teller” and say “I’m sure it will be copied and emulated.”