Countdown

Myles, in his final year of high school, is the captain of the rugby team and valedictorian. It would seem he has a glowing future ahead of him. That is until a few hours before graduation when he starts receiving anonymous text messages from “0” (that is zero, not the letter O). Zero has an incriminating picture which could derail Myles’s future. He is sent on a mission to revisit his transgressions (times when he bullied his fellow students) from elementary school to high school. These quests occupy him up to 45 minutes before the ceremony at which time he realizes who is persecuting him and why. He then makes his way back to the school just in time for the ceremony. He takes control of the situation by posting the self-incriminating photo and uses this as the fodder for his address to the graduation class.

This addition to the “Orca Anchor” series (high-interest novels with contemporary themes written for teens reading below a grade 2 level), is written as a series of text messages at a grade 1 level. All of Myles’ texts are in bold font, texts from others are in plain font and Myles’ valedictorian address is in italics. The familiar format – texting – with the added feature of the font styles assist the reader with comprehension. The fast-paced plot – it takes place in 6 hours – except for the “Epilogue” – as Myles tries to keep up with his blackmailer’s demands, will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There is even some character development as readers watch Myles and Zero mature. The dialogue is contemporary and uses profanity. Not all sentences are complete sentences, but this is in keeping with the practice of texting.

Congratulations to M. J. McIsaac for keeping the book set in Canada. As a mother of a Canadian varsity rugby player, I must point out that rugby scholarships are not as glamorous as they are in the States, but this fiction serves the plot.

For any library in the market for this series, Countdown would be a great addition!