"Strains and rewards of offline life"
May 2018 Book of the Month | Interest Age Teen Reading Age 8
When a billionaire phone-tech entrepreneur challenges the Year Eleven pupils in her former school to switch off their phones for six weeks, Esther is determined to rise to the occasion. With her American-born dad, sister and baby nephew now living in New York, she has her sights firmly fixed on the £1000 prize, which she’d use to visit them, plus she could do with a break from the constant peer pressure to share super model style selfies.
But almost immediately, Esther’s FOMO (fear of missing out) “is at emergency levels”, not least because she has no idea what her friends are up to. As a result, she and a few fellow participants set up a support group in her mum’s new cafe, among them River, who gives an impassioned speech about how social media users are “just pawns in the hands of people making money out of us”.
Alongside an engaging exploration of the pros and cons of online life, there’s a sensitive sub-plot about the complications of family life, with the downsides of digital media touched-on through that too (her mum’s café is struggling to find customers in the wake of a poor online review), and reference to being aware of “fake news” and inaccurate reporting. Thought-provoking and topical, this pacey read is especially suitable for reluctant and dyslexic teen readers.
Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+
Could you disconnect from your phone for six weeks? When an eccentric entrepreneur challenges a class to give up their phones, offering a prize of £1,000 to the one who lasts the longest, Esther is determined to win. But ignoring the draw of technology is difficult and it’s not as easy as she thought to resist that niggling urge. Can she hold out long enough to win the money and what else can Esther and her friends discover when they’re not glued to their screens?
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Could you disconnect from your phone for six weeks? When an eccentric entrepreneur challenges a class to give up their phones, offering a prize of £1,000 to the one who lasts the longest, Esther is determined to win.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Disconnect and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-14 years old
The Disconnect features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Books to Motivate Teenage Reluctant Readers, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Teens, Gritty Reads, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Disconnect was written by Keren David and published by Barrington Stoke Ltd
The Disconnect has 120 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
