Gravity Check

by Alex Van Tol

Jamie is determined that nothing—not even his annoyingly popular younger brother Seth—is going to spoil his fun at a mountain biking camp in the backcountry. Nothing but stumbling on a giant grow-op in the woods, that is. And watching their fellow campers get captured by violent drug dealers. And working with Seth to figure out a way to save them without getting caught themselves.

Genres: Young Adult

161 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

I'm the author of 13 YA and middle grade books. When I'm not writing, I travel to schools to speak with groups of students. I love visiting schools!

I also work as a full-time freelance writer, creating stories and articles for universities, government organizations, magazines and more.

A few random facts:
* The most I've ever written in a single day is 14,000 words. That was a very, very long day.
* I print. I don't use handwriting.
* I like cats and horses. I used to work as a wrangler on an Alberta ranch.
* Stephen King was my favourite writer growing up.
* Small spaces worry me. You won't find me wiggling through caves on my tummy anytime soon.
* My favourite authors are Jonathan Franzen, Cormac McCarthy, Paulo Coelho, Amy Tan, JK Rowling and Jeff Kinney.

Reviews

[Bianca Cierny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the novel "Gravity Check," the main character Jamie, sacrifices his life to help save his brother and friends out of danger. You may be wondering why or how Jamies friends got into trouble? It all started because of a biking camp, but while Jamie and his brother Seth were showing off their skills, they came across a grow-op. A couple of days later their friends were kidnapped by big drug dealers. Even though this was a challenge for Jamie he managed to save his friends and his brother. "You rock, J. We'd all be dead if it wasn't for you, you know that?" this quote is significant because it shows how hard Jamie tried to save the people who he loved, and this provides us on how brave Jamie had sacrificed his life in dangerous situations.

[Dustin Carvalho · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was about two brothers not getting along with each other and this book has a famous bicyclist doing awesome tricks o a bicycle. People should read this book because it has a famous bicycle person going to a bicycling camp for stunts.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gravity check is a perfect book for a teenage boy the author Alex Van Tol does a great job of keeping the story very advancing and interesting throughout the whole book. Then there is always more exciting things right when you're about to put it down. Like every time you flip a page or enter a new chapter theres something there to pop up and surprise you and keep your mind racing through the book. Just like how Jamie and Seth and there friends race through the trails on their mountain bikes. Jamie is a well thought out quick thinking teen that responds to his situations with caution and gumption, on his back country mountain biking camp. His popular younger brother Seth can't even come close to ruining how good this camp will be.


The characters have often conflict between on another, but what they have no clue of is that while riding the trails they come up on a giant grow op in the back country ran by some drug dealers. Just wanting to ride the trails and have biking the only thing on Jamie's mind is what he wanted, but what he didnt know is that is would lead up to teaming up with his brother Seth.



Next having to watch their camp mates get captured by these drug dealers, and Jamie and Seth have to figure a way out to save their friends and not be caught themselves. This life or death situation isn’t what anyone wanted or planned for a camping trip but Jamie’s well quick thinking brain will figure something out, at least they can hope.

[A Book Vacation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van Tol does it again with her newest novel, enticing the reader through mystery and suspense as the plot unfolds! While the beginning of the novel explores the joys of mountain biking and enhances characterization, the novel quickly advances into a suspenseful thriller as Jamie and his friends’ camping trip becomes a life and death situation. Jamie is a well thought out, quick thinking, teen that reacts to his situations with caution and gumption; all of the characters are balanced very well, adding to the chilling reality and believability of the story at hand...

To read my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Spark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book that is a head turner at the end it is a action fill book for people that like mystery and biking