Off the Grid

by Lesley Choyce

Sixteen-year-old Cody was born and raised “off the grid” deep in the wilderness by idealistic parents. When his father becomes seriously ill, the family is forced to move into the city so he can get treatment. Attending high school for the first time, Cody is an oddity and has a hard time adjusting. He finds unlikely allies in DeMarco, an inner-city kid, and Ernest, a philosophical homeless man, and he begins a tentative friendship with Alexis.When he comes to DeMarco’s defense in an altercation at school, Cody finds himself in trouble with the police. A second confrontation puts Cody in more trouble with the cops, and he is convinced he must escape to the family homestead or be arrested. But Cody is torn between fleeing the city or staying with his ailing father and facing whatever consequences come his way.

Genres: Realistic Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2015

About the author

Lesley Choyce is a novelist and poet living at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. He is the author of more than 80 books for adults, teens and children. He teaches in the English Department and Transition Year Program at Dalhousie University. He is a year-round surfer and founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band, The SurfPoets. Choyce also runs Pottersfield Press, a small literary publishing house and hosted the national TV show, Off The Page, for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.

Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.

His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.

Reviews

[Joseph]

I would recommend this book because it shows how someone who lived a different way of life and then have to adjust to a new environment. Cody lived in the woods with just his mom and his dad away from all the city's and towns. He was home schooled. and had to hunt for his food. He didn't have any technology or nice clothing. When he first moved to the city he was overwhelmed but as time went on he adapted. What I liked most about Off The Grid was that Cody learned how to socialize and defend himself against bullies.

[Jacob Sachs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the authors writing in the book was poor and childish, but I liked how the story was relatable and how far the story could take off with only a hundred pages. The book had a good concept and at times I wished it was longer to hear more.

[Miss Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story deals with belonging, identity, bullying, medical hardship, homelessness, self-sufficiency, fear, determination, friendship and turning your life around.

It reminds me a little of 'Shooting Stars' by Brian Falkner with its contrasting wild vs urban life.

A youngster, Cody, is thrown into school life after being homeschooled. Not only that, but his father is very ill and worse for wear. Strangely, Cody makes friends with all the homeless people - sees them - in particular, Ernest. The latter and a couple of friends at school (a vegetarian and a gay guy) help him understand how school works and how to find his feet again. When dealing with a bully, Alexis says, “Some people want sympathy for their pain,” she said. “Some just want to push it onto others.” Turns out he lost his mother to cancer and so his outlook on the newcomer softens and Cody (the protagonist) no longer has to fear him, only losing his dad. Cody receives several life lessons from his dad including, "the hardest thing you can do is let other people help you when you’re down and out."

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly better-than-average Orca Soundings title. Hi-Lo books generally depend on the premise: do you want to read about a guy/gal who faces X problem? Then read X book.

The premise of this one is that Cody has arrived at typical-high-school from a lifetime of living in the woods with his low-impact parents, but now that dad has cancer, they have to live in the big city. So, he is confused, out of place. There are bullies. Misunderstandings. A girl. A homeless man who offers advice/needs help. A new LGBTQ friend who has his own bullies. It all works out.

This does suffer from the flatness that so many Hi-los seem used with. It isn't especially memorable, but it isn't bad either.

[Jake S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very fast paced at the start but started to die down by the middle of the book. So, it wasn't a very high rated book in my opinion. The story is about a kid named Cody who lived in the woods away from all people. However, one day his dad was diagnosed with cancer which made his family move to city with him. Cody would start fresh in a completely new society. I felt like many details in this book were rushed over and not very descriptive. I also disliked it because of how repetitive the story, and it had no twist.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a realistic fiction book about a boy who grew up in the woods away from civilization and how he has to adapt when moved to the city. Very easy book. Took about a half hour to read.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really liked this one.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Off the Grid is weirdly written. I know it is aimed at a YA'ish audience, but sometimes, the syntax felt like it was written for a couple of ten year olds.

The story is not even all that engaging and is, in my opinion, incredibly far fetched.

Also, while these books are always a quick read and very short, this one is ridiculously short. Felt like the whole thing went from 0 to 100 in like 50 pages - not a good read.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Orca publishing book and I am really impressed. This publishing company specializes in high interest, low reading level books for teens. We have quite a few titles in my library, but I've never tried them until now. I would definitely recommend this story about a boy forced to adapt to living in the city after growing up off the grid when his father is diagnosed with cancer.

[Crowinator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Orca Soundings series

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read, only took me an hour or so. The storyline was alright but it isn't very complex.

[Aaron Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. But I'm worried that I missed something at the end of the book with Ernest. Can somebody explain to me what he suppose to symbolize something?

[Bob Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

hhh