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Jed and the Junkyard War
Jed is a regular kid with a normal, loving family . . . that is, if it's normal for a loving family to drop their child off in the middle of nowhere and expect him home in time for Sunday dinner. Luckily, Jed excels at being a regular kid who-armed with wit and determination-can make his way out of any situation.
At least until the morning of his twelfth birthday, when Jed wakes to discover his parents missing. Something is wrong. Really wrong. Jed just doesn't realize it's floating-city, violent-junk-storm, battling-metals, Frankensteined-scavengers kind of wrong. Yet.
A cryptic list of instructions leads Jed into a mysterious world at war over . . . junk. Here, batteries and bottled water are currency, tremendously large things fall from the sky, and nothing is exactly what it seems.
Resilient Jed, ready to escape this upside-down place, bargains his way onto a flying tugboat with a crew of misfit junkers. They set course to find Jed's family, but a soul-crushing revelation sends Jed spiraling out of control . . . perhaps for good.
At least until the morning of his twelfth birthday, when Jed wakes to discover his parents missing. Something is wrong. Really wrong. Jed just doesn't realize it's floating-city, violent-junk-storm, battling-metals, Frankensteined-scavengers kind of wrong. Yet.
A cryptic list of instructions leads Jed into a mysterious world at war over . . . junk. Here, batteries and bottled water are currency, tremendously large things fall from the sky, and nothing is exactly what it seems.
Resilient Jed, ready to escape this upside-down place, bargains his way onto a flying tugboat with a crew of misfit junkers. They set course to find Jed's family, but a soul-crushing revelation sends Jed spiraling out of control . . . perhaps for good.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2016
34 people are currently reading
1934 people want to read
About the author
Steven Bohls
4 books46 followersSteven Bohls lives inside a head of fairy tales and magic. He is a dreamer first, a thinker second, and a writer last. He also sculpts, illustrates, builds, creates, and designs.
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June 5, 2018
Jed and the Junkyard War
(Note: For an explanation of my Goodreads policy, please see here.)
People tend to be interested in the books my students write, as many of them share some of my storytelling philosophy with me. That’s certainly the case here, with Steven Bohls’ Jed and the Junkyard War, a middle grade fantasy with some excellent worldbuilding and some of the same whimsical narrative feel as the Alcatraz Books.
Jed is a kid with a mysterious past and parents who push him to be a survivor. He ends up falling through the proverbial rabbit hole, and is sucked into a land coated in a deep layer of junk. Airships soar about, searching the junk for usable refuse, including the cans of food (apparently from our world) that can be found there.
The whimsical worldbuilding is imaginative and flavorful, and is mixed with a steampunk setting with most everything being built from the junk in one way or another. (Including mechanical monsters that prowl the junkyard.) This place is somehow connected to Jed’s parents and their past, though Jed is going to wade deep through the broken world to find it.
For Writers
Two things stand out to me in the book. The first is the worldbuilding, which I mentioned above. I find that many books just aren’t audacious enough in their worldbuilding, and a middle grade fantasy is the perfect place for a story like this--which has some pretty evocative worldbuilding imagery. I tend to like fantasy the best when it’s exploiting some insane premise that could never fly in another genre.
The other thing to look at here is the balance of danger and whimsy. This is something you don’t ordinarily find anywhere other than middle grade. Series like Harry Potter and the Series of Unfortunate Events are perfect examples--they contain these wonderful, even silly, worlds and somehow mix them with a real and present sense of danger and action.
Jed and the Junkyard war is an extreme example on both counts. The junkyard is an outrageous premise, and is full of flying airship pirates. The prose itself is at times very still, poking at the borders of mocking just how ridiculous the story can get. At the same time, the dangers to Jed are real, even chilling at times. In an adult book, you rarely see this kind of a combination outside of something intended to be humorous.
The Short Version
A fun middle grade fantasy with an evocative setting and genuinely thrilling moments.
Rating Notes
Well below the PG-13 threshold.
Bias Notes
Steven was a student in my BYU university class a few years back, and as such, I’d say I’m quite biased toward his writing. He tends to beat me at Magic: the Gathering, though, so some day he deserves his comeuppance.
(Note, for other former Sanderson students, check out Janci Lynn Patterson, Brian McClellan, Peggy Eddleman, Charlie N. Holmberg, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting and will have to edit in later.)
(Note: For an explanation of my Goodreads policy, please see here.)
People tend to be interested in the books my students write, as many of them share some of my storytelling philosophy with me. That’s certainly the case here, with Steven Bohls’ Jed and the Junkyard War, a middle grade fantasy with some excellent worldbuilding and some of the same whimsical narrative feel as the Alcatraz Books.
Jed is a kid with a mysterious past and parents who push him to be a survivor. He ends up falling through the proverbial rabbit hole, and is sucked into a land coated in a deep layer of junk. Airships soar about, searching the junk for usable refuse, including the cans of food (apparently from our world) that can be found there.
The whimsical worldbuilding is imaginative and flavorful, and is mixed with a steampunk setting with most everything being built from the junk in one way or another. (Including mechanical monsters that prowl the junkyard.) This place is somehow connected to Jed’s parents and their past, though Jed is going to wade deep through the broken world to find it.
For Writers
Two things stand out to me in the book. The first is the worldbuilding, which I mentioned above. I find that many books just aren’t audacious enough in their worldbuilding, and a middle grade fantasy is the perfect place for a story like this--which has some pretty evocative worldbuilding imagery. I tend to like fantasy the best when it’s exploiting some insane premise that could never fly in another genre.
The other thing to look at here is the balance of danger and whimsy. This is something you don’t ordinarily find anywhere other than middle grade. Series like Harry Potter and the Series of Unfortunate Events are perfect examples--they contain these wonderful, even silly, worlds and somehow mix them with a real and present sense of danger and action.
Jed and the Junkyard war is an extreme example on both counts. The junkyard is an outrageous premise, and is full of flying airship pirates. The prose itself is at times very still, poking at the borders of mocking just how ridiculous the story can get. At the same time, the dangers to Jed are real, even chilling at times. In an adult book, you rarely see this kind of a combination outside of something intended to be humorous.
The Short Version
A fun middle grade fantasy with an evocative setting and genuinely thrilling moments.
Rating Notes
Well below the PG-13 threshold.
Bias Notes
Steven was a student in my BYU university class a few years back, and as such, I’d say I’m quite biased toward his writing. He tends to beat me at Magic: the Gathering, though, so some day he deserves his comeuppance.
(Note, for other former Sanderson students, check out Janci Lynn Patterson, Brian McClellan, Peggy Eddleman, Charlie N. Holmberg, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting and will have to edit in later.)
November 2, 2016
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for and honest review.
I LOVED this book.
The summary really called out to me; it's an adventure, it's a bit weird and almost magical. It sounded right up my alley. And I was right, it was.
The characters are incredibly funny and well written. I wish I could meet each and everyone of them.
The story is absolutely brilliant. I just wanted to know what was going to happen, I want to discover more secrets. I needed to, that's how much I loved it. I needed to know how it would end. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time, it makes you laugh, it annoys you, it scares you and above, it surprises you.
It really is an adventure that I would gladly take on again.
I LOVED this book.
The summary really called out to me; it's an adventure, it's a bit weird and almost magical. It sounded right up my alley. And I was right, it was.
The characters are incredibly funny and well written. I wish I could meet each and everyone of them.
The story is absolutely brilliant. I just wanted to know what was going to happen, I want to discover more secrets. I needed to, that's how much I loved it. I needed to know how it would end. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time, it makes you laugh, it annoys you, it scares you and above, it surprises you.
It really is an adventure that I would gladly take on again.
April 1, 2019
This was a fun surprise! I read this book with my second grader on Brandon Sanderson's recommendation, and we both enjoyed it even more than Sanderson's Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. In fact, there were times I considered continuing to read it on my own after he went to bed! Highly recommended.
UPDATE: Picked up the sequel a year later on release date and the story picks right back up, so much so that my son and I had completely forgotten what was going on, so we had to read this one again. We both enjoyed it just as much the second time!
UPDATE: Picked up the sequel a year later on release date and the story picks right back up, so much so that my son and I had completely forgotten what was going on, so we had to read this one again. We both enjoyed it just as much the second time!
December 15, 2017
This book was incredible! I read it along with my son and he was so into this story that he kept begging me to read more. When I was busy canning grape juice, he read an entire chapter out loud because he couldn't wait.
Bohls does a great job of creating a fantastical world that readers can dive into. Mystery, humor, ingenious tricks, hints, and suspense make this book unputdownable! We can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what will happen to Jed.
Bohls does a great job of creating a fantastical world that readers can dive into. Mystery, humor, ingenious tricks, hints, and suspense make this book unputdownable! We can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what will happen to Jed.
March 25, 2020
True story: After I saw Brandon Sanderson (one of my favourite authors) had heartily endorsed this book, I looked at it and decided not to read it because its main character has the same name of my WIP's main character and I didn't want this Jed to influence my Jed.
Now that I have actually read this book, that sort of influence might not be a bad thing.
Review in short: Jed and the Junkyard War is an amazing and immersive and original story. I love the depth and care with which the world's been crafted, I enjoy the humour in Jed's vivid voice, I appreciate the way the author forces Jed to make difficult thematic decisions about surviving, and I can feel the shapes of each well-told character in my heart. Highly recommended to anyone who can get their hands on it.
Now to see about getting the next book in the series. Yeah. Just so soon as my library reopens.
Now that I have actually read this book, that sort of influence might not be a bad thing.
Review in short: Jed and the Junkyard War is an amazing and immersive and original story. I love the depth and care with which the world's been crafted, I enjoy the humour in Jed's vivid voice, I appreciate the way the author forces Jed to make difficult thematic decisions about surviving, and I can feel the shapes of each well-told character in my heart. Highly recommended to anyone who can get their hands on it.
Now to see about getting the next book in the series. Yeah. Just so soon as my library reopens.
May 27, 2019
Reading Jed and the junkyard war was pure pleasure. This book is delightful, quirky and fast paced . The characters came alive and drew me deeply into the story. I loved the opening-from the weird parenting style of Jed's mom and dad, to the tunnel behind the dishwasher. It was so much fun following Jed on his adventures while he was searching for his parents. The ending was a great twist and left me anxious for the hopeful sequel
March 15, 2017
This was fun and creative with 4 and 5-star elements mixed with some confusing/forced plotting in the mid-to-end of the story, which is quite forgivable for a first book.
I loved the weird world with the junk storms and canned food/battery based economy--think Terminator meets wacky alternate Earth rather than dystopian future. Jed was quite likable and so was the girl (forget her name), but she was a little convenient as well. The freaky Dread head on the mast was a great touch and payoff, as were the touches on Iron and Copper culture and the watch. The push red buttons thing was totally fun, but made no sense. I am OK with some random fun details, though it could be explained in a future book in the series.
Minor spoilerish here--the ending has some Keys to the Kingdom/League of Seven vibe going. I liked it mostly, and it was foreshadowed in hindsight, but I don't quite love it.
I put this on hold after seeing posters for the author's talk at Provo Library, and I'm glad I did. I think my students will enjoy this too. I'll probably end up buying a copy for school.
I loved the weird world with the junk storms and canned food/battery based economy--think Terminator meets wacky alternate Earth rather than dystopian future. Jed was quite likable and so was the girl (forget her name), but she was a little convenient as well. The freaky Dread head on the mast was a great touch and payoff, as were the touches on Iron and Copper culture and the watch. The push red buttons thing was totally fun, but made no sense. I am OK with some random fun details, though it could be explained in a future book in the series.
Minor spoilerish here--the ending has some Keys to the Kingdom/League of Seven vibe going. I liked it mostly, and it was foreshadowed in hindsight, but I don't quite love it.
I put this on hold after seeing posters for the author's talk at Provo Library, and I'm glad I did. I think my students will enjoy this too. I'll probably end up buying a copy for school.
July 1, 2018
This was a fun and easy to read book. The characters were good, especially Jed and Shay. The book really was just fun and intriguing the entire time. I highly recommend Jed and the Junkyard War to anyone.
June 25, 2019
It started out really great but the ending was forced and strange. Maybe the next one sorts things out?
October 16, 2017
My oldest son read this first and said I HAD to read it. It is good, really good. This is one we will buy and add to our family library. Loved it.
July 18, 2019
Jed has led a pretty normal life up until his 12th birthday. Well, for him it was normal. Doesn't everyone's parents give them intense survival training and drop them off in the middle of Yellowstone with a deadline of 24 hours to get home to Colorado? His do. No sweat, he was home before the deadline in plenty of time to celebrate with a lemony dessert. But the morning of his 12th birthday dawns and his parents are nowhere to be found in the house. This isn't the way birthdays usually go. Eventually Jed decides to retrieve the emergency pack his parents told him to retrieve from their closet in case of an emergency. A note there tells him to take it through the tunnel behind the dishwasher and find his grandfather he hasn't seen in years. Turns out the tunnel thing isn't a joke, and crawling through Jed finds himself in a very strange place where junk rains from the sky, everyone travels around in floating ships, batteries are currency, and there are junk zombies terrorizing those trying to survive by salvaging junk. The ship that finds him doesn't believe a word about this surface world he comes from and treats him like a spy. Jed is scrambling to figure out what is going on and how to survive in this very, very strange world while also trying to find his grandfather, and maybe even his parents.
Well, I definitely need book 2 now. That ending has left so many things dangling off a cliff. I was a little surprised by where Bohls took the ending. It was brave and a bit atypical. And no, I'm not saying any more and spoiling it. I started off a little annoyed at all the characters on the ship Jed ends up on. They seem extra harsh and untrusting of Jed and refuse to listen to reason. Eventually things get a little bit better when Jed wins some of them over through their stomachs and then we can focus more on the plot and not all the annoying people who won't listen to him. There's quite a bit of this book that reminds me of Brandon Mull's Sky Raiders. A kid winds up in a strange new world, forced to do scavenging raids from a floating/flying ship. But that's where the similarities end. Jed's world seems more steampunk than magical fantasy. It's a little darker and more piratey, but definitely imaginative. I am very curious to find out what happens next. So if you are struggling with the first half of the book, I'd encourage you to persevere and see if the 2nd half doesn't grab you more. Recommended to steampunk fans, portal story fans, and pirate story fans.
Notes on content: If I remember right, just one or two mild swear words (finished it over a week ago with no time to review it since). No sexual content. A few fatalities of monster-like creatures. Some main characters get serious wounds, and at least one person is turned into a mechanical zombie-like creature. The tone of the book is darker and more serious than the average middle grade book and danger is very real, so probably best for upper middle grade readers.
Well, I definitely need book 2 now. That ending has left so many things dangling off a cliff. I was a little surprised by where Bohls took the ending. It was brave and a bit atypical. And no, I'm not saying any more and spoiling it. I started off a little annoyed at all the characters on the ship Jed ends up on. They seem extra harsh and untrusting of Jed and refuse to listen to reason. Eventually things get a little bit better when Jed wins some of them over through their stomachs and then we can focus more on the plot and not all the annoying people who won't listen to him. There's quite a bit of this book that reminds me of Brandon Mull's Sky Raiders. A kid winds up in a strange new world, forced to do scavenging raids from a floating/flying ship. But that's where the similarities end. Jed's world seems more steampunk than magical fantasy. It's a little darker and more piratey, but definitely imaginative. I am very curious to find out what happens next. So if you are struggling with the first half of the book, I'd encourage you to persevere and see if the 2nd half doesn't grab you more. Recommended to steampunk fans, portal story fans, and pirate story fans.
Notes on content: If I remember right, just one or two mild swear words (finished it over a week ago with no time to review it since). No sexual content. A few fatalities of monster-like creatures. Some main characters get serious wounds, and at least one person is turned into a mechanical zombie-like creature. The tone of the book is darker and more serious than the average middle grade book and danger is very real, so probably best for upper middle grade readers.
March 13, 2017
Bohls, Steven Jed and the Junkyard War, 298 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2016. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.
12-year old Jed wakes up on his birthday to discover his parents have disappeared, leaving him nothing but a cryptic note, a backpack full of water bottles and batteries, and directions to follow a tunnel at the back of their kitchen dishwasher. At the end of the tunnel, Jed finds himself in a totally new world—a world in a massive junkyard at war where everyone lives above ground on floating cities or boats. Picked up by the enigmatic Captain Bog and his crew after his grandfather does not show up, Jed joins up with these rust pirates in hopes of finding his family. The twist comes when Jed finally discovers where his grandfather is—with the terrifying Dreads who are more machine than man. When he does finally meet up with his Grandfather, Jed is horrified to learn the truth about his family and about himself. But the choice of what to do with that information is still up to him.
I think this book will be immensely popular with young adult readers as it introduces a totally new and unique world with interesting cha
racters. I enjoyed learning the “rules” of this junkyard world right along with Jed and the twists and turns were always unexpected. The main problem I had with this book was its age-level. Jed is supposed to be 12, but his words and actions, as well as the violence that commences in the second half of the novel, would make age 16 far more appropriate. The language is 100% clean but the violence that is discussed and often seen (point blank shootings, killings, torture, abuse, etc) is not something I find wholly appropriate to a younger middle school reader. As such, I think it is more appropriate to a high school audience but will still be appreciated by middle and high school readers across the board.
MS—OPTIONAL, HS—ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
12-year old Jed wakes up on his birthday to discover his parents have disappeared, leaving him nothing but a cryptic note, a backpack full of water bottles and batteries, and directions to follow a tunnel at the back of their kitchen dishwasher. At the end of the tunnel, Jed finds himself in a totally new world—a world in a massive junkyard at war where everyone lives above ground on floating cities or boats. Picked up by the enigmatic Captain Bog and his crew after his grandfather does not show up, Jed joins up with these rust pirates in hopes of finding his family. The twist comes when Jed finally discovers where his grandfather is—with the terrifying Dreads who are more machine than man. When he does finally meet up with his Grandfather, Jed is horrified to learn the truth about his family and about himself. But the choice of what to do with that information is still up to him.
I think this book will be immensely popular with young adult readers as it introduces a totally new and unique world with interesting cha
racters. I enjoyed learning the “rules” of this junkyard world right along with Jed and the twists and turns were always unexpected. The main problem I had with this book was its age-level. Jed is supposed to be 12, but his words and actions, as well as the violence that commences in the second half of the novel, would make age 16 far more appropriate. The language is 100% clean but the violence that is discussed and often seen (point blank shootings, killings, torture, abuse, etc) is not something I find wholly appropriate to a younger middle school reader. As such, I think it is more appropriate to a high school audience but will still be appreciated by middle and high school readers across the board.
MS—OPTIONAL, HS—ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
December 3, 2018
The world building in this book rocked! The author did a great job taking me to a believable world of floating ships in a junkyard. I really liked the distinct flavors of voice in each of Bohls' characters. He also does a good job with the "feeling" each type of being in the book gives. From the icky scary dreadnaughts, to Jed's heroic saving father, to the fair yet ruthless Captain Bog.
I read it to my 8 and 6 year old, but I would NOT suggest having anyone younger than 10 read it. The main character, Jed, is thrust into a world where man eating robots wear the skin and body parts of their victims. I had to do some damage control with the nightmare inducing content for my kiddos as I read the book to them. Depending on the child, you might want to wait even longer.
As for the story itself? It left my kids and I asking a ton of questions. I usually prefer more resolution than it gave at the ending. I'm hoping the second book will answer our questions.
I read it to my 8 and 6 year old, but I would NOT suggest having anyone younger than 10 read it. The main character, Jed, is thrust into a world where man eating robots wear the skin and body parts of their victims. I had to do some damage control with the nightmare inducing content for my kiddos as I read the book to them. Depending on the child, you might want to wait even longer.
As for the story itself? It left my kids and I asking a ton of questions. I usually prefer more resolution than it gave at the ending. I'm hoping the second book will answer our questions.
December 27, 2016
This story was a great adventure in a cluttered world; to explain it in one sentence. The junkyard world feels like one of those worlds that you wish you could live in, but at the same time you're glad you don't because Dread are freaking creepy. This book made me want to pick fresh lemons and eat food straight out of the can. Also, this book will make me very skeptical of old guys with big noses and bushy mustaches for a few months.
I've been waiting for this book for who knows how long...totally worth the wait. Great job Steve.
I've been waiting for this book for who knows how long...totally worth the wait. Great job Steve.
December 9, 2016
Great book! Such amazing fun in this weird world of junk. So enjoyed the crew of Bessie. They are gruff and crazy and fearless (except when it comes to salt). Shay "mouse" ( the ship's stow away) was such an intriguing character. Wasn't sure to feel bad for her or to fear her.
My favorite interaction was between Jed and Captain Bog. It started with Jed thinking Captain Bog's face looked like the bottom of a shoe and continued to develop from there. Loved it !!!!! Read it in 4 hours!
My favorite interaction was between Jed and Captain Bog. It started with Jed thinking Captain Bog's face looked like the bottom of a shoe and continued to develop from there. Loved it !!!!! Read it in 4 hours!
February 23, 2017
Honestly, I would give this book a 2.5. It was a fun read with quirky characters, but it isn't my cup of tea.
Warnings:
sex-nope
drugs-nope
language-once
violence-yes
Warnings:
sex-nope
drugs-nope
language-once
violence-yes
January 27, 2022
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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Jed and the Junkyard War (Jed and the Junkyard War, book 1)
Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion (Jed and the Junkyard War, Book 2)
By: Steven Bohls
My Rating: Three and a half out of five stars
Best for: 10 and up
So much potential...
Jed and the Junkyard War and Jed and the Junk Yard Rebellion are super fun middle grade fantasy, steam punk adventures with really (REALLY) cool world building. They are absolutely bursting with potential, but fell just an teeny tiny bit short of complete awesomeness. My kids love them though, and that's really all that matters!
I discovered Jed after reading Lux, the book Brandon Sanderson co-wrote with his former student, Steven Bohls. Lux was great, so I looked to see what else Steven wrote. Lo and behold, his debut novel was Jed and The Junkyard War, followed by it's sequel, Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion. Brandon Sanderson took the time to bestow one of his rare 5 star reviews on Jed and the Junkyard War. He's never steered me wrong, so I got myself a copy and went to work.
So, what did I love?
Jed and the Junkyard War is a middle-grade story with really fun world building that pushed the boundaries of fun to almost (but not quite getting to) ridiculous. Jed's parents trained him to be a self-reliant problem solver in extreme ways--like dropping him off in the middle of Yellowstone with nothing but four dollars and a can of soda the day before his 12th birthday. The goal? To find his way home before his dad eats all his birthday cake. Where's home? Denver!
Through ingenuity and resourcefulness, Jed makes it home with time to spare. But when he wakes up the next morning, his parents have vanished. The only clue is a mysterious letter with instructions to follow a hidden tunnel behind the dishwasher that leads to...a world made of junk! Alice went to Wonderland. Jed went to junk land!
In this backwards somewhere, people live in floating cities, junk scavengers fly on junk ships, only eat canned food they find in the junk piles, use batteries as money, deal with junk storms, and keep an eye out for dread--terrifying creatures that are part junk, part human. I'm telling you, there is so much creativity here! The characters are a ton of fun, and I really got into the adventure.
I also appreciated the real peril, and I think that's what sucked me in. Jed is faced with some scary stuff, and I liked that Steven Bohls writes for middle graders without dumbing things down for them. Jed's parents are lost, he's confused about who he is, and the more he learns about himself, the more uncertain he becomes. Are his parents really his parents? Why did they vanish? And why do the dreads seem to be after him, in particular?
So what bugged me, then?
With all the detailed world building, I was really surprised will all the plot shortcuts. Questions that demanded answering were never answered. Important characters never finished their arc. Solutions to key problems conveniently appeared. Once the world was introduced and the story got going at the end of book one, things really started to drag. I loved book one, but felt pretty let down by the development of book two.
These are all grown-up frustrations with a middle grade story. The only real opinion that matters is the one from its target audience--and my kids love Jed! I've finished both books, but we're only partway through book 1 together. And they keep begging for more reading time!
That sounds like a winner to me!
The content is middle grade appropriate, including PG level peril. Best for 10 and up.
Happy Reading!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Jed and the Junkyard War (Jed and the Junkyard War, book 1)
Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion (Jed and the Junkyard War, Book 2)
By: Steven Bohls
My Rating: Three and a half out of five stars
Best for: 10 and up
So much potential...
Jed and the Junkyard War and Jed and the Junk Yard Rebellion are super fun middle grade fantasy, steam punk adventures with really (REALLY) cool world building. They are absolutely bursting with potential, but fell just an teeny tiny bit short of complete awesomeness. My kids love them though, and that's really all that matters!
I discovered Jed after reading Lux, the book Brandon Sanderson co-wrote with his former student, Steven Bohls. Lux was great, so I looked to see what else Steven wrote. Lo and behold, his debut novel was Jed and The Junkyard War, followed by it's sequel, Jed and the Junkyard Rebellion. Brandon Sanderson took the time to bestow one of his rare 5 star reviews on Jed and the Junkyard War. He's never steered me wrong, so I got myself a copy and went to work.
So, what did I love?
Jed and the Junkyard War is a middle-grade story with really fun world building that pushed the boundaries of fun to almost (but not quite getting to) ridiculous. Jed's parents trained him to be a self-reliant problem solver in extreme ways--like dropping him off in the middle of Yellowstone with nothing but four dollars and a can of soda the day before his 12th birthday. The goal? To find his way home before his dad eats all his birthday cake. Where's home? Denver!
Through ingenuity and resourcefulness, Jed makes it home with time to spare. But when he wakes up the next morning, his parents have vanished. The only clue is a mysterious letter with instructions to follow a hidden tunnel behind the dishwasher that leads to...a world made of junk! Alice went to Wonderland. Jed went to junk land!
In this backwards somewhere, people live in floating cities, junk scavengers fly on junk ships, only eat canned food they find in the junk piles, use batteries as money, deal with junk storms, and keep an eye out for dread--terrifying creatures that are part junk, part human. I'm telling you, there is so much creativity here! The characters are a ton of fun, and I really got into the adventure.
I also appreciated the real peril, and I think that's what sucked me in. Jed is faced with some scary stuff, and I liked that Steven Bohls writes for middle graders without dumbing things down for them. Jed's parents are lost, he's confused about who he is, and the more he learns about himself, the more uncertain he becomes. Are his parents really his parents? Why did they vanish? And why do the dreads seem to be after him, in particular?
So what bugged me, then?
With all the detailed world building, I was really surprised will all the plot shortcuts. Questions that demanded answering were never answered. Important characters never finished their arc. Solutions to key problems conveniently appeared. Once the world was introduced and the story got going at the end of book one, things really started to drag. I loved book one, but felt pretty let down by the development of book two.
These are all grown-up frustrations with a middle grade story. The only real opinion that matters is the one from its target audience--and my kids love Jed! I've finished both books, but we're only partway through book 1 together. And they keep begging for more reading time!
That sounds like a winner to me!
The content is middle grade appropriate, including PG level peril. Best for 10 and up.
Happy Reading!
March 10, 2018
A book that's just as messy as the flying junk-ships it's about, and I mean that in the best way possible. I was never bored, certainly. But as the story kept twisting and turning, I could only shake my head at how deep a hole it was digging for itself. This can't possibly be resolved in the small number of pages left, I told myself.
And guess what?
I was right.
The setting is awesome. Junkstorms? Floating, steampunk-esque cities? Mechanical monsters that drink people's insides and wear their skin (shudders)? Yes, please.
The characters, on the other hand, are kind of generic. An almost-five-man-band, with no twist or meaningful development for any of them, aside from possibly Jed.
The first half of the book does little aside from justifying the second half. Still, I'd have to say I prefer the rhythm and mystery of the first half to the nearly-exhausting-EVERYTHING-IS-HAPPENING hodgepodge of the second half. It's as if the moment that , that's when the story actually started. But it felt so disconnected from everything that came before (not to mention a bit too convenient). Then it rushes from one exciting event to the next, opening door after door with little apparent interest in closing any.
Eventually . . .
Thankfully, a childhood of reading the Last Dragon Chronicles has desensitized me to horrible cliff-hanger endings. Compared to those books, Jed's ending was satisfying. Barely.
Those expecting a stand-alone book are in for a nasty shock indeed.
So: overall, a fun jaunt through an interesting, different world.
That beginning was weird, though. I thought we were over the whole "start in the middle and go back" way of opening books.
And guess what?
I was right.
The setting is awesome. Junkstorms? Floating, steampunk-esque cities? Mechanical monsters that drink people's insides and wear their skin (shudders)? Yes, please.
The characters, on the other hand, are kind of generic. An almost-five-man-band, with no twist or meaningful development for any of them, aside from possibly Jed.
The first half of the book does little aside from justifying the second half. Still, I'd have to say I prefer the rhythm and mystery of the first half to the nearly-exhausting-EVERYTHING-IS-HAPPENING hodgepodge of the second half. It's as if the moment that , that's when the story actually started. But it felt so disconnected from everything that came before (not to mention a bit too convenient). Then it rushes from one exciting event to the next, opening door after door with little apparent interest in closing any.
Eventually . . .
Thankfully, a childhood of reading the Last Dragon Chronicles has desensitized me to horrible cliff-hanger endings. Compared to those books, Jed's ending was satisfying. Barely.
Those expecting a stand-alone book are in for a nasty shock indeed.
So: overall, a fun jaunt through an interesting, different world.
That beginning was weird, though. I thought we were over the whole "start in the middle and go back" way of opening books.
October 25, 2017
Overview:
Jed has strange parents. I mean seriously weird parents. What kind of parents celebrate a kids birthday by stranding him in a national park and seeing how long it takes him to find his way home? Parents who need to teach their kids to survive anything, that's who.
Jed’s family is from the Junkyard world, but Jed grows up in our world. The Junkyard world is covered in junk and robots. The robots eat humans, so knowing a few survival techniques is essential, especially when Jed is dumped into the Junkyard with no warning, friends, or family.
My thoughts:
Flying pirate ships! Do you really need more? You do? Okay, there is more. There are man-eating robots made out junk, lemon doughnuts, flying cities, junk storms, cooking, and flying pirate ship (they deserve to be mentioned twice).
The world-building is excellent. The Junkyard is well developed and a fun place for the story to unfold. It has enough danger to make things interesting, enough fantastical things to excite the imagination, and enough silliness for a lighthearted middle-grade fantasy.
We discover this world as Jed does. After being stranded in the Junkyard he finds work as a cook on a flying pirate ship. Before he comes along the crew eats canned food straight from the cans. Jed introduces them to the magic of cooking. They introduce Jed to the dangers of the Junkyard.
The crew is full of interesting people, but Jed is the character. Everyone else is a sidekick. To me, having a single main character drive the story is a double edge sword. I like books with multiple storylines. It adds depth and can make a book enjoyable even if you don't connect with the main character, but a single main character keeps things simple and keeps the word count down. We wouldn't get to know Jed as well if he had to share the spotlight, but if you don't connect with Jed, then you may struggle to enjoy the book.
To sum up, Jed and the Junkyard War has a fun story, excellent world-building, good characters and a nice twist at the end. If you like middle-grade fantasy, this is a great book to pick up.
Jed has strange parents. I mean seriously weird parents. What kind of parents celebrate a kids birthday by stranding him in a national park and seeing how long it takes him to find his way home? Parents who need to teach their kids to survive anything, that's who.
Jed’s family is from the Junkyard world, but Jed grows up in our world. The Junkyard world is covered in junk and robots. The robots eat humans, so knowing a few survival techniques is essential, especially when Jed is dumped into the Junkyard with no warning, friends, or family.
My thoughts:
Flying pirate ships! Do you really need more? You do? Okay, there is more. There are man-eating robots made out junk, lemon doughnuts, flying cities, junk storms, cooking, and flying pirate ship (they deserve to be mentioned twice).
The world-building is excellent. The Junkyard is well developed and a fun place for the story to unfold. It has enough danger to make things interesting, enough fantastical things to excite the imagination, and enough silliness for a lighthearted middle-grade fantasy.
We discover this world as Jed does. After being stranded in the Junkyard he finds work as a cook on a flying pirate ship. Before he comes along the crew eats canned food straight from the cans. Jed introduces them to the magic of cooking. They introduce Jed to the dangers of the Junkyard.
The crew is full of interesting people, but Jed is the character. Everyone else is a sidekick. To me, having a single main character drive the story is a double edge sword. I like books with multiple storylines. It adds depth and can make a book enjoyable even if you don't connect with the main character, but a single main character keeps things simple and keeps the word count down. We wouldn't get to know Jed as well if he had to share the spotlight, but if you don't connect with Jed, then you may struggle to enjoy the book.
To sum up, Jed and the Junkyard War has a fun story, excellent world-building, good characters and a nice twist at the end. If you like middle-grade fantasy, this is a great book to pick up.
May 5, 2017
Highly imaginative.
Twelve-year-old Jed's parents have always expected quite a lot of him. For instance, making his way home from the middle of nowhere, armed with only a package of gum and some string. (Or maybe it was a lighter and a bottle of water? There were several instances...) Other than the quirk of tossing him into perilous situations and expecting him to survive, they have had some great times together.
Then one day, his parents disappear, leaving behind a mysterious note and an even more mysterious tunnel behind the dishwasher. Oh, there's a backpack, as well, this time with bottles of water and batteries in it. Also, a can opener....because, of course.
As Jed follows the instructions left to him by his parents, he comes to an incredible world made out of junk. Trash. Piles of it as tall and as far as the eye can see. Not only that, it's a world with its own people, currency, food, and pecking order. He is somehow supposed to find his parents in all of this?! His task would seem a lot more impossible if he wasn't used to thinking on his feet. Suddenly, a lot more of his childhood begins to make sense. Unfortunately, other parts have become even murkier. No time for much sentimentality now. He's got a job to do!
* * * * *
This world was so unique, yet I could picture it quite clearly. Memorable characters and fast-paced plot. Despite the near-constant danger of all kinds for Jed, there was an undercurrent of humor and wit that I enjoyed very much. Just when I thought I knew where it was all headed, the climax came along and surprised me. I love it when that happens!
Now here's the question: is this steampunk or just fantasy? I'm calling it steampunk, folks. No elves or fairies here! Just a whole lot of action-packed fun in a world of mechanical junk!
I'm ready for the sequel!
I blog at: www.ofbooksandblooms.com
Twelve-year-old Jed's parents have always expected quite a lot of him. For instance, making his way home from the middle of nowhere, armed with only a package of gum and some string. (Or maybe it was a lighter and a bottle of water? There were several instances...) Other than the quirk of tossing him into perilous situations and expecting him to survive, they have had some great times together.
Then one day, his parents disappear, leaving behind a mysterious note and an even more mysterious tunnel behind the dishwasher. Oh, there's a backpack, as well, this time with bottles of water and batteries in it. Also, a can opener....because, of course.
As Jed follows the instructions left to him by his parents, he comes to an incredible world made out of junk. Trash. Piles of it as tall and as far as the eye can see. Not only that, it's a world with its own people, currency, food, and pecking order. He is somehow supposed to find his parents in all of this?! His task would seem a lot more impossible if he wasn't used to thinking on his feet. Suddenly, a lot more of his childhood begins to make sense. Unfortunately, other parts have become even murkier. No time for much sentimentality now. He's got a job to do!
* * * * *
This world was so unique, yet I could picture it quite clearly. Memorable characters and fast-paced plot. Despite the near-constant danger of all kinds for Jed, there was an undercurrent of humor and wit that I enjoyed very much. Just when I thought I knew where it was all headed, the climax came along and surprised me. I love it when that happens!
Now here's the question: is this steampunk or just fantasy? I'm calling it steampunk, folks. No elves or fairies here! Just a whole lot of action-packed fun in a world of mechanical junk!
I'm ready for the sequel!
I blog at: www.ofbooksandblooms.com
May 7, 2017
I actually started reading this book about 2 months ago as a Kindle preview. I was completely hooked within two paragraphs, and I immediately put it on the children's cart to order for the library. I didn't get back to actually reading it until yesterday, and I can honestly say, it was so good, I really couldn't put it down. It reminds me of a mash-up of the TV show Serenity and the book Peter Pan if one could do it and pull it off.
I must say the villains are truly creepy in my book...the Dreads, some type of mechanical beings who get a kick out of eating their victims and then run around with their skins on like Terminators. My description sounds disgusting, but the book manages to skirt the issue in a way that makes the entire thing more surreal...sort of like the Borg rather than Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Jed is a wonderfully believable MacGyver character who is just trying to get through each day without getting killed while trying to find his Mom and Dad. That, however, is the only thing I might have a little bit of a problem with. Even though his parents raised him to be self-reliant, I do not believe that Bohls incorporated enough worry/foreboding/alarm in Jed's inner dialogue about his parent's absence/plight/fate. That being said, it was the only thing I felt was hard to believe about the story, but then...I'm a female. :-)
I must say the villains are truly creepy in my book...the Dreads, some type of mechanical beings who get a kick out of eating their victims and then run around with their skins on like Terminators. My description sounds disgusting, but the book manages to skirt the issue in a way that makes the entire thing more surreal...sort of like the Borg rather than Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Jed is a wonderfully believable MacGyver character who is just trying to get through each day without getting killed while trying to find his Mom and Dad. That, however, is the only thing I might have a little bit of a problem with. Even though his parents raised him to be self-reliant, I do not believe that Bohls incorporated enough worry/foreboding/alarm in Jed's inner dialogue about his parent's absence/plight/fate. That being said, it was the only thing I felt was hard to believe about the story, but then...I'm a female. :-)
December 14, 2017
The first couple of chapters had me thinking Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which I loved. But Jed and the Junkyard War is its own marvelous thing.
The characters were fantastic. Really well-written, funny in individual ways, important to the plot in different ways.
Really really fine foreshadowing, especially as a middle grade book.
Everything about this book was just SO MUCH BETTER than most YA I've read. Clear, straightforward plot that's simple yet passionate. Wonderful characters. NO ROMANCE, HALLA, just all very good and sweet platonic relationships between friends and family. <3 <3 <3 Awesome worldbuilding--good magic system (simple and fun), fun fun world itself, myths/legends I can sink my teeth into, etc. etc. And a very good writing style. Voice of it is kinda sarcastic, snarky, with a good amount of realism mixed in.
This book had excellent themes, ones like what really matters in life, discovering who you are, TRUST. Being a good person even when others hurt you for it.
Ahhhh I may be a bit biased because Brandon Sanderson reviewed this book (his blurb is on the back cover).
I really like the cover art. Need more stuff like it. None of that nasty "real person staring creepily at you" junk YA likes to cram down our throats.
All in all a really really good book whose sequel I will read.
The characters were fantastic. Really well-written, funny in individual ways, important to the plot in different ways.
Really really fine foreshadowing, especially as a middle grade book.
Everything about this book was just SO MUCH BETTER than most YA I've read. Clear, straightforward plot that's simple yet passionate. Wonderful characters. NO ROMANCE, HALLA, just all very good and sweet platonic relationships between friends and family. <3 <3 <3 Awesome worldbuilding--good magic system (simple and fun), fun fun world itself, myths/legends I can sink my teeth into, etc. etc. And a very good writing style. Voice of it is kinda sarcastic, snarky, with a good amount of realism mixed in.
This book had excellent themes, ones like what really matters in life, discovering who you are, TRUST. Being a good person even when others hurt you for it.
Ahhhh I may be a bit biased because Brandon Sanderson reviewed this book (his blurb is on the back cover).
I really like the cover art. Need more stuff like it. None of that nasty "real person staring creepily at you" junk YA likes to cram down our throats.
All in all a really really good book whose sequel I will read.
February 20, 2019
The first book has us learning all the itchy scritchiness that exists with the mouses, and dreads, as we meet and greet our boy, Jed. His life up until now has been anything but normal, and yet it's about to go a few steps, nay...a few LEAGUES beyond that when his twelveth birthday goes a bit, shall we say... awry? Well I mean, what else would YOU call it when EVERY day of your life (except birthdays!), your parents drop you off randomly somewhere with a few random things and expect you home in time for dinner (or sooner!) by your own means...odd, right? Even more odd that THIS BIRTHDAY was apparently fair game for the same...or was it?
Seriously, I did not know what I was getting into, but once I started reading, I just couldn't stop. Why? Well if you asked me at the time, I'd be completely unable to explain it other than saying it was odd, and curious, but interesting, and I had to see exactly where it was all leading. Having finished it, I couldn't really clear things up any better...it was still odd, curious, and interesting, but also so filled with imagination, fantasy, and wonderfully weird world building that you couldn't help but get sucked into it all. Then when the going got tough, the newly toughened (but not really because he was really reeling from a scritchtastic revelation!) Jed got going ...and the rest is BOOK TWO! ;)
**copy received for review
Seriously, I did not know what I was getting into, but once I started reading, I just couldn't stop. Why? Well if you asked me at the time, I'd be completely unable to explain it other than saying it was odd, and curious, but interesting, and I had to see exactly where it was all leading. Having finished it, I couldn't really clear things up any better...it was still odd, curious, and interesting, but also so filled with imagination, fantasy, and wonderfully weird world building that you couldn't help but get sucked into it all. Then when the going got tough, the newly toughened (but not really because he was really reeling from a scritchtastic revelation!) Jed got going ...and the rest is BOOK TWO! ;)
**copy received for review
June 1, 2024
It's rare that you come across something truly creative and fun in kid lit. This was that.
Now, I had my quibbles. For a kid who's been raised to be self-reliant, Jed is remarkably given to begging for help. He can't even cook breakfast in a bathtub without assigning tasks to two other people. Truly, the heroes of today's children are as fallen as the generation they entertain. Maybe that's the real problem with kids these days: they aren't reading Hatchet.
That aside: the premise, the worldbuilding, and the plot were pretty innovative. Kudos to the author. The characters were a little too flexible for my taste. There's a lot of snarling, but it's hard to imagine anyone doing anything really bad. It never felt like Jed was in real danger.
The ending got weird fast, although it did wrap up a few puzzling loose ends (and create many more). As with many modern books, it was written in movie format with a big dramatic final action sequence. I don't know if modern authors do this because they're angling for a movie contract, or if their brains are so saturated in crappy blockbusters that they literally cannot imagine another plotline.
In any case, the execution mostly worked well as a book. The pacing was fine with a twist reveal at the end that will segue well into the next book.
It's so good that honestly I assume this must be a debut novel.
Now, I had my quibbles. For a kid who's been raised to be self-reliant, Jed is remarkably given to begging for help. He can't even cook breakfast in a bathtub without assigning tasks to two other people. Truly, the heroes of today's children are as fallen as the generation they entertain. Maybe that's the real problem with kids these days: they aren't reading Hatchet.
That aside: the premise, the worldbuilding, and the plot were pretty innovative. Kudos to the author. The characters were a little too flexible for my taste. There's a lot of snarling, but it's hard to imagine anyone doing anything really bad. It never felt like Jed was in real danger.
The ending got weird fast, although it did wrap up a few puzzling loose ends (and create many more). As with many modern books, it was written in movie format with a big dramatic final action sequence. I don't know if modern authors do this because they're angling for a movie contract, or if their brains are so saturated in crappy blockbusters that they literally cannot imagine another plotline.
In any case, the execution mostly worked well as a book. The pacing was fine with a twist reveal at the end that will segue well into the next book.
It's so good that honestly I assume this must be a debut novel.
September 30, 2017
I will be honest: I read this after Brandon Sanderson rated it highly. What is more, he is one of his students too!
I don’t read much of Young Adult books and I’ve generally enjoyed the ones I have. It’s the sheer imagination I think, of strange worlds and even stranger people.
This book kept me flipping to the end because it manages to do a good job of 2 things: character and world building.
The main character Jed starts out in the book as a character that you know you’ll be rooting with parents that like to set him trying challenges but one day goes missing. He then enters a world of scrap and junk and slowly he begins to find his way around it with his resourcefulness.
You also develop an instant liking to Shay, one of the characters that you’ll encounter in the book with her crazy dialogue. I am partial to characters like that. In fact, she reminds me of Auri from the Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller chronicles.
Lastly, you get to see of much of the world in every chapter. From the junkyard to the ships to the very strange storms. Even the way they speak is tailored to the world which is something I much appreciate.
In short, a great first novel!
I don’t read much of Young Adult books and I’ve generally enjoyed the ones I have. It’s the sheer imagination I think, of strange worlds and even stranger people.
This book kept me flipping to the end because it manages to do a good job of 2 things: character and world building.
The main character Jed starts out in the book as a character that you know you’ll be rooting with parents that like to set him trying challenges but one day goes missing. He then enters a world of scrap and junk and slowly he begins to find his way around it with his resourcefulness.
You also develop an instant liking to Shay, one of the characters that you’ll encounter in the book with her crazy dialogue. I am partial to characters like that. In fact, she reminds me of Auri from the Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller chronicles.
Lastly, you get to see of much of the world in every chapter. From the junkyard to the ships to the very strange storms. Even the way they speak is tailored to the world which is something I much appreciate.
In short, a great first novel!
April 11, 2018
Jed and the junkyard war has a crazy plot that is constantly reveling new things bout this amazing fantasy/Steampunk world. In binning it starts of Jed explaining some things like how he loves lemons and has to do tests all the time most of them are hitchhiking. Then on his birthday morning his parents go missing and leave him a key wristwatch and letter the key they said in a letter to never take out of his shoe and to also never take the wristwatch of It also explains to him to press every red button he sees.
one of the main themes this book tries to teach you is that people should follow their heart. because whenever Jed is stuck and theirs a problem to solve he just dose he do sent think he just dos What his heart tells him. and on the search for his parents he isn't all sad exactly hes very exited to find them especially near the end. I think that this book is amazing and it tells Jed's story very well wile i read it there were so many parts were Steven Bohls(the author) could have ruined it like accidentally making shaterkegs O.P or some thing and because of his power to write a good book i give this an 8/10
one of the main themes this book tries to teach you is that people should follow their heart. because whenever Jed is stuck and theirs a problem to solve he just dose he do sent think he just dos What his heart tells him. and on the search for his parents he isn't all sad exactly hes very exited to find them especially near the end. I think that this book is amazing and it tells Jed's story very well wile i read it there were so many parts were Steven Bohls(the author) could have ruined it like accidentally making shaterkegs O.P or some thing and because of his power to write a good book i give this an 8/10
April 9, 2019
The truly outstanding feature of this novel is the incredibly detailed world building. From the moment that Jed enters the junkyard world the reader is transported into a part fantasy part post apocalyptic world reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean meets Mad Max. There are moments of great humour in this story and the sarcasm and witty remarks, particularly from Captain Bog are hilarious. While there are some typical tropes of a quest story; a boy with a magical but unknown secret must find his parents and in doing so, find his own identity, it is such an unusual world that the reader is transported and fully engaged in this story. It’s fast paced action, with the crew of the ship, who are really a band of side-kicks with very little character development, experiencing adventure after adventure. You can clearly see what a great animated movie this would be. This ends on a dramatic cliffhanger so you will have to wait for book 2 for a resolution.
Suitable for 9+ Steampunk, man-eating robots, pirates, quest, unknown identities.
Suitable for 9+ Steampunk, man-eating robots, pirates, quest, unknown identities.
September 4, 2019
The overall idea of the book is intriguing. A world made of junk, presumably from our world?, with 'rain' of new junk, canned food being the norm, and batteries being treated like currency.
The way Shay described the world and different characters was hard to follow because I was trying to make sense of the dread and the other characters based on how Jed was describing them. The twist near the end about who Jed's grandfather was, and what Jed actually IS definitely took me by surprise. I'm now curious to see how all that comes together in the next book in the series.
Will Jed meet up with the crew he was flying with throughout the first book (are any of them actually gone?!?) or will new characters take their place? We got a little insight into the Junkyard War, but the entire story wasn't told. Will we find out more reasons to the war and how it will eventually end?
The way Shay described the world and different characters was hard to follow because I was trying to make sense of the dread and the other characters based on how Jed was describing them. The twist near the end about who Jed's grandfather was, and what Jed actually IS definitely took me by surprise. I'm now curious to see how all that comes together in the next book in the series.
Will Jed meet up with the crew he was flying with throughout the first book (are any of them actually gone?!?) or will new characters take their place? We got a little insight into the Junkyard War, but the entire story wasn't told. Will we find out more reasons to the war and how it will eventually end?
December 9, 2016
Jed has been dropped off in some weird places with a minimum of gear and taught to get back home but no one prepared him for the note he found on his birthday telling him that his parents had been kidnapped and he is their last hope for survival. So, like any good son would do, he grabs his prepacked backpack and climbs down the tunnel through the dishwasher. This Jason Bourne adventure leads him to a world of junk where he is picked up by a motley crew of junk scavengers (pirates?) who say they will help him find his parents. If he survives. Fun, fast paced and a very different world than we have seen in other middle grade fantasies. This one will leave you wanting hoarding water bottles and batteries while you wait for a sequel.
September 17, 2020
As I get older, I have found that middle grade rarely gets over a three star. That said, I enjoy this genre so much and I don't consider myself too old to read it. Middle grade stories tend to stick with me really well and I absolutely love finding ones like this that I have never heard of. This book follows Jed as he discovers a whole new world connected to his family. It's a middle grade steampunk adventure with zombie-like creatures, airships, and a cool junkyard world with junk-storms and other things that made my dystopian apocalypse steampunk heart shiver with excitement. The ending was cliffhangary and I need to read the next book at some point.
Overall an amazing adventure that I recommend to younger readers.
Overall an amazing adventure that I recommend to younger readers.
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