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Zap!
Eleven-year-old Luis is left looking for answers after a city-wide blackout leads him to an electrifying mystery.
Luis Cardenal is toasting a Pop-Tart when a power outage strikes Hampton, New Jersey. Elevators and gas pumps fail right away; soon cell phones die and grocery shelves empty. Cold and in the dark, people begin to get desperate.
Luis likes to know how things work, and the blackout gets him wondering: Where does the city’s electricity come from? What would cause it to shut down?
No one seems to have answers, and rumors are flying. Then a slip of the tongue gives Luis and his ex best friend Maura a clue. Brushed off by the busy police, the two sixth graders determine they are on their own. To get to the bottom of the mystery, they know they need to brave the abandoned houses of Luis’s poor neighborhood and find the homeless teen legend known as Computer Genius. What they don’t know is that someone suspects they know too much, someone who wants to keep Hampton in the dark.
Luis Cardenal is toasting a Pop-Tart when a power outage strikes Hampton, New Jersey. Elevators and gas pumps fail right away; soon cell phones die and grocery shelves empty. Cold and in the dark, people begin to get desperate.
Luis likes to know how things work, and the blackout gets him wondering: Where does the city’s electricity come from? What would cause it to shut down?
No one seems to have answers, and rumors are flying. Then a slip of the tongue gives Luis and his ex best friend Maura a clue. Brushed off by the busy police, the two sixth graders determine they are on their own. To get to the bottom of the mystery, they know they need to brave the abandoned houses of Luis’s poor neighborhood and find the homeless teen legend known as Computer Genius. What they don’t know is that someone suspects they know too much, someone who wants to keep Hampton in the dark.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2018
9 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Martha Freeman
54 books65 followersMartha Freeman was born in Southern California in 1956. It is not actually true that pterodactyls ruled the skies then, but her three children believe this.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 7, 2020
Middle grade mystery. This book didn’t resonate with me. The characters seemed flat and the mystery was hardly mysterious. Additionally, the characters’ ages were problematic. I might have bought in more readily if they had been slightly older and more vividly drawn. Also, the actions of the adults, especially the parents, gave me a lot of pause. They didn’t feel authentic. Maura’s grandfather suffers a stroke, is comatose, and is admitted to the hospital, but Maura’s mother decides to go home a short time later because she’s tired and really, what could she do? Even though her own father is unresponsive and in ICU. Then, even though there’s no way for her to communicate with the hospital, she decides not to go back the next morning because she’s low on gas in her car and there might be long lines or shortages to get gas. So, in the midst of city wide blackout and civil unrest, she sends her eleven year old daughter on her bike to check in? And, she only grudgingly shares food with Luis and doesn’t want to give him a ride home? Not that I can’t appreciate her selfishness and concern for herself and her family but this was not a zombie apocalypse. The blackout was limited. Other places, not too far away, were not affected. Life as we know it was not about to be eradicated. Shortages were of an inconvenient and short term nature, not permanent. So why be stingy? It smacked of something else, honestly.
Maura and Luis are supposedly best friends but it never feels like it. They’re pretty antagonistic towards one another. Luis’ parents are absentee parents, partly plausible given their work schedules, but also described as self absorbed partiers with little parental involvement or caretaking. He’s eleven. Not that these circumstances don’t seem real, they are for many kids, but in this story it felt more convenient than real. When Luis’ parents do finally show up, two days into the blackout, to say they are getting out of the city for awhile, Luis tells his mom he’s not going with them to his aunt’s house, he can take care of himself, thanks. And his mom is like okay, if you’re sure. Bye. Huh?
The narrative was flat for me. We need diverse characters from diverse backgrounds with heroes journeys but we also need strong narratives with great prose to breathe them into life. The science seems sound to describe the cyberattack and how electricity works, but it also seemed rote and uninteresting. I skimmed a lot of that. The pieces just didn’t fall together for me with this novel. I found the note to the reader and resources at the end the most enjoyable part of this reading experience.
Maura and Luis are supposedly best friends but it never feels like it. They’re pretty antagonistic towards one another. Luis’ parents are absentee parents, partly plausible given their work schedules, but also described as self absorbed partiers with little parental involvement or caretaking. He’s eleven. Not that these circumstances don’t seem real, they are for many kids, but in this story it felt more convenient than real. When Luis’ parents do finally show up, two days into the blackout, to say they are getting out of the city for awhile, Luis tells his mom he’s not going with them to his aunt’s house, he can take care of himself, thanks. And his mom is like okay, if you’re sure. Bye. Huh?
The narrative was flat for me. We need diverse characters from diverse backgrounds with heroes journeys but we also need strong narratives with great prose to breathe them into life. The science seems sound to describe the cyberattack and how electricity works, but it also seemed rote and uninteresting. I skimmed a lot of that. The pieces just didn’t fall together for me with this novel. I found the note to the reader and resources at the end the most enjoyable part of this reading experience.
August 30, 2022
I appreciated learning about how a power system works. I've kind of taken electricity for granted and didn't realize the complexity of it all. It was enjoyable to learn about it in this exciting story!
December 14, 2020
Hampton, New Jersey's power has gone out. And it doesn't seem to be coming back any time soon. The power company seems baffled by what happened, but Luis and his friend Maura find themselves stumbling on a clue from Maura's grandfather of all people. However, he just suffered a stroke and he can't give them clear information. Can they figure out how to restore power before things start to go seriously wrong in their city?
So half of this story is about the power outage and the mystery of figuring it out. The other half is biographical fiction about what life is like for lower income children of illegal immigrants. The back of the book talks about how Luis is based on a real young man who grew up in a city that was half full of abandoned buildings, gangs were around, and his parents weren't very present because they were working and partying. The power outage plot line reminded me quite a lot of the adult novel Blackout by Elsberg. Of course, most readers of this won't have read that. I'm kind of surprised the author didn't cite Elsberg's story in the back as one of her sources, because the premise is pretty similar. Elsberg's story takes the stakes to grander and more serious levels, though. This was a intriguing mystery with a very different feel from the average middle grade mystery, which I appreciated. It actually came across as educational fiction several times because of the details it goes into to explain circuits and transformers and things. I could see that being exciting to some kids and boring to others, so probably best to hand this to kids who like scientific what ifs as well as who done its.
Notes on content: Two uses of moderate profanity. No sexual content. Luis witnesses a robbery that has the potential to get nasty, but just a kick and punch happen before it is diffused. A riot with shooting involved is experienced and one character is grazed. Luis talks about how his parents like to party and how he often has to clean up puke at home, and how his older brother is really the one who parents him. One kid is knocked out by a bad guy.
So half of this story is about the power outage and the mystery of figuring it out. The other half is biographical fiction about what life is like for lower income children of illegal immigrants. The back of the book talks about how Luis is based on a real young man who grew up in a city that was half full of abandoned buildings, gangs were around, and his parents weren't very present because they were working and partying. The power outage plot line reminded me quite a lot of the adult novel Blackout by Elsberg. Of course, most readers of this won't have read that. I'm kind of surprised the author didn't cite Elsberg's story in the back as one of her sources, because the premise is pretty similar. Elsberg's story takes the stakes to grander and more serious levels, though. This was a intriguing mystery with a very different feel from the average middle grade mystery, which I appreciated. It actually came across as educational fiction several times because of the details it goes into to explain circuits and transformers and things. I could see that being exciting to some kids and boring to others, so probably best to hand this to kids who like scientific what ifs as well as who done its.
Notes on content: Two uses of moderate profanity. No sexual content. Luis witnesses a robbery that has the potential to get nasty, but just a kick and punch happen before it is diffused. A riot with shooting involved is experienced and one character is grazed. Luis talks about how his parents like to party and how he often has to clean up puke at home, and how his older brother is really the one who parents him. One kid is knocked out by a bad guy.
August 7, 2018
When the electricity goes out in Hampton, New Jersey, Luis isn't concerned at first. After all, most of the time such outages are temporary. It seems like a good chance to enjoy being out of school. He's more concerned about completing his science fair project in hopes of winning the prize. But as days go by with the power still out, and authorities seemingly clueless about how to fix it, Luis becomes curious. After helping his friend Maura get her grandfather to the hospital after he suffers a stroke, he hears something that makes him curious and he starts to investigate. With the help of a local homeless teen named Computer Genius, Luis and Maura get closer to figuring out the cause of the outage. But looting, rioting, and expensive supplies are making it difficult to move around town safely. And someone doesn't want Luis and Maura discovering the source of the outage. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the main character is the son of immigrants who live in a disintegrating part of town. Numerous Spanish phrases and references to life in this geographically segregated area are eye-opening. Luis has spent a lot of time exploring the abandoned houses in his neighborhood and Computer Genius lives in one of these houses. Interestingly, the character of Luis is based on the real life and experiences of a friend of the author (he comments on this at the end of the book). The second part of the book that I liked was the information about electricity and hacking that is blended into the story. This makes the book especially appropriate for use in STEM classes. I learned quite a bit about the power grid and computer coding that I didn't know. This is a fun mystery as well with a great main character.
January 12, 2020
BOTTOM-LINE:
Okay, but expect most middle-graders would find it slow
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
A blackout hits New Jersey and two kids try to figure out how it happened and how to fix it.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The level is middle-grade and moves along at an okay pace. The cause of the blackout comes down to computers, and the solution is relatively straightforward without seeming too simplistic. Good interesting characters, for the most part.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There's a plot hole in the solution -- without revealing spoilers, the solution might fix homes and businesses but it wouldn't have fixed the street lights, for instance -- but it's a small quibble. The real challenge is the level of exposition that is frequently dumped heavily into the story. Since they're kids, they don't know the "details" so everything they find out, they ask someone to explain it to them. At length. It really slows down the pace. The book tries to ramp it up a bit with a bit of suspense and violence, but they seem more amateurish than threatening.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
Okay, but expect most middle-graders would find it slow
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
A blackout hits New Jersey and two kids try to figure out how it happened and how to fix it.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The level is middle-grade and moves along at an okay pace. The cause of the blackout comes down to computers, and the solution is relatively straightforward without seeming too simplistic. Good interesting characters, for the most part.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There's a plot hole in the solution -- without revealing spoilers, the solution might fix homes and businesses but it wouldn't have fixed the street lights, for instance -- but it's a small quibble. The real challenge is the level of exposition that is frequently dumped heavily into the story. Since they're kids, they don't know the "details" so everything they find out, they ask someone to explain it to them. At length. It really slows down the pace. The book tries to ramp it up a bit with a bit of suspense and violence, but they seem more amateurish than threatening.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
June 30, 2018
I enjoyed this book, intended for for primary - early middle school readers. It was a easy-to-follow mystery with plenty of information about how power grids and electric circuits work, combined with casual emotional prods such as: "Not having something focused your mind, he thought, like how you think of nothing but food when you're hungry." (p. 41) "It was always true, Luis guessed, but the power outage had made it real: Your world could flip over in an instant." (p. 75) "How was a person supposed to stay brave in a frightening, terrible world?" (p. 179). The author does not shy away from discussing tough subjects such as looting, gang violence, health and racial issues, etc., but does so in matter-of-fact terms that many children appreciate.
I thought the author's choice to use italics to emphasize new concepts rather than the Spanish terms sprinkled throughout was interesting (see https://quartzy.qz.com/1310228/biling... for additional discussion); I especially appreciated the addition of references, appendices, and glossary - as well as practical tips for assembling an emergency kit.
I thought the author's choice to use italics to emphasize new concepts rather than the Spanish terms sprinkled throughout was interesting (see https://quartzy.qz.com/1310228/biling... for additional discussion); I especially appreciated the addition of references, appendices, and glossary - as well as practical tips for assembling an emergency kit.
December 29, 2017
Read as an ebook from NetGalley, and images did not show, so while I read all that I had, I did not read every word of the book.
Luis, Maura, and Carlos are 6th graders in New Jersey when a widespread blackout occurs. At first delighted that school is cancelled, they soon realize that the lack of electricity affects more than their freedom; Maura's grandfather has a stroke and needs hospitalization, parents lose pay when they can't work, the local bodega gets held up. The mayoral candidate also seems to be ruling up citizens.
Luis realizes he can try to help restore power by fitting together clues, including the word "zap" that Maura's grandfather said after his stroke, and finding the local Genius. But people seem to be after Luis. Can he fit the clues together in time?
Courage even when the going gets tough, communities that have seen better days, electricity, conspiracy, and loyalty make for a riveting read.
Luis, Maura, and Carlos are 6th graders in New Jersey when a widespread blackout occurs. At first delighted that school is cancelled, they soon realize that the lack of electricity affects more than their freedom; Maura's grandfather has a stroke and needs hospitalization, parents lose pay when they can't work, the local bodega gets held up. The mayoral candidate also seems to be ruling up citizens.
Luis realizes he can try to help restore power by fitting together clues, including the word "zap" that Maura's grandfather said after his stroke, and finding the local Genius. But people seem to be after Luis. Can he fit the clues together in time?
Courage even when the going gets tough, communities that have seen better days, electricity, conspiracy, and loyalty make for a riveting read.
March 22, 2018
What happens when curious Luis wants to know why the power went out? Well in Martha Freeman's book, Zap! that's exactly what happens. One literary element was Luis' curiosity and freedom to learn. Right when the power goes out, Luis talks with his old friend Maura and asks her loads of questions. Another effective element was how the author made the book very realistic. In the book, the power went out for days and people were desperate and were trying to move away. Something like this could totally happen. One more effective literary element was how the author put a lot of suspense. Luis lived in a town were it was not very good so there was bad people everywhere and they came out of nowhere and put a lot of suspense in the book. In conclusion, people who would like Zap! would be people who are interested in electricity, science, and suspense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2018
Eleven year old Luis Cardenal isn’t too upset when the power goes off one morning in Hampton, New Jersey; he gets the day off from school and figures the power will be back on soon enough. But as the hours tick by, Luis and his friend Maura learn that the outage is growing, and the electric company and local authorities have no idea what caused it - and no way to restore it. As paranoia deepens, dangerous rumors begin to spread. Luis and Maura are not sure if the outage was an accident, or something deliberately done, perhaps a political tactic for the upcoming mayoral election. And is it possible that Maura’s own grandfather is connected to the outage? The two teens get wrapped up on the mystery as their town falls into chaos, and the readers will be left guessing until the very last page. A fun mystery that will hook reluctant readers, this story also explores science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts.
March 9, 2020
While you'll likely find this Edgar Award nominee in the junior fiction section of your library, this STEM infused, urban novel will find resonance with middle school readers as well. The story touches on many issues that affect young readers (aging grandparent, money worries, bullying, parental drinking...) it is the tricky science behind the mystery that make this a stand out read for boys and girls. I love that this author does not shy away from difficult concepts and does not "dumb down" the narrative. Includes a dictionary of science terms at the back of the book.
September 27, 2017
Zap! Luis is living his own life in his little town of Hampton, but all of a sudden, the lights go out. Literally. The power mysteriously cut out, and nobody knows why. Luis and his friends have to get to the bottom of this, or the town's people will miss their precious Tvs and phones. Out of all the times the power could have gone out, it happened before the election of mayors. Very bad timing, or was the power cut out on purpose? Read Zap!
December 4, 2017
I wanted to like Zap!, with a timely premise and unusual characters, it should have been interesting. Unfortunately, the writing was clunky and far too pedantic to keep me reading with any alacrity. Luis is an intelligent and curious kid living in New Jersey when a hacker causes a power failure that cascades out of control. Luis and his friends Carlos and Maura do the best they can to help themselves, their friends&families, and their neighborhood.
February 16, 2018
Wow! I picked this for a flight, and it exceeded my expectations for in-flight entertainment. Despite being written for someone two decades younger than me, it was engaging AND educational, and the characters rang true. Young Luis and his cohorts reminded me of middle schoolers I used to work with, and I found it impossible not to root for him. Next up: a second purchase of the book to share with my nephews!
January 15, 2018
I just finished Zap and I was completely blown away! It was a compelling and interesting plot. I love all the social and political issues that were incorporated, and the way kids can learn along with Luis. Luis’s note to readers at the end made me tear up. This is exactly what kids need to be reading!
February 3, 2020
this book was pretty good, and there was a small Spanish word/phrase glossary, but it didn't translate everything that the characters said, so at some parts I was a little confused as to what they were saying. Also, it is a pretty long book ( about a 300 page book) for those who are not very big readers. I would recommend this book big reader or boys and girls the ages of 10-14.
January 31, 2021
Good characterization and high-stakes thriller/mystery with strong STEM content for middle-grade readers. Touches on lots of great talking points re: class & wealth, race, policing, corporations, politics in an accessible, balanced, and age-appropriate manner. Strong content for classroom or independent reading IMHO.
November 22, 2017
Actually didn't finish it because there was wayyyyy too much explanation of the grid system and electricity for this MG 'dystopia', which made it wayyyyy too slow of a read. If that had been lessen and the plot moved along quicker, I think I would have quite enjoyed it.
February 8, 2021
Zap introduces the life of a poor community in New Jersey. The communication between characters with inter mixed Spanish added to the story which certainly kept readers on their toes as Luis tries to solve the cause of the town blackout.
September 6, 2021
The thing that i really loved about this book was that it taught mea lot about electricity. Now, i know that usually people don’t like reading books with a lot of education, but i really enjoy them. Also, the plot was amazing.
June 6, 2020
This was pretty good! It was on the edge of a mystery but it also focused on friendship and how when you work together, you can also uncover truth.
A good book for any middle-grade fiction fan!
A good book for any middle-grade fiction fan!
March 7, 2021
I liked the tension. Hated the resolution.
May 9, 2021
I just couldn’t get into the book. The topic was pretty dry and the characters had no depth.
September 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this book I think I finished it in three days!
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November 1, 2024Eldest read
February 10, 2025
It was a good read, but the mystery plot was predictable and just okay. Definitely a good mystery for elementary/jr. high kids though!
March 14, 2025
My son and I read this together. Enjoyed learning about how power grids work.
September 2, 2018
I almost DNF'd this, but it was easy enough to skim. The book read more like someone trying to explain electricity and the dangers of simply clicking on an image or link than anything else. Luis' questions felt so forced that it was really a science class clothed in a mystery.
Want to Read
September 24, 2017Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews