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The Switch
What happens when the power goes out? And doesn't come back for days... weeks... even longer? Master of middle-grade suspense Roland Smith explores the possibilities in this action-packed novel!
Henry lives with his parents and extended family on a 40-acre property they all call the Aunt Farm. Even with dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, and animals running around, life on the farm has always been comfortable and routine. But that all changes the day a passenger jet drops out of the sky and onto their land. And then all the phones go dead... And the cars won't start... Having spent a lifetime relying on the comfort and convenience of electricity and technology, now Henry and his family have only one hope for survival: each other.
Henry lives with his parents and extended family on a 40-acre property they all call the Aunt Farm. Even with dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, and animals running around, life on the farm has always been comfortable and routine. But that all changes the day a passenger jet drops out of the sky and onto their land. And then all the phones go dead... And the cars won't start... Having spent a lifetime relying on the comfort and convenience of electricity and technology, now Henry and his family have only one hope for survival: each other.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
26 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Roland Smith
152 books837 followersRoland Smith is an American author of young adult fiction as well as nonfiction books for children.
Smith was born in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Portland State University and, following a part-time job at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, began a 20-year career as a zookeeper, both at the Oregon Zoo and the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. After working to save wildlife following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, in 1990, he published his first book, Sea Otter Rescue, a non-fiction account of the process of animal rescue. Smith continued to draw upon his zoo experiences for other non-fiction titles, including Journey of the Red Wolf, which won an Oregon Book Award in 1996.
In 1997, Smith published his first novel, Thundercave. The book continues Smith's theme, as teenage protagonist Jacob Lansa follows his biologist father to Africa where the father is researching elephants. The Lansa character also appears in 1999
s Jaguar and 2001's The Last Lobo. Other novels by Smith include The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe, Zach's Lie, Jack's Run, Cryptid Hunters, Sasquatch (novel), about a boy who searches for Bigfoot. Peak, the story of a teenage boy obsessed with climbing mountains, Elephant Run and Tentacles(novel). In 2008, Smith published the first book in the series I, Q, titled Independence Hall. Smith's books have won "Book of the Year" awards in Colorado, Nevada, South Carolina, and Florida, as well as in his native Oregon. Smith lives in Tualatin, Oregon with his wife and stepchildren.
Smith was born in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Portland State University and, following a part-time job at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, began a 20-year career as a zookeeper, both at the Oregon Zoo and the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. After working to save wildlife following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, in 1990, he published his first book, Sea Otter Rescue, a non-fiction account of the process of animal rescue. Smith continued to draw upon his zoo experiences for other non-fiction titles, including Journey of the Red Wolf, which won an Oregon Book Award in 1996.
In 1997, Smith published his first novel, Thundercave. The book continues Smith's theme, as teenage protagonist Jacob Lansa follows his biologist father to Africa where the father is researching elephants. The Lansa character also appears in 1999
s Jaguar and 2001's The Last Lobo. Other novels by Smith include The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe, Zach's Lie, Jack's Run, Cryptid Hunters, Sasquatch (novel), about a boy who searches for Bigfoot. Peak, the story of a teenage boy obsessed with climbing mountains, Elephant Run and Tentacles(novel). In 2008, Smith published the first book in the series I, Q, titled Independence Hall. Smith's books have won "Book of the Year" awards in Colorado, Nevada, South Carolina, and Florida, as well as in his native Oregon. Smith lives in Tualatin, Oregon with his wife and stepchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
November 30, 2022
Better than any middle grade author writing today, Roland Smtih knows his audience and what it takes to plant their bums in one spot, while the pages zoom by faster than a game of Grand Theft Auto. A great Prinz winner awaited me one day on my bedside table as I was heading to the bathroom, but with no time to grab it, spotted an ARC of The Switch, a book Smith had sent my way earlier in the week—and just happened to be easier to get to. My intent was to thumb through, my usual approach to looking at a new book, but I couldn’t put it down, almost finishing it before wrapping things up in one sitting.
While dystopian reads are being written by the bushel full these days, especially those with an EMP (electro magnetic pulse) explanation, Smith’s contribution must rank near the top. Not needing an explanation of what sends the earth into a tailspin, the focus is not on the reason the lights go out, but on the humans who are struggling to survive.
After a jumbo jet falls out of the sky onto the Ludd’s family farm, scattering the dead everywhere, this tight knit extended family immediately rolls up their sleeves and goes to work: burying the dead, establishing a perimeter around the farm with piled up cars that have stopped running. To keep the family safe, taking advantage of a windmill one of the family has built, they have a huge advantage in trying to survive. Even though they live in a bedroom community outside a large city, rumors of their success are everywhere, making them a target for what they have created, and a daily challenge to defend.
The Switch is filled with classic characters, formed by necessity, awakening to needs they are challenged to take on when no one is coming to the rescue. Many of the family step up to roles they are unaccustomed to playing, in areas such as security, food production, and mechanical engineering. Having to navigate dangerous roads to a nearby city, to obtain vital necessities, requires a herculean effort filled with the dangers you would find in a Mad Max movie, but overcome by more ordinary, everyday people.
Smith does not let up from the opening chapter, where the challenge to survive is focused on thirteen-year-old Henry Ludd, as he spends a good deal of the book in search of his father, who disappeared the day the earth stopped. His encounters, whether at a nearby zoo where his father worked—and where many dangerous animals have found freedom—a nearby city that has been transformed to a bartering, sometimes cut throat economy, and finally to a encampment where another group has formed in a huge forested park, and whose goal is to steal the community Henry’s family has formed, present one fast paced, exciting challenge after another.
Another great Roland Smith read!
While dystopian reads are being written by the bushel full these days, especially those with an EMP (electro magnetic pulse) explanation, Smith’s contribution must rank near the top. Not needing an explanation of what sends the earth into a tailspin, the focus is not on the reason the lights go out, but on the humans who are struggling to survive.
After a jumbo jet falls out of the sky onto the Ludd’s family farm, scattering the dead everywhere, this tight knit extended family immediately rolls up their sleeves and goes to work: burying the dead, establishing a perimeter around the farm with piled up cars that have stopped running. To keep the family safe, taking advantage of a windmill one of the family has built, they have a huge advantage in trying to survive. Even though they live in a bedroom community outside a large city, rumors of their success are everywhere, making them a target for what they have created, and a daily challenge to defend.
The Switch is filled with classic characters, formed by necessity, awakening to needs they are challenged to take on when no one is coming to the rescue. Many of the family step up to roles they are unaccustomed to playing, in areas such as security, food production, and mechanical engineering. Having to navigate dangerous roads to a nearby city, to obtain vital necessities, requires a herculean effort filled with the dangers you would find in a Mad Max movie, but overcome by more ordinary, everyday people.
Smith does not let up from the opening chapter, where the challenge to survive is focused on thirteen-year-old Henry Ludd, as he spends a good deal of the book in search of his father, who disappeared the day the earth stopped. His encounters, whether at a nearby zoo where his father worked—and where many dangerous animals have found freedom—a nearby city that has been transformed to a bartering, sometimes cut throat economy, and finally to a encampment where another group has formed in a huge forested park, and whose goal is to steal the community Henry’s family has formed, present one fast paced, exciting challenge after another.
Another great Roland Smith read!
May 2, 2024
I mean it was ok, I just wasn't that into it.
February 24, 2024
A Maine Student Book Award Nominee for 23|24.
When Henry Carter wakes up on his birthday, he believes that it’s going to be like any other day. Little does he know, the world as he knows it is gone. An EMP disruption cuts out all electronic devices, and everyone is left in a semi dystopian society. Henry realizes that his father is missing; and he must to anything to find his dad and stay alive.
This was so fun. A fast paced survival story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed this one!
When Henry Carter wakes up on his birthday, he believes that it’s going to be like any other day. Little does he know, the world as he knows it is gone. An EMP disruption cuts out all electronic devices, and everyone is left in a semi dystopian society. Henry realizes that his father is missing; and he must to anything to find his dad and stay alive.
This was so fun. A fast paced survival story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed this one!
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Henry Carter lives on a farm with his extended family near Portland. His father is the head of a zoo in the city, and his sometimes quirky relatives work on the farm. One uncle, Edgar, has put up a wind turbine despite the objections of some of the family. When an electromagnetic pulse causes all of the electronics to stop working, planes fall from the air, cars don't run, and chaos ensues. The wind turbine gives the Carter clan a rare advantage of having power, so they close ranks and try to protect their compound. One plane that went down is near the farm, and since some of the passengers were neighbors, the family has to clean up the wreckage and bury the victims. One of these, Caroline, was a classmate of Henry's, and he hears her voice in his head throughout the book. When Henry's father doesn't return home, he sets off with two uncles to try to find him. Portland is a huge mess, and no one is at the zoo but Henry's birthday present, a dog named Gort, and a zoo keeper, Derek. When the family truck goes missing with the uncles in it, Henry teams up with a Portland girl, Robin, to travel to the Rabbit Hole where they think they have been taken. Run by the leader of an animal rights group that had been protesting at the zoo, the Rabbit Hole has taken in a number of people and are rumored to want to take down the community run by Henry's mother. Using a map and following the smell of cooking beef (the truck the uncles were driving had a quantity of meat in it), Henry and Robin manage to find the group and get accepted in, hoping to get the uncles out. This is a hard prospect, since the leader is very strict and has intense helpers, and also might know more about Henry that is healthy. Will Henry be able to make it back to his family? And will he ever find out the fate of his father?
Strengths: ARGH! This one was so hard for me to read, because this is how the world will end, people! We are all so reliant on power and technology that this is really the most likely scenario for the collapse of civilization. We'd all like to think we would have access to a community like Henry's family's farm, but it's far more likely that I would raise my own food and find a water source only to be killed by gun toting maniacs who want the 48 jars of peanut butter in my basement. Oh, the book? Lots of good details about how Henry's family survives, great adventure going into Portland, a mystery to be solved with Henry's father, and a confrontation with evil, somewhat unbalanced adversaries. Things are looking up a bit at the end of the book, and this seems like a stand alone, but there could be a sequel. Definitely a book that will be popular with reader who like dystopian tales as well as survival and adventure stories. A must purchase for middle school libraries.
Weaknesses: Henry starts a journal at the beginning of the book, but then stops rather abruptly. The idea that he hears Caroline talking to him was a bit odd. I wish that he had been old enough to drive, but the uncles with whom he travels are used in a very effective way.
What I really think: Offer this to fans of Philbrick's The Big Dark (which at least ends with the power coming back on), Esplin's 96 Miles, or Eric Walters' fantastic Rule of Thre3 series. I have three copies of the latter that are all very worn, and it's a series that my readers frequently revisit. I was a big fan of O'Brien's Z for Zachariah in middle school, and The Switch reminded me of the 1974 Made for TV movie Where Have All the People Gone with Peter Graves, except in that one the electormagnetic pulse killed a lot more people and left the cars alone if they weren't running at the time. I can still recall a scene where the characters got keys from an employ key rack in a grocery store and tried to get a car to start. And look! It's available in its fuzzy, full length glory on YouTube!
Henry Carter lives on a farm with his extended family near Portland. His father is the head of a zoo in the city, and his sometimes quirky relatives work on the farm. One uncle, Edgar, has put up a wind turbine despite the objections of some of the family. When an electromagnetic pulse causes all of the electronics to stop working, planes fall from the air, cars don't run, and chaos ensues. The wind turbine gives the Carter clan a rare advantage of having power, so they close ranks and try to protect their compound. One plane that went down is near the farm, and since some of the passengers were neighbors, the family has to clean up the wreckage and bury the victims. One of these, Caroline, was a classmate of Henry's, and he hears her voice in his head throughout the book. When Henry's father doesn't return home, he sets off with two uncles to try to find him. Portland is a huge mess, and no one is at the zoo but Henry's birthday present, a dog named Gort, and a zoo keeper, Derek. When the family truck goes missing with the uncles in it, Henry teams up with a Portland girl, Robin, to travel to the Rabbit Hole where they think they have been taken. Run by the leader of an animal rights group that had been protesting at the zoo, the Rabbit Hole has taken in a number of people and are rumored to want to take down the community run by Henry's mother. Using a map and following the smell of cooking beef (the truck the uncles were driving had a quantity of meat in it), Henry and Robin manage to find the group and get accepted in, hoping to get the uncles out. This is a hard prospect, since the leader is very strict and has intense helpers, and also might know more about Henry that is healthy. Will Henry be able to make it back to his family? And will he ever find out the fate of his father?
Strengths: ARGH! This one was so hard for me to read, because this is how the world will end, people! We are all so reliant on power and technology that this is really the most likely scenario for the collapse of civilization. We'd all like to think we would have access to a community like Henry's family's farm, but it's far more likely that I would raise my own food and find a water source only to be killed by gun toting maniacs who want the 48 jars of peanut butter in my basement. Oh, the book? Lots of good details about how Henry's family survives, great adventure going into Portland, a mystery to be solved with Henry's father, and a confrontation with evil, somewhat unbalanced adversaries. Things are looking up a bit at the end of the book, and this seems like a stand alone, but there could be a sequel. Definitely a book that will be popular with reader who like dystopian tales as well as survival and adventure stories. A must purchase for middle school libraries.
Weaknesses: Henry starts a journal at the beginning of the book, but then stops rather abruptly. The idea that he hears Caroline talking to him was a bit odd. I wish that he had been old enough to drive, but the uncles with whom he travels are used in a very effective way.
What I really think: Offer this to fans of Philbrick's The Big Dark (which at least ends with the power coming back on), Esplin's 96 Miles, or Eric Walters' fantastic Rule of Thre3 series. I have three copies of the latter that are all very worn, and it's a series that my readers frequently revisit. I was a big fan of O'Brien's Z for Zachariah in middle school, and The Switch reminded me of the 1974 Made for TV movie Where Have All the People Gone with Peter Graves, except in that one the electormagnetic pulse killed a lot more people and left the cars alone if they weren't running at the time. I can still recall a scene where the characters got keys from an employ key rack in a grocery store and tried to get a car to start. And look! It's available in its fuzzy, full length glory on YouTube!
Currently reading
May 21, 2025 page 18
February 23, 2024
Wow! This had me hooked from start to finish! I can’t wait to recommend it to some of our students at school. Some really great twists and surprises throughout that kept me reading as soon as I could find a spare moment!
June 17, 2025
Henry lives on his family's farm with his mother, father, and many aunts and uncles. The day started like any other until the plane fell from the sky and landed in their field. Thanks to an uncle who is ex-military, the Ludd's infere that an Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) went off, eliminating all electronic devices. No more cell phones, cars, or electricity. Most of the family gathers at the farm except for Henry's father who was at work in Portland when the switch happened. Can they use their family connections and resources to survive the lack of modern conveniences and the human tendency to turn savage when disaster happens?
This is similar to Dry, but a delightful storyline. Henry hears the ghost of his friend in his head and there are some super convenient moments, but it is well put together. Good for all gender readers. Just enough gore/romantic thoughts to keep it interesting without losing the appeal for others.
This is similar to Dry, but a delightful storyline. Henry hears the ghost of his friend in his head and there are some super convenient moments, but it is well put together. Good for all gender readers. Just enough gore/romantic thoughts to keep it interesting without losing the appeal for others.
January 23, 2023
I was so happy to see Roland Smith wrote a new book. This book didn’t disappoint and would be a great edition to any middle school library!
August 23, 2023
What would you do if you were out on your farmland on a cold-crisp morning... where just being alone at the creek meant it was a good start to your day... and then a bright flash lit up the sky? Would you feel a sense of dread? For Henry, that's exactly how his entire life changed. Oh and just to let you know... that passenger jet that just fell out of the sky isn't a typical daily experience!
Henry lives on his family's forty-acre farm, a farm that has been in his family for seventy-two years. His father is the Portland Zoo director and his mom left her CEO position when he was born. Tech was a guarded tool on the farm, in spite of the fact that they had their own wind turbine. Most of his aunts and uncles lived around him and life consisted of daily chores, schooling, and family everywhere.
So, on the morning that the jet fell from the sky, Henry's farm life would become one of survival. What will happen when the food supply gets low? How old must you be to go into the city during an EMP outage? Think about it... cars are stranded... looting has created a danger zone... even if you had an older vehicle that wasn't out of commission, you had to have security... as in armed and ready to do whatever it would take to keep from being ambushed.
Caroline is Henry's neighbor. Not only have they grown up together. Turning thirteen hasn't been the easiest time of their friendship... and yet, Henry was not expecting to see Caroline sitting between her mom and dad at the crash sight. Now, she is "talking" to him. It's not like she's a ghost, it's just that she carries on a conversation that has quite the attitude.
The Wonderland Compound has become the envy of all who live around Portland, Oregon. The WC has electricity, food, their own bartering coins, items to trade for, and of course a secured "dead car" border. The challenge is that there are some who have decided to take over the compound. Will Henry survive a mishap trip into the Portland Zoo?
Roland Smith has an amazing "home-run" hit with this stand-alone novel. If you've read his survival series: Thunder Cave, IQ, and Storm Runners... you must get this novel! If you have not read any of this author's books... I can tell you, as an educator, every year his novels have been an "enthusiastic" hit with our learners. His mastery of "page-turning" hooks is beyond comparison. His narratives are so well crafted that these characters never leave you... you always want another book to be written.
Get ready for a night into morning read,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
Henry lives on his family's forty-acre farm, a farm that has been in his family for seventy-two years. His father is the Portland Zoo director and his mom left her CEO position when he was born. Tech was a guarded tool on the farm, in spite of the fact that they had their own wind turbine. Most of his aunts and uncles lived around him and life consisted of daily chores, schooling, and family everywhere.
So, on the morning that the jet fell from the sky, Henry's farm life would become one of survival. What will happen when the food supply gets low? How old must you be to go into the city during an EMP outage? Think about it... cars are stranded... looting has created a danger zone... even if you had an older vehicle that wasn't out of commission, you had to have security... as in armed and ready to do whatever it would take to keep from being ambushed.
Caroline is Henry's neighbor. Not only have they grown up together. Turning thirteen hasn't been the easiest time of their friendship... and yet, Henry was not expecting to see Caroline sitting between her mom and dad at the crash sight. Now, she is "talking" to him. It's not like she's a ghost, it's just that she carries on a conversation that has quite the attitude.
The Wonderland Compound has become the envy of all who live around Portland, Oregon. The WC has electricity, food, their own bartering coins, items to trade for, and of course a secured "dead car" border. The challenge is that there are some who have decided to take over the compound. Will Henry survive a mishap trip into the Portland Zoo?
Roland Smith has an amazing "home-run" hit with this stand-alone novel. If you've read his survival series: Thunder Cave, IQ, and Storm Runners... you must get this novel! If you have not read any of this author's books... I can tell you, as an educator, every year his novels have been an "enthusiastic" hit with our learners. His mastery of "page-turning" hooks is beyond comparison. His narratives are so well crafted that these characters never leave you... you always want another book to be written.
Get ready for a night into morning read,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
December 12, 2022
Henry lives on an “Aunt Farm” – a compound of sorts with three family houses outside Portland, Oregon. His Mom comes from the large Ludd family and most live nearby. Henry’s Dad is the zookeeper and heads in to work on what is an otherwise normal Saturday. And then a jet falls from the sky. All electronics suddenly stop working after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) event. The Ludds are in better shape than most thanks to Uncle Edgar’s wind turbine providing electricity and the organizational leadership skills of Henry’s Mom. Things quickly decline into anarchy as the Ludd’s struggle to protect their farm while also bartering with others. When Henry sets out with two uncles on a bartering trip and to look again for his father, things quickly go awry when his uncles disappear and he must set out on his own. This dystopian adventure will have readers on the edge of their seat.
May 29, 2024
This is a fantastic middle grade, end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it book. An EMP takes out the entire grid as Henry Carter is celebrating his thirteenth birthday. What starts as a typical day on the Aunt farm, complete with tuna canning (yuck) ends in a disastrous plane crash and a discovery-Henry’s dad is missing, possibly dead.
The book spans the course of a year in this post-disaster world, focusing specifically on Henry’s family and how the Ludds work together to help their community survive the disaster, and how they ban together to save their family from a potentially deadly hostage situation.
This is a page-turner. It’s absolutely perfect for readers who want a survivalist, dystopia feel without space-age drama. Think zombie apocalypse, but without the zombies.
This is my first Roland Smith novel. It certainly will not be my last!
The book spans the course of a year in this post-disaster world, focusing specifically on Henry’s family and how the Ludds work together to help their community survive the disaster, and how they ban together to save their family from a potentially deadly hostage situation.
This is a page-turner. It’s absolutely perfect for readers who want a survivalist, dystopia feel without space-age drama. Think zombie apocalypse, but without the zombies.
This is my first Roland Smith novel. It certainly will not be my last!
November 14, 2022
As with most of Roland Smith's novels, the action moves at such a pace that you might need to stop just for a breather now and then. Life changes drastically the day everything electric quits-including cars, planes and homes. Henry sees his father off to his job at the Portland zoo and then sees a jet fall out of the sky onto their farm. Survival will depend on working together with his strong and creative family. As with most dystopia, mankind's darker side becomes visible, but I was glad that Smith also included the kindnesses that happen too. There is some dramatic violence in a few scenes but positive lessons on tenacity and trust. HIghly recommended for middle school.
November 8, 2023
Henry Ludd, and everyone else's, life changed the day after he turned 13. They aren't sure exactly what happened, but it was obviously an EMP of some sort. The power is gone. Planes fell out of the sky, and all electronics made with computer parts no longer work. The Ludd family farm is large, and many of the family members have houses on the land. They also have a windmill which gives them something not many others have right now, and which they don't want to advertise - electricity. Henry's Uncle Edgar is a former military man with loads of survival know-how. Henry's mom runs the farm, but Edgar supplies the security and strategic smarts. Henry's dad runs the zoo a few miles away and left for work a few hours before the EMP hit. As the days and weeks go by, the family has to figure out how to survive in this new world.
Roland Smith has created one of the most serious and realistic-seeming versions of the power outage dystopia I've ever read (probably only 2nd to Blackout by Elsberg). Smith sets up the Ludds with the know-how and supplies to succeed in the days following the outage, but also realistically portrays how greed and selfishness would make it dangerous to have such things in this kind of setting. It's a gritty and sometimes harsh world. (This is established from the start when Henry finds people he knows in the plane crash on their property the family has to clean up themselves since there is no one else to do so available.) There's an ongoing challenge to figure out how to get or create the next thing they need to keep all the people relying on them alive. There's also an ongoing mystery of what happened to Henry's dad who went to work at the zoo on the day of the EMP blast but couldn't be found there and hasn't been seen since. The book actually covers several months of time, allowing new habits and societal structures to be established. It's a very interesting world Smith creates. And by the end of the book it starts to get quite serious when the family learns that a group is planning to attack and take over the Ludd family farm. Smith doesn't pull any punches about how deadly such a situation could potentially be, so this is definitely only for the upper end of middle grade readers and I'm considering shelving it in YA just because of that. Definitely not a good pick for sensitive or squeamish readers. If you want a less-serious electrical outage dystopia for middle graders, they can range from Crunch by Leslie Connor on the nicest end to Zap by Martha Freeman to The Big Dark by W.R. Philbrick and then this book would be on the most serious/gritty end of that spectrum.
Notes on content: About 6-8 minor swears. No sexual content. Henry sees quite a few dead bodies in the plane crash and some are gruesomely but accurately described. He also sees some dead people who have been shot and describes trying to avoid the pool of blood. Animals have escaped/been set loose at the zoo and some people are victims or wounded by the big predators. Conversely, some people are killing the zoo animals for sport or food. Henry witnesses looting. Henry hears the voice of a dead neighbor girl he saw among the victims of the plane crash. You don't know if he's going crazy or if she's really a ghost or if it is a coping mechanism for the craziness of the world around him. A lot of people have missing loved ones they presume are dead. A lot of people are hungry in the months following the power outage.
Roland Smith has created one of the most serious and realistic-seeming versions of the power outage dystopia I've ever read (probably only 2nd to Blackout by Elsberg). Smith sets up the Ludds with the know-how and supplies to succeed in the days following the outage, but also realistically portrays how greed and selfishness would make it dangerous to have such things in this kind of setting. It's a gritty and sometimes harsh world. (This is established from the start when Henry finds people he knows in the plane crash on their property the family has to clean up themselves since there is no one else to do so available.) There's an ongoing challenge to figure out how to get or create the next thing they need to keep all the people relying on them alive. There's also an ongoing mystery of what happened to Henry's dad who went to work at the zoo on the day of the EMP blast but couldn't be found there and hasn't been seen since. The book actually covers several months of time, allowing new habits and societal structures to be established. It's a very interesting world Smith creates. And by the end of the book it starts to get quite serious when the family learns that a group is planning to attack and take over the Ludd family farm. Smith doesn't pull any punches about how deadly such a situation could potentially be, so this is definitely only for the upper end of middle grade readers and I'm considering shelving it in YA just because of that. Definitely not a good pick for sensitive or squeamish readers. If you want a less-serious electrical outage dystopia for middle graders, they can range from Crunch by Leslie Connor on the nicest end to Zap by Martha Freeman to The Big Dark by W.R. Philbrick and then this book would be on the most serious/gritty end of that spectrum.
Notes on content: About 6-8 minor swears. No sexual content. Henry sees quite a few dead bodies in the plane crash and some are gruesomely but accurately described. He also sees some dead people who have been shot and describes trying to avoid the pool of blood. Animals have escaped/been set loose at the zoo and some people are victims or wounded by the big predators. Conversely, some people are killing the zoo animals for sport or food. Henry witnesses looting. Henry hears the voice of a dead neighbor girl he saw among the victims of the plane crash. You don't know if he's going crazy or if she's really a ghost or if it is a coping mechanism for the craziness of the world around him. A lot of people have missing loved ones they presume are dead. A lot of people are hungry in the months following the power outage.
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January 17, 2023It is the day after Henry's birthday. His father offered to take him to the zoo, but since his dad is the director, Henry goes to the zoo all the time. His goal at the moment is to avoid having to help with Tuna Day. There's not much he can do to avoid the smell, but he doesn't want to be dragged directly into the smelly operation.
The zoo and tuna end up being the last things on Henry's mind when he watches a jetliner crash into the Ludd's family farm compound. The jet and the hundreds of dead bodies are just the beginning of what everyone will call "The Switch." According to Henry's uncle the disaster is the result of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Anything that runs with the aid of computer chips is kaput. That means no cell phones, computers, most cars and trucks, and the electric grid that powers homes and businesses.
Lucky for Henry and his large extended family, his uncle recently erected a huge wind turbine. Most of the family and close neighbors called the thing a monstrosity, but the power it generates might just be what saves them. It might also be trouble when others without power get wind of the turbine's benefits.
All attention is focused on survival. The dead as a result of the plane crash must be buried, available food must be preserved and stored, and the farm compound must be secured. In the midst of the chaos, Henry is worried about his father who hasn't returned from his trip to the zoo. What follows is a series of frantic rescue missions involving a trip to the city, car chases, a dangerous trip down the river, a hideout in the forest, and more bad guys than you can shake a stick at.
Author Roland Smith, a personal favorite of mine when it comes to adventure and hijinks, has created an action-packed, dystopian tale you won't want to miss. Perfect for middle grade readers and up, this one doesn't disappoint.
The zoo and tuna end up being the last things on Henry's mind when he watches a jetliner crash into the Ludd's family farm compound. The jet and the hundreds of dead bodies are just the beginning of what everyone will call "The Switch." According to Henry's uncle the disaster is the result of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Anything that runs with the aid of computer chips is kaput. That means no cell phones, computers, most cars and trucks, and the electric grid that powers homes and businesses.
Lucky for Henry and his large extended family, his uncle recently erected a huge wind turbine. Most of the family and close neighbors called the thing a monstrosity, but the power it generates might just be what saves them. It might also be trouble when others without power get wind of the turbine's benefits.
All attention is focused on survival. The dead as a result of the plane crash must be buried, available food must be preserved and stored, and the farm compound must be secured. In the midst of the chaos, Henry is worried about his father who hasn't returned from his trip to the zoo. What follows is a series of frantic rescue missions involving a trip to the city, car chases, a dangerous trip down the river, a hideout in the forest, and more bad guys than you can shake a stick at.
Author Roland Smith, a personal favorite of mine when it comes to adventure and hijinks, has created an action-packed, dystopian tale you won't want to miss. Perfect for middle grade readers and up, this one doesn't disappoint.
January 6, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💡💨
I’ve never been able to resist a survival disaster, story, and the plot of this one drew me right in. Roland Smith is known for writing really exciting, page turning middle grade adventures — he is truly a perfect author to hand to reluctant readers.
In this latest book, the world experiences an electromagnetic pulse, which causes everyone to lose power, planes to fall out of the sky, the usual array of horrific events. The main character, a 13 year old boy named Henry, lives on a farm with his very self-sufficient family, including many of his aunts and uncles, who are basically preppers. So they’re more equipped than others to handle this sort of disaster. Meanwhile, in the outside world, everything has devolved into chaos and violence, and as you may have guessed, there are groups who want to take over the compound where his family lives peacefully with a couple hundred neighbors.
I really enjoyed this but found it pretty intense and would recommend it for older, middle schoolers and highschoolers. It’s a great read alike for Dry by Neil Schusterman or even something dystopic like The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner.
To my fellow librarians and teachers out there, definitely keep this one on hand to give to reluctant readers this summer, who have to read one book— this will keep their interest.
#books #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookrecommendations #mgbookstagrammers #mgbooks #librariansofinstagram #read #readersofinstagram
I’ve never been able to resist a survival disaster, story, and the plot of this one drew me right in. Roland Smith is known for writing really exciting, page turning middle grade adventures — he is truly a perfect author to hand to reluctant readers.
In this latest book, the world experiences an electromagnetic pulse, which causes everyone to lose power, planes to fall out of the sky, the usual array of horrific events. The main character, a 13 year old boy named Henry, lives on a farm with his very self-sufficient family, including many of his aunts and uncles, who are basically preppers. So they’re more equipped than others to handle this sort of disaster. Meanwhile, in the outside world, everything has devolved into chaos and violence, and as you may have guessed, there are groups who want to take over the compound where his family lives peacefully with a couple hundred neighbors.
I really enjoyed this but found it pretty intense and would recommend it for older, middle schoolers and highschoolers. It’s a great read alike for Dry by Neil Schusterman or even something dystopic like The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner.
To my fellow librarians and teachers out there, definitely keep this one on hand to give to reluctant readers this summer, who have to read one book— this will keep their interest.
#books #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookrecommendations #mgbookstagrammers #mgbooks #librariansofinstagram #read #readersofinstagram
September 5, 2023
I like reading middle school books. There are a lot of great ones. This one fell short. It’s the first book from this author that I’ve read. It’s a dystopian novel released in 2022. I mention that because the dystopian plot has been done over and over and over by now. Very few have a unique or surprising twist. That was the main issue with this book. It was extremely predictable.
The characters were copies of dystopian characters in other books. It was extremely slow. You could read the first few chapters and then skip to the end without really missing anything. I kept hoping it would pick up the pace or throw something surprising into the storyline, but that didn’t happen. The author’s attempt to do that with a voice inside one of the characters’ head just didn’t work. I think I actually liked the voice better than any of the “real” characters. Even the dog was meh.
This book is similar in many ways to Alas, Babylon. But that book was published in 1959 decades prior to the current dystopian novel craze. I thought this book might have focused more on the Switch itself, but that became more of just a passing event.
There was potential for this book, but it never got off the ground.
The characters were copies of dystopian characters in other books. It was extremely slow. You could read the first few chapters and then skip to the end without really missing anything. I kept hoping it would pick up the pace or throw something surprising into the storyline, but that didn’t happen. The author’s attempt to do that with a voice inside one of the characters’ head just didn’t work. I think I actually liked the voice better than any of the “real” characters. Even the dog was meh.
This book is similar in many ways to Alas, Babylon. But that book was published in 1959 decades prior to the current dystopian novel craze. I thought this book might have focused more on the Switch itself, but that became more of just a passing event.
There was potential for this book, but it never got off the ground.
June 18, 2023
I really thought the world that was created in this story felt realistic. While a lot of dystopian stories feel like they could happen years and years from now, this one felt like it could happen tomorrow. It was interesting to also see the survival tactics and plans put in place by the Ludd family so that they could survive.
The only thing I didn't really like about the book was the addition of Caroline, the girl Henry had a crush on before the world went crazy, who was killed in a plane crash at the beginning of the book. She comes back as a ghost or result of PTSD that only Henry can hear in his mind. (Henry even isn't sure why or how this happens) The only way you could tell she was talking was because of the italicized font. But when Henry would be thinking to himself, his thoughts were italicized too. So, I oftentimes thought Caroline's dialogue was Henry just thinking to himself. It just wasn't necessary to have that element in the story.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the 4-month time jump that is taken after we get through the first day of "the switch". I would have liked to see how the characters made it through those first months to get a system going for how to survive.
The only thing I didn't really like about the book was the addition of Caroline, the girl Henry had a crush on before the world went crazy, who was killed in a plane crash at the beginning of the book. She comes back as a ghost or result of PTSD that only Henry can hear in his mind. (Henry even isn't sure why or how this happens) The only way you could tell she was talking was because of the italicized font. But when Henry would be thinking to himself, his thoughts were italicized too. So, I oftentimes thought Caroline's dialogue was Henry just thinking to himself. It just wasn't necessary to have that element in the story.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the 4-month time jump that is taken after we get through the first day of "the switch". I would have liked to see how the characters made it through those first months to get a system going for how to survive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
💡⚡️𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝
𝘉𝘺: 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩
This YA dystopian fiction book, Henry and his extended family live on a large farm that they refer to as the “Aunt Farm”. Everything on the farm seems routine and idyllic until one day when a passenger plane crashes on the farmland. Then, other strange things begin to happen- phones are unusable, the power goes out, cars won’t start. What’s worse is that Henry’s father is missing. Now Henry and his family must rely on each other to survive without technology or electricity- while a war for resources surfaces.
This was a fun read…and maybe even a little scary to envision these events actually transpiring, as they didn’t seem too far off from possibility. We rely so much of technology and electronics in our every day lives that going without them, with no restoration sight, would surely breed societal chaos. This book puts those frightening realities into play in a way that is interesting and accessible to YA and middle grade readers without being too scary…and while also appealing to a wider audience as well.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
𝘉𝘺: 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩
This YA dystopian fiction book, Henry and his extended family live on a large farm that they refer to as the “Aunt Farm”. Everything on the farm seems routine and idyllic until one day when a passenger plane crashes on the farmland. Then, other strange things begin to happen- phones are unusable, the power goes out, cars won’t start. What’s worse is that Henry’s father is missing. Now Henry and his family must rely on each other to survive without technology or electricity- while a war for resources surfaces.
This was a fun read…and maybe even a little scary to envision these events actually transpiring, as they didn’t seem too far off from possibility. We rely so much of technology and electronics in our every day lives that going without them, with no restoration sight, would surely breed societal chaos. This book puts those frightening realities into play in a way that is interesting and accessible to YA and middle grade readers without being too scary…and while also appealing to a wider audience as well.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
July 12, 2022
This wasn't as thrilling or science fiction-like as I would have liked, however there is something intriguing about reading middle grade and YA novels with environmental dystopian themes that still pull a reader in.
What I disliked from the start was that there was this premise that he'd be keeping a two-page a day journal because he just turned 13 and now had a cell phone but that was the requirement by mom. So it started off with a journal entry and it only appeared a few more times. If that was a more frequent motif I think it would have better paced the story and I would have connected more with him and the family's plight. It was a little disconnected from start to finish.
Yet, an electromagnetic pulse that disrupts all waves and then knocks out the power-- still worth a read!
What I disliked from the start was that there was this premise that he'd be keeping a two-page a day journal because he just turned 13 and now had a cell phone but that was the requirement by mom. So it started off with a journal entry and it only appeared a few more times. If that was a more frequent motif I think it would have better paced the story and I would have connected more with him and the family's plight. It was a little disconnected from start to finish.
Yet, an electromagnetic pulse that disrupts all waves and then knocks out the power-- still worth a read!
December 20, 2022
This was a big change of topics from the author’s other books! I think I have read all of them. I loved Zach’s Lie, Sasquatch, Cryptid Hunters, the 4 book Peak series, Last Lobos, Thunder Cave, the Captains Dog, and my favorite Elephant Run!!! All were educational as well as tense action adventure. This book was too dark for me. The EMP wasn’t fully explained for a student’s knowledge, the hundreds of dead bodies was too graphic, and I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters. I get that an “end of days” theme has to be zombie like in its darkness but there wasn’t enough joy at surviving or really any sense of hopefulness at all. Too dark
December 22, 2022
Henry just turned 13 when an electromagnetic pulse fries anything electronic. In the whole world. His uncle had set up a turbine, and now they are building a wall around the compound with the abandoned cars. Henry goes out to deliver meat to the zoo where his dad used to be caretaker, but no one knows where his dad is, and the truck gets hijacked without Henry. He has to find his way and gets mixed up with a cult/dictator until he and his family and friends can get free.
Some things happen too easily, like Rebecca understanding that she should pretend to he his sister. But this story is a thought provoking look at what would happen if the world stopped.
Some things happen too easily, like Rebecca understanding that she should pretend to he his sister. But this story is a thought provoking look at what would happen if the world stopped.
September 30, 2023
Wow! This is such a compelling story. I absolutely loved the large Ludd family and their dynamic not to mention all the action. It feels almost too real and I hesitated to recommend it because it kind of scared me! There are some pretty intense scenes with guns and it does begin with a plane going down and a lot of dead people. A friend of Henry's dies in the plane and she ends up "haunting" him. He has conversations with her in his head. It's kind of a weird aspect to the story but it helps the story along. There are a number of people who die but it isn't very graphic. It pretty much describes "sightless eyes" and that there is blood.
Found in L4M OT Volume 60.
Found in L4M OT Volume 60.
August 18, 2025
It's nice to sink my teeth into a good post-apocalyptic YA/tween book again. 13 year old Henry's life changes irrevocably after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) kills all electronics and causes planes to crash, including right into his family's farm in Oregon where he and his parents and a large family already live pretty sustainably. His uncle Edgar, a tinkerer and Army veteran who prefers to live off the grid, is now the hero for having built a wind turbine and owning old tractors trucks and cars that don't rely on electronics. But as his family creates a secure private community, others want in. Good action-packed story of survival as the world starts over.
May 1, 2023
It’s a very engaging premise, and very entertaining if you are familiar with Portland, Oregon and the surrounding area. One day, some kind of electromagnetic pulse wipes out global electrical power and life changes for the world. It’s the story of 13 year old Henry and how he and his family survive. It’s about trust, ingenuity, perseverance, and community. I recommend it for a 6th or 7th grader. Although younger people would be able to read it, it’s got some violence and gore that might be too much for the younger reader. 
August 28, 2024
After reading a bunch of junk Mark Twain and Truman nominees about the supernatural, I was excited to finally read a post-apocalyptic one (when not reading from kids' reading lists, I really like the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genres), but then I soon discover that (1) this book skips ahead past all the immediate aftermath of the apocalyptic event and (2) there's a supernatural ghost component in this book too! The book was OK, and I'm rating it three stars because I get why some of the apocalypse was skipped, but even for a young readers book I think it's all too nicely wrapped.
December 9, 2022
3.5
I was personally taken out of the story from the beginning by the (as far as I know) completely unrealistic depiction of how a zoo director would operate. I think the ending came a little abruptly but I did like that it's a shorter MG. That fact, as well as the 13-year protagonist, are sorely needed in the kidlit world.
I think young readers will enjoy this, although those who are more sensitive about animals (as I am) will struggle with parts.
I was personally taken out of the story from the beginning by the (as far as I know) completely unrealistic depiction of how a zoo director would operate. I think the ending came a little abruptly but I did like that it's a shorter MG. That fact, as well as the 13-year protagonist, are sorely needed in the kidlit world.
I think young readers will enjoy this, although those who are more sensitive about animals (as I am) will struggle with parts.
December 26, 2022
First - I have to give five stars to a book that names a dog Gort and has characters who know the phrase, "Klaatu barada nikto." Another positive is the focus on the loss of power for hours, days, or weeks, or forever. It also depicts how unprepared most of us are for sustained power outages especially in winter. Do we have resources to stay warm? Do we have food reserves? Do we have bug-out bags? Do we have ways to protect ourselves if civilization dies? This book asks great questions.
July 29, 2023
This is a young adult book about people surviving after an EMP wipes out everything with electronics. There is no electricity, modern cars don’t run, there are issues with food and heat, etc. This is a pretty realistic view of what might happen to society in this situation. It is not sanitized much for kids. People die, good people do bad things. It takes place in the Portland, Oregon, area which is fun if you live in this area.
This is a standalone story.
This is a standalone story.
February 7, 2024
More apocalyptic than dystopian but so cool how you can see it all happening: the end, the shattered pieces/people/animals, and good trying desperately to overcome lawlessness and greed to create a new society. Henry sees it all from a 13 year old's eyes from the moment a huge passenger jet crashes on his farm. He wants to survive and find his dad who left to check on the animals he cares for at the zoo. But from which he never returned after The Switch.
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