Pop! : Fizzy drinks. A trillion dollars. The adventure that ends with a bang.

by Mitch Johnson

An outrageous theft. A huge reward. Two friends on the run.

An uproariously funny, action-packed new adventure about the power of courage, standing up for what's right, and fizzy drinks, from the award-winning author of Kick. Queenie stares out at the ocean and dreams of a world beyond her small-town. She's about to get her wish...

When the priceless recipe to the world's most popular drink - thought to be lost forever - washes up at her feet, Queenie's life instantly changes. Everyone wants it, and with a $10 million bounty on her head, Queenie's soon on the run. Pursued by bounty hunters, black-ops helicopters and angry mobs, Queenie's journey involves a trip to Area 51, a man-eating alligator and an unlikely new friend, Todd.

But being on the run also makes Queenie begin to see the world around her more clearly - a world in which a big corporation's excess has left the planet covered in its plastic bottles and waste. Suddenly, the home she always dreamed of escaping, and the ocean she grew up with and took for granted, don't seem so bad. If Queenie and Todd can bring down the bad guys, maybe she can go back home and make a difference...

'Fizzes with adventure and great characters who pop from the page' - Peter Bunzl, bestselling author of Cogheart

'I read it all in one gulp!' - Ross Welford, bestselling author of Time Travelling with a Hamster

Genres: Contemporary, Middle Grade, Childrens, Dystopia

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2021

Reviews

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Przewrotny humor, szalona akcja i… zaskakujące, pełne dojrzałości i uniwersalności przesłanie, w pozornie beztroskiej powieści dla młodzieży.

Cięte, świetnie skrojone dialogi, wysokie stawki, z krytyką wielkiego biznesu na czele. I i wreszcie – inspirujący przekaz, apel do młodych, by nie pozostawali obojętni, by nie odwracali wzroku. Mitch Johnson zrobił kawał świetnej roboty – połączył lekkie pióro z przenikliwą intensywnością, dodał czarny humor i bohaterów, których zapamiętujemy na długo. Sprawił też, że wokół „POP!” można rozmawiać, toczyć dyskusje z młodymi czytelnikami, więc sądzę, że to będzie też świetna lektura dla dyskusyjnych klubów książkowych, szkół i bibliotek. Warto.

Więcej na: wielkibuk.com

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of witty cliff-hangers from beginning to end. It is an adventure novel which lures you in and makes you want to read more of it. It gave me an awareness of environmental issues which I did not know about. I wanted the book to go on and on since it was such a brilliant read.

[Kirsten Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting adventure filled with conspiracies, friendships, and environmental issues. The dialogue is very witty and sharp, especially in the build up of the story. And there are some similes in this that please the mind profoundly! And the afterword is truly inspirational.

[Judith McAteer · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the target audience, I enjoyed the silliness and seriousness blend

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable wee read recommended by the 11 year old.
Fun story and ending.

[Andrew Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRuly a fantastic book. This adventure is a silly, fun and serious story all at the same time. it concerns a girl, a lost secret recipe and a fictional global drinks corporation that bears no similarity whatsoever to any current global drinks manufacturer, COUGHCOUGHCOUGHpepsi/cocacolaCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH. The book is essentially a chase across america with threat, escape and danger for Queenie, the main character, as she tries to evade the numerous parties interested in accessing to the recipe. The mixture of serious and silly in teh story, the use of real life things like the Great pacific garbage patch. The regular calling out of the unstoppable wave of litter that these corporations create throughout the book and the note at the start all anchor it in reality, even though its an totally unbelievable world, there are elements of a normal world but some parts are on steroids. you'll understand what i mean when you read it. all these things add up to make it one of the best books i've read this year. Mitch Johnson is an amazing author for young people and i think i'm now going to have to read everything he has written
the last book i read by him, Kick, was brilliant also.

[Victoria-Melita Zammit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best middle-grade books I've ever read.

With hints of Jonas Jonasson throughout - wacky, zany characters and cascading events that turn it into one big beautiful plot - anybody who enjoys an adventure will enjoy this.

What I especially liked about this book is not just the way that Mac-Tonic Corp. is portrayed, but the way that it highlights to young readers the way that big corporations have not only such a big say in politics and government and other aspects of the world, but also how dangerous they are to our environment. It also highlights how these companies sometimes fake rivalries with other companies when they are just the same.

It's a brilliant, brilliant read. Honestly could not recommend this enough for somebody looking for not only a quick read but a really fun one too.

[Naomi Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

POP! by Mitch Johnson
⭐️⭐️
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As a primary teacher, I’m always on the look out for new releases to recommend to the children I teach. Unfortunately I don’t think this is going to be one of them.
When the recipe to the worlds most famous is thought to be lost the world is in despair. Until it washes up by Queenie’s feet. Queenie quickly finds herself as the most sought after person on the planet and ends up going on the run.
The book aims to teach children about global corporations and the mess they are leaving behind, however I think this gets lost in the totally unbelievable storyline. Another thing that really wound me up was the constant references to everyone and everything by full names.
Thank you to NetGalley for this fantastic e-ARC but unfortunately it won’t be one I’m stocking in my classroom library

[Insert Name Here · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliantly funny novel with a great message.

Queenie lives in a world that manages to be very weird and also very familiar. A world where a soft drink company can put its logo on the moon - and, rather more alarmingly, dictate official American policy. Luckily, the citizens in the novel seem to be waking up to it in the end, so I have hope for the real world.

The twists and turns in this were epic. I never knew what was going to happen (apart from one minor guess about a character.) It was really funny, too. So many books are either funny or have a good message, it's great to see one that does both.

This is a fantastic read and I can't wait to start pushing it at children and exhorting them to buy.

[rohini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pop was a brilliant middle grade book that was immersive and exciting with high stakes complimented by amazing writing!

The story followed Queenie who has the Mac-Tonic formula that had been lost. She is offered millions to return it but when she is kidnapped, she realises the bigger plan of the corporation.

This book reflected on modern day issues that are very real. It was inspiring yet realistic and showed how big corporations can ruin the planet for the sake of profit. The story's theme of taking action and making your voice heard was inspiring and I think that the middle grade audience will love it!

Overall this was a fantastic read and I would recommend it!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc. All opinions are my own.

[Andy Midwinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly drawn into this book right from the off. We join the story with Queenie and her family in their rundown Californian coastal home and a discovery that set’s off an adventure that will change her life.
Mitch Johnson has created a thrilling adventure novel that doesn’t shy away from big themes, including corporate green and climate change. There’s always the chance of coming unstuck when covering big themes, but boy does he pull it off.
With characters and a plot that keep you hooked throughout and a satisfying ending, I highly recommend adding this to your reading list!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interested. It’s written in a very articulate way, I would say that not really accessible to children without strong comprehension skills. But for those deep readers, it’s pacy, exciting and full of satire on the state of our world. The message of the book could definitely have implications on how the reader would go on to treat our world.

[Mairead McKeith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book it a sweet spot for me. I really liked the fusion, messaging about big business and big brother is watching all the time. I thought it was a very original book and it didn't fit a formulae which was refreshing. It was part real exaggerated world, part fantasy. And it kept you moving forward. Very well drawn characters and I could see them in my head.

[Lauren Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important message, wrapped up in a fun and outrageous adventure. Following Queenie through her discoveries and mishaps was great fun, with many twists and turns along the way, keeping you guessing at what might happen next.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book
It took awhile to get into it

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, something a little different, which is a good thing!

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, original, though-provoking, well-written adventure.

[Paula Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb, action packed adventure with so many twists and turns. Everytime I thought I knew where it was going...I didn't.

[Gabrielle Wales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every child and adult should read this. It is a lesson in modern life

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud satire that will appeal to politically minded teens.

[Lakazdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rollick to read.

[Aimée Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.6

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pop bang chug

[Jolyon Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story providing children 9yrs to 14yrs with a great understanding regarding themes relating to greed and globalisation

[Rebecca Preedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended by a student - not too bad - a bit of a dig at big corporations and some cli-fi touched on too.

[Natasha Mimms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining with a good message.

[Meira · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK- Quite interesting but also really weird!

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! Really pacey with very important things to say - on the environment, big business, humanity. Said in a brutal-but-true way that I think children will appreciate. The afterword is fabulous too. Mitch is a great writer, and his style is maturing (and funny!) with everything he writes.

[Hannah Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on the recommendation of a teaching colleague and I am so glad it did because I probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. Clever, original, sharp, fast-paced, thought-provoking and, above all, wickedly funny, this wasn't at all what I was expecting and I absolutely loved it.

[Enor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-adventure story with an important message at the heart of it: we are living in a climate and ecological emergency which we are failing to solve.