Media Meltdown: A Graphic Guide Adventure

by Liam O'Donnell, Mike Deas (Illustrator)

While learning about media consolidation and the power of money over truth, Bounce, Pema and Jagroop decide to take on the developers and the media. When Karl Reed, Owner of Oasis Developments, tries to force the sale of a local fruit farm―through whatever means necessary―Pema, Bounce and Jagroop decide to expose him through the media. Little do they realize that when it comes to the news and the advertisers who make it possible, the truth is not always part of the story and nothing can be taken at face value.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novels

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

I’m an award-winning author, educator and literacy advocate. I have created over 35 graphic novels and books specifically for reluctant readers, including Max Finder Mystery, Graphic Guide Adventures, Geeked Out Mysteries and two new series Tank & Fizz and Battle of the Blocks.

Visit liamodonnell.com and say hi! That'd be awesome.

Reviews

[Marc Lucke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the frequent infodumps lend this story a distinctly pedantic quality, I still liked it a lot and would recommend it to any parent, educator or young readers who's interested in issues surrounding the media.

A racially diverse cast of boys and girls solve a Scooby-style mystery while learning about corporate ownership of traditional newsmedia, the influence of advertisers and the possibilities offered by new, accesible forms of digital mass communication. There's a lot to love here, so the extremely didactic quality of some panels (and my TL;DR reflex) is a small price to pay.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bounce and Pema are taking one last bike ride through the woods before winter when the trail abruptly ends in a construction site: Oasis Developers is building yet another subdivision, and this new one isn't enough for them. Representatives have been bullying Bounce's friend's family into selling their beloved farm, and they won't take no for an answer, even if it means violence. Pema's sister is working as an intern with the TV news, so she could help get the story out--except that Viamix, Oasis Developers' parent company, is a major advertiser on that network. Before Bounce and his friends can spread the word about what Oasis is doing, they need to learn how the media works--and how to make it work for them.

This fourth entry into the Graphic Guides series gets away from sports tips and into more academic topics. The informational scenes are reasonably well-integrated into the story, but are still mildly didactic in their nature. Information is delivered clearly, though the language is more geared to middle schoolers than upper-elementary age students. The artwork is in the same cartoony style as the rest of the series, which may draw in some younger kids but turn off the older ones who are likely to get more out of the book.

This is a great resource for kids who are looking at advertising in schools, and will inspire an interest in other kids who pick this up off the shelf.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Liam O'Donnell's series - it is so unique and I love how he so seamlessly switches between his narrative and information that is needed to understand the book. And so much much information is squeezed into this easy to read book. Throughout the book, you learn about scripts, deforestation, wind turbines/energy, media literacy, advertising, TV careers, extortion, bias, internet, hook, media consolidation, video editing, ad creeps, propaganda, social media and research. Very rarely did it feel like the information was not part of the story.

Another perk about O'Donnel's books is that although they are a series it is not necessary to read them all or read them in order. The characters overlap, but within each story enough information is given for you to understand the story.

[C.J. Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really amusing! I really liked it!

[Saad Sayyed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Book of 2021 and it was good. It follows a group of tech-savvy teenagers, which crackdown on the media using an alternative form of fandom.com - mediameltdown.net.

I agree with the positive representation of the internet, but .NET? Nobody uses that. But, that was probably because .COM was actually taken.

I like the fact there are not one POC characters, but multiple families of POCs and non-white characters. Good job, the representation of POCs are very good, inoffensive and feel non-forced.

All of this - I feel this is a good book which accurately depicts the paid, advertiser-held media of today.

Recommend this to kids with an extraordinary curiosity.

[Michel Sizaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on how Big Business destroys our farms and forests

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great message and very informative. Would be a good way to teach a little kid about the media.

[Stefanny Romero]

i think is interesting book

[subbacultcha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aw, reminds me of the good old media literacy days.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

No review.