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Jamie Keller Mystery #1
Off the Grid
When Jamie Keller's father is killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb, her mother decides to combat the financial and emotional stress by moving the family from Hamilton, Ohio to the rural town of Promise, Oregon.
Fourteen-year-old Jamie narrates the tale of the journey, intermingling descriptions of family dynamics with her own personal philosophy of life.
The victims of Jamie's scrutiny include: older sister Jenny, who listens to praise music and wears a WWJD bracelet; younger brother Jake, contained and brainy, with know-it-all tendencies; and little sister Jana, lover of animals and sometimes the comic relief.
In Reno, Nevada, the mystery begins when Jamie's mother fails to pick the kids up at the mall as had been previously arranged.
After waiting for hours in the blazing heat, brother Jake finally goes in search of his mom only to return with an amazing story. He has located the car, and everything in it is intact (including the family's pet cats), but Mrs. Keller is nowhere to be found. Intensive searching proves futile. Their mother has vanished!
Nervous about becoming wards of the state of Nevada, and fearful of being put in separate foster homes, the Keller kids decide to avoid authority, choosing instead to take the gamble, and continue on to Promise, Oregon.
On the way into town, a giant JESUS banner is the first sign that Promise is in a bible belt. Jenny is thrilled, Jamie, not so.
Upon arriving at the ranch, the Kellers are met with further disappointment when they discover that the 'ranch' is nothing more than an old trailer, situated off the grid. Jake is in his element, with the challenge of solar panels, batteries and generators, but the girls are far from enchanted.
War, religion, world peace, inner peace, dealing with financial stress and self sufficiency are some of the key topics in this often humerous story story.
Off the Grid is a contemporary novelette directed at a young teen audience but enjoyed by all ages.
Fourteen-year-old Jamie narrates the tale of the journey, intermingling descriptions of family dynamics with her own personal philosophy of life.
The victims of Jamie's scrutiny include: older sister Jenny, who listens to praise music and wears a WWJD bracelet; younger brother Jake, contained and brainy, with know-it-all tendencies; and little sister Jana, lover of animals and sometimes the comic relief.
In Reno, Nevada, the mystery begins when Jamie's mother fails to pick the kids up at the mall as had been previously arranged.
After waiting for hours in the blazing heat, brother Jake finally goes in search of his mom only to return with an amazing story. He has located the car, and everything in it is intact (including the family's pet cats), but Mrs. Keller is nowhere to be found. Intensive searching proves futile. Their mother has vanished!
Nervous about becoming wards of the state of Nevada, and fearful of being put in separate foster homes, the Keller kids decide to avoid authority, choosing instead to take the gamble, and continue on to Promise, Oregon.
On the way into town, a giant JESUS banner is the first sign that Promise is in a bible belt. Jenny is thrilled, Jamie, not so.
Upon arriving at the ranch, the Kellers are met with further disappointment when they discover that the 'ranch' is nothing more than an old trailer, situated off the grid. Jake is in his element, with the challenge of solar panels, batteries and generators, but the girls are far from enchanted.
War, religion, world peace, inner peace, dealing with financial stress and self sufficiency are some of the key topics in this often humerous story story.
Off the Grid is a contemporary novelette directed at a young teen audience but enjoyed by all ages.
- GenresYoung Adult
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2008
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 25, 2020
Interesting Story But Not For Young Ones
I wanted to give this book at least a 3-star rating but have given it a 2 because similar to what another reviewer stated, it is packed full of profanity. If all of the profanity had been left out, I probably would have given it a 4.
As far as the story goes, I enjoyed it. I really like how, despite their idiosyncrasies, the children learned to deal with their challenges and overcame them.
Even though the summary says it is directed at a young teen audience, I would not recommend it as such.
I wanted to give this book at least a 3-star rating but have given it a 2 because similar to what another reviewer stated, it is packed full of profanity. If all of the profanity had been left out, I probably would have given it a 4.
As far as the story goes, I enjoyed it. I really like how, despite their idiosyncrasies, the children learned to deal with their challenges and overcame them.
Even though the summary says it is directed at a young teen audience, I would not recommend it as such.
December 15, 2022
Everything in Jamie Keller's life changes after her father is killed in Iraq. Then her mother goes missing in Reno. The kids decide not to call the police put rather keep going to the planned destination of Promise, Oregon. OFF THE GRID is a humorous adventure seen through Jamie's eyes as they live together waiting for Mom to arrive. Excellent young adult novel with something for all ages.
January 20, 2016
Moving across the country can be rather stressful, but could you imagine if as a kid your mother goes missing while you're driving across the country, leaving you to fend for yourselves? E.N. McNamara's Off the Grid demonstrates just this quandary.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jamie and her siblings Jenny, Jake, and Jana are moving from Ohio to Oregon on their mother's quick decision after the death of their father in the war. Promise, Oregon is where their mother grew up and promises to be a new experience for the children. When stopped in Reno, Nevada for a brief while, Jamie's mother goes missing from her car, leaving the kids to decide what to do next: involve the police or keep going and hope for the best. Choosing the latter, they drive the rest of the way to Promise and begin their new lives on their grandfather's old farm while waiting for news of their mother.
The premise of this story works and demonstrates being suddenly thrust out of childhood. The text is in need of a thorough round of copyediting as there were many instances of open quotation for dialogue and a lack of necessary punctuation. Each child was rather well characterized and maintained their character throughout with realistic changes to keep them from being too horribly static.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jamie and her siblings Jenny, Jake, and Jana are moving from Ohio to Oregon on their mother's quick decision after the death of their father in the war. Promise, Oregon is where their mother grew up and promises to be a new experience for the children. When stopped in Reno, Nevada for a brief while, Jamie's mother goes missing from her car, leaving the kids to decide what to do next: involve the police or keep going and hope for the best. Choosing the latter, they drive the rest of the way to Promise and begin their new lives on their grandfather's old farm while waiting for news of their mother.
The premise of this story works and demonstrates being suddenly thrust out of childhood. The text is in need of a thorough round of copyediting as there were many instances of open quotation for dialogue and a lack of necessary punctuation. Each child was rather well characterized and maintained their character throughout with realistic changes to keep them from being too horribly static.
May 29, 2014
E.N. McNamara's "Off the Grid" is a solid mixture of a survival story and teen drama.
When the Keller kids find themselves halfway between the home they knew and their new destined home alone, their mother missing and their options few they pull together to both make it to their destination and survive. The narrator Jamie is a colorful and opinionated kid, who oftentimes takes on a leadership role with her siblings.
What I most appreciated about this book, having worked with homeless and at-risk teenagers for years, was that the author portrayed the kids in this book as resourceful and clever. Having worked with kids who built shelters in the woods, found ways to make money for hotel rooms, banded together for protection, I found the author's portrayal of their decisions and actions to be in keeping with what I have witnessed.
Overall a good and quick read. This book is perfect for those who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet."
When the Keller kids find themselves halfway between the home they knew and their new destined home alone, their mother missing and their options few they pull together to both make it to their destination and survive. The narrator Jamie is a colorful and opinionated kid, who oftentimes takes on a leadership role with her siblings.
What I most appreciated about this book, having worked with homeless and at-risk teenagers for years, was that the author portrayed the kids in this book as resourceful and clever. Having worked with kids who built shelters in the woods, found ways to make money for hotel rooms, banded together for protection, I found the author's portrayal of their decisions and actions to be in keeping with what I have witnessed.
Overall a good and quick read. This book is perfect for those who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet."
September 22, 2014
Really enjoyed this book, and read it and the second book of the series in one gulp! See my combined review under Over the Edge.
October 14, 2015
I read this book awhile ago and was so engrossed, could hardly put it down. Good story I'll highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews