Running in Flip-Flops From the End of the World

by Justin A. Reynolds

Overview

A hilarious middle-grade from justin a. reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?

When twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway and his friends are left home from Beach Bash, aka the greatest party of the year, only to realize that everyone in town has disappeared without a trace, they do what any smart, responsible kids would do . . . have the best day ever!

No parental supervision sounds fun for a while, but forever is a long time. And soon the gang starts to notice strange things happening around town, and they’re only getting stranger. They have to figure out what happened to their families. It seems like getting to the beach will answer all their questions . . . but the only problem is that some mysterious force seems determined to prevent them from making it there.

Eddie knows that this is a clear sign — obviously they should be focused on having as much fun as possible for as long as possible. But everyone deals with the fear differently, and soon the friendships begin to fracture. Can Eddie find a way to get all his friends on the same page? And will they ever make it to the beach?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338815160
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

JUSTIN A. REYNOLDS has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always, his debut novel, was an Indies Introduce selection, a School Library Journal Best Book, has been translated in 17 languages, and is being developed for film with Paramount Players. He hangs out in northeast Ohio with his family and likes it, and is probably somewhere, right now, dancing terribly.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for It's the End of the World and I'm In My Bathing Suit:

* "A doomsday scenario is rendered surprisingly funny here . . . and so readers are given freedom to enjoy [Eddie's] brilliant quips, his quirky friends, and this highly unusual day without dwelling on what comes after this strange, golden afternoon when kids ran the neighborhood." — BCCB, starred review

"With Reynolds' signature witticisms and jump-off-the-page jokes....[this is] equal parts friendship story, coming of age, and comedic apocalypse, this will be a great red for reluctant readers and kids looking to take their summers into their own hands." — Booklist

"Matter-of-fact scenes with Eddie taking his ADHD medicine and talking through school and home pressures with Trey, their school’s all-star athlete, offer insightful representations of Black boys bonding." — Kirkus

From the Publisher

04/26/2024

Gr 3–7—In the sequel to It's The End of the World and I'm In My Bathing Suit, 12-year-old Eddie and his friends are still trying to enjoy the fun, liberating freedom of being the only people around since their families disappeared at the Beach Bash. Eddie talks directly to readers in the opening pages, welcoming them back and addressing some of their concerns about the previous cliffhanger. Eddie and his friends are determined to get back to the beach where it all started, hoping that it might give them some clues as to what happened and why. But anytime they try, something happens, such as bees magically appearing inside their car, preventing them from entering. Between the jokes and bonding among friends, quieter moments of reflection about the apocalypse come through. This is why one of Eddie's friends suggests they keep a video diary, transcribed as "Keep it Reel," so they can look back and process their experiences once it's over. Eddie wants to pretend everything is okay—he even tries to make a human-sized ice-cream sundae in a pool for his friends, but everyone is still dealing with the events differently. Readers will enjoy the fast-paced and humorous first-person narrative. Another cliffhanger will leave fans of the series eager for the next installment. VERDICT This book will be most enjoyed by those who read the first book, and is recommended for collections where the previous one circulates.—Marissa Lieberman

School Library Journal

2024-02-17
Five Black tweens try to unravel a major mystery in this sequel to It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit (2022).

The book opens with Eddie Holloway reminding readers that in the previous adventure, none of the citizens of Carterville, Ohio, returned following the annual summer Beach Bash. Now, the little group of kids who were left behind are banding together, but when every attempt they make to get to the beach and search for answers is ruined, the story turns toward their individual efforts to cope with the catastrophe. Xavier is concerned that there are people in need of help, Sonia turns to stockpiling supplies in case another disaster strikes, Trey focuses on keeping his athletic regimen in place, and Sage plots ways to reach the beach. After they’re rattled by ghostly radio messages, the tone of the story turns more reflective. Readers hear more from the other characters via the Carterville Keep It Reels, short video confessionals from each kid. Although the mood is humorous and light throughout most of the book, uneasiness rises to the surface every time the kids stop and look around at the emptiness of their neighborhood or observe how unnaturally quiet everything is without other people. This element pulls in readers, who become invested in the characters’ well-being, hoping that with every page turned, they’ll be closer to solving the mystery and being OK.

A reflective, well-paced follow-up. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews