The Switch

by Roland Smith

Overview

A thrilling dystopic story from Roland Smith about how far people will go to survive — perfect for fans ofDry and Distress Signal.

On the morning of Henry Ludd's thirteenth birthday, the power goes out. No phones, no news, and planes are literally falling out of the sky. Henry's father was away from the family farm and he has not returned. It's worrisome as people descend into lawlessness.

Four months later, the electricity still hasn't come back. While Henry's family is protected in their walled compound with wind turbines fueling their electricity, the rest of their area has suffered. Henry's father still hasn’t been found. Determined to find him, Henry ventures out with a trading crew to the zoo where his dad was last seen. After the truck is hijacked and Henry is left behind, he's forced to travel alone through the unruly world of the Switch. But his journey home will lead him to cross paths with the people who took his dad and have been trying to take over his family's land and resources ever since.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545803502
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	135,653
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Roland Smith first worked with animals at the Oregon Zoo, and he has been involved in animal rescues and conservation work around the world for more than 20 years. He is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Jack's Run, Zach's Lie, Peak, the Cryptid Hunters series, and the Storm Runners series. He is also the coauthor of numerous picture books with his wife, Marie. Roland lives with Marie on a farm south of Portland, Oregon. You can find him online at rolandsmith.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/10/2022

When the power abruptly goes out globally due to a mysterious electromagnetic pulse known as “the switch,” 13-year-old Henry Carter’s maternal relatives, the self-sufficient, technology-averse Ludds, are uniquely situated to cope with the emergency. Their well-supplied 40-acre Oregon farm is set up with multiple households, a wind turbine that provides limited electricity, and even a disaster-analysis professional. The compound soon becomes a small pocket of order amid the outside world’s chaos, but Henry struggles to cope: he’s navigating the loss of his zookeeper father, not seen since the event, and begins communicating with the ghost of a neighbor who died in a switch-related plane crash that hit Ludd property. Complicating matters, the 13-year-old is stranded when his uncle’s truck is hijacked during a mission outside the farm. To survive, Henry allies himself with family friend Derek, a former Army Ranger, and self-assured water vendor Rebecca, tracking the missing truck and family members amid increasingly threatening stakes. Skirting specifics around the catalyzing event, Smith (Descent) focuses instead on society’s fragility post-apocalypse, paying particular attention to the Ludds’ efforts to survive and adapt, and employing a tense third-person narrative that drives this suspenseful, crisis-oriented read. Characters default to white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Barbara Kouts, Barbara Kouts Agency. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Beneath:"A tightly plotted mystery that incorporates themes of nonconformity and social rebellion... Humor, a perilous setting, [and] intense relationships... give the story emotion and grit." — Publishers Weekly"A fast-paced, compelling read. Fans of Smith will not be disappointed." — BooklistPraise for the Storm Runners series:"A breakneck read, perfectly geared to the restless and reluctant." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"This slice of natural disaster... offers nary a dull moment. A high-velocity page-turner." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher