500 minutes of danger by Jack Heath
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743816493
(Age: 11+) Themes: Adventure, Danger, Science Fiction, Survival.
This action-packed book initially starts as a collection of short
stories all with an extreme adventure plot. But then it slowly
connects all of the 10 stories involving 10 intrepid teens in
situations of extreme danger into an ambitious disaster story
involving a scenario of epic proportions. Adrenalin rushes are
extreme for the protagonists and the reader, but the author's aim of
limiting the time action to just a 50 minute window for each
character, to create a total of 500 minutes of danger is extremely
inventive. It does also mean that the reader gets a chance to
breathe between chapters! I loved the tension in this book, and the
clarity that nothing could ever last longer than 50 minutes was also
exhilarating.
500 Minutes of Danger will definitely appeal to readers aged
11+ who love an adrenalin rush. The teen characters are able to use
their understanding of science and technology to solve problems
under pressure, so this will also appeal to those who enjoy
investigating the practical implications of their science learning.
Now I wish I had discovered this series sooner!
Carolyn Hull