TRAPPED

MICHAEL NORTHROP

TRAPPED

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

Young adult reading for someone like me, who loves suspense peppered with shock and unsuspecting twists along with a touch of occult, is often challenging.  At my age, young is of somewhat ancient talk, but I am always intrigued by writers who can still hold my attention in this genre.  Michael Northrop does just that, without all of the necessary concepts I look for in any book but especially young adult. 

The book was brought to my attention by a free magazine called The Book Page that is distributed throughout the library systems in New York.  Unaware that this is a sophomore piece of literature from Northrop, I dove in without reading his first release.  Since the book did well in my eyes it is time to go back and see what gave the publisher enough cause to ensure a second coming. 

The story begins and is told throughout from the eyes and viewpoints of one character, Scotty.  Along with his friends, a teacher and the class bully, they find themselves contained in the school during a snow storm.  It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary winter escapade and the seriousness becomes every too real.  

When so engrossed in a book, it can be easily overlooked when the writer makes a quick statement that not everyone survives.  In the meantime, the group has to figure out how to exist and mostly how to keep busy as time passes by.  Since those stranded are made up of mostly youth and the teacher leaves early in the story to get help, it becomes a true recipe for disaster.  When young boys are left without supervision and in the company of pretty girls, the mainstay of the body’s necessities is often the last thing on their minds. 

Often, it has the feel of "The Breakfast Club" except these kids do not have the luxury of knowing when it will end.  The storm continues to rage on as the power goes out and the generator kicks in.  The supply of food is limited and they find themselves eating the same thing day in and day out.  Now the hours have turned to days when the roof suddenly can no longer withstand the pressured weight of the snow and begins to collapse. 

Northrop finds a way to hold the reader until the end but still leaves a few questions unanswered.  All I will say is at least one character makes it out alive. As for the rest, some may make it and some may not.  Steadfast writing put Michael Northrop on a path of good young adult storytelling.