The Trap

On the very first page I was sunk into the lush sensory details and odd wisdom of this book. Arntson's writing combines dreamlike magic and incisive social commentary in a very particular and very satisfying way. My mistake was putting it down. It took me months to read this book because I did it in small chunks, dipping in and falling out of its strange reality. Once I really dug in, I got so immersed that I had to stay up till the middle of the night to finish. For those who appreciate the unusual, the beautifully weird, this book offers a gripping story, memorable characters, and a heart-squeezing message about connection.

Not to sound like a wiseguy, but this is an all-around better, more interesting and more rewarding book than I expected it to be going in. And that's always a good thing.Right off the bat, the hero's voice and the general tone of the narration were not the usual, although the cast of characters was conventional. Here, our adventurers are twins Helen and Harry, and their best friends Alan and Nicki. The narrator is Henry, younger of the twins by twenty minutes. Where Helen is impulsive and a little bossy, Henry our narrator is more thoughtful and cautious. As we begin they are all wrapping up the last days of summer before moving up to seventh grade.As I say, Henry is a tremendously engaging narrator. He is articulate and observant and can be cautious to a fault. He is also possessed of a dry and understated style that is deadpan funny in a very subtle way. His story is aimed directly at the reader and has an inviting and intimate feel. Henry may not come across as an "authentic" twelve year old, but he is a wonderful version of a twelve year old. As a consequence he makes an excellent narrator, and even when he's just setting a scene or describing some incidental business his voice is engaging, easygoing and direct. I'm not sure how you get a more entertaining and inviting narrator for a middle grade summer adventure tale, or one better calculated to welcome a younger reader into a story.The rest of the characters round things out nicely. Henry has a serious crush on Nicki and his gauzy infatuation surrounds his descriptions of her. It's mild stuff and very charming and adds an innocent bit of spice to the group. Helen is a mover and shaker, but never wears out her welcome. Even though she's sort of the spark that keeps the adventure going you don't tire of her and she isn't loaded with quirks or attitude. Alan rounds out the cast as a solid second banana. We also have a bully, but he's central to the story and more complex than your standard issue mean jock type.The upshot is that by the time the mystery/adventure picks up you are pretty much willing to go along with whatever adventure the author has in store for these young Iowans. NO SPOILERS HERE, but the plot is a dilly, with action, chases, menace, a supernatural angle, a kind of ghosty touch, a criminal villain, and all of the middle grade bells and whistles you would want for a gripping actioner. None of it is over the top or bizarro/weird and so the plot struck me as a perfectly acceptable and very imaginative vehicle. It's also a clearly laid out plot, so your middle grader won't be left scratching his head.This should go without saying for a published book, but it is worth noting that the book is well edited and formatted. Grammar, syntax, tenses, vocabulary choices, and the like are all top drawer. This is a well-crafted, well-written, and carefully proofread work, with a consistent tone and style. It seems to me that it would work well for a confident younger reader.I just realized that this author also wrote "The Wrap-Up List", maybe the funniest and cleverest book written for YA's about imminent death in a magically realistic world. Why am I not surprised? I knew this guy was good.(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

THE TRAPAuthor: Steven ArntsonType of Book: Paperback ARCTarget Readership: Middle Grade Ages 9-12Publication Date: April 7,2015Length: 246 pagesPublisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young ReadersRating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐* I received a free ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.Set in the small town of Farro, Iowa in the summer of 1963. Henry Nilsson is just starting seventh grade.Henry is best friends with Alan, but Alan's older brother, Clay is the town bully. When Clay goes missing the day after Henry finds a box of books at his hidden campsite, people start to worry.In the box Henry finds a strange old book that is a guide to learning the art of 'subtle travel'. Henry is puzzled, but intrigued.It turns out that 'subtle travel' is a kind of out-of-body experience.When Carl goes missing, Henry, his twin sister Helen and two of their friends embark on a quest to find him. They find danger and adventure and experience more than they could have ever imagined.This book is a great read for kids in middle grades. It does contain some ideas that might be a bit advanced for the target readership, but the author does a good job of explaining these concepts.The pace is relentless and the action is constant and unrelenting. This book is fun and exciting and the characters come across as realistic and relatable. Henry and his friends are ordinary kids thrown into an extraordinary adventure.FOR PARENTS:This is a book that explores a time of turbulence in U.S. and world history. Although THE TRAP is a work of fiction it introduces readers to important historical events that every generation should learn about. I recommend that parents also read this book so that they are able to use it as a way to open the lines of communication between their child and themselves. This book offers a chance to instill in the young reader a sense of how history has affected their lives in the present day. It also offers parents a chance to remind their children that it does not matter what color or religion someone is, or what ethnic group they belong to, that we are all just people and that we have more in common then we have differences.Don't misunderstand me. This book is also a great story and readers will be riveted to the pages to find out what happens next to Henry and his friends. It does not have to be a learning tool, that is just an added bonus.RATING:I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Steven Arntson is a writer, musician, and artist, author of the books The Wrap-Up List (Houghton Mifflin, 2013), The Wikkeling (Running Press, 2012) and The Trap (Houghton Mifflin, 2015).He taught English and creative writing for ten years at a local art college before switching to writing full time. He lives in Seattle with his wife, the musician Anne Mathews.To learn more about the author visit http://stevenarntson.com/To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.comFollow me on Twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/Amieroger.