The Rule of Three
Gr 7 Up—Adam, 16, is helping his friend Todd work on a computer project at school when everything shuts down. At first, it seems like a run-of-the-mill blackout, but then they notice that anything with a computer has been affected. Luckily, Adam drives a '79 Omega and therefore is able to travel around town. Things are a bit tougher than usual, but everyone is hopeful that things will get back to normal soon. Adam's neighbor Herb, a retired and secretive government paper pusher, is helpful as the situation unravels but is also aware that things may never be the same again. Between Herb's inside knowledge and Adam's mother being police captain, a lot of the truth about what is going on is revealed to Adam. This story shows what happens to people and society when everyday rules go out the window and everyone is struggling to survive. Some of the characters lack depth, but Adam is a relatable protagonist. The story tends to drag at times as the main action doesn't occur until the very end, but key moments will propel readers forward. Rule of Three maintains a realistic and frightening look at what happens when technology is lost and modern society begins to fall apart.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY