Trapped by Michael Northrop – A Blizzard, Seven Stranded Students and Teenage Hormones, Book Review
A relentless Tuesday morning snowfall prompts an early dismissal at Tattawa Regional High School in a rural New England town. Seven students (five second-year boys and two first-year girls) waiting to be taken home soon realize that no one is coming to rescue them. When will they meet? How will they persevere? Will they all be found alive? That’s the premise of Caughtwritten by young adult author, Michael Northrop.
Sophomore Scotty Weems recounts the group’s ordeal.
It soon becomes Survival of the Fittest. Students raid their lockers for items to ensure their entrapment, including sweatshirts, gym clothes, and snack packs of Oreos. “Any trading or swapping would be between friends. I guess that’s when we started keeping secrets,” says Scotty.
Two of Scotty’s friends, Pete Dubois and Jason Gillispie, are among those stranded. Scotty describes Pete as a normal sophomore who wasn’t super hip or incredibly smart. Jason spends the limited daylight in the Industrial Arts room working on his go-kart project called, Flamenwerfer (german for flamethrower).
Students endure dead cell phone reception; sleep on cold, hard tile floors; use bathrooms with pipes that will soon freeze; and forty degree corridors.
As their nightmare continues, the clan brazenly decides to break into the cafeteria to satiate their hunger. Among his finds are peaches canned in heavy syrup, pudding, and a half pint of white and chocolate milk.
Scotty is torn between obeying the unseen authority and going along with the group’s plan to rob the cafeteria. He fears the robbery will affect his standing on the school basketball team.
Caught illustrates how people can be perceived differently, depending on the situation. During school hours, Les Goddard, a stranded student, is known as a bully and is often subject to detention. However, he proves invaluable as a locksmith, able to break into desirable areas, including the cafeteria and the nurse’s office. “The day before I was scared to be around Les,” says Scotty.
Ingenuity reigns supreme, as students use blankets from the nurse’s office and a battery-powered radio to listen for weather updates.
Teenage hormones heighten the student experience as Scotty finds himself attracted to freshman Krista O’Rea: “Just that morning, I spent about twenty quality minutes looking at the back of his head on the bus, speechless and possibly drooling.” Pete and Julie Anders, Krista’s best friend, also sneak into the dark to kiss.
Contemporary references to reality star Snooki and singer Lady Gaga complement the young adult narrative.
Yes, Caught It is written for a young audience. Regardless of his age, you’ll find yourself wondering how he would act in similar conditions, perhaps stranded at his workplace or at a civic group meeting.
Northrop’s well-written narrative and surprise ending pay off. Caught’s keys.
To discover other successful young adult authors and read the full list of 2012 Teen Choice Book of the Year nominees, visit: http://www.teenreads.com/2012-teen-choice-book-of-the-year- you nominate
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