Zap!

Gr 5–7—Sixth-grader Luis has an inquisitive mind. He knows that doing well in school might present a way out of his poor neighborhood. Though his parents aren't around much, his older brother Reynaldo looks after him. When the power goes out in his part of the city, Luis strives to be a hero like those found in Greek mythology. As Luis learns just how electricity is generated to power an entire metropolis, he questions the possible causes of the blackout. He and his friend Maura begin to believe that the lights did not go out by a mere accident. When his neighborhood falls into chaos, Luis recognizes that the loss of electricity has far greater repercussions than just not being able to charge his cell phone. Stores close and black markets pop in their place; hospitals run on emergency generators and gas is hard to come by. The police even seem to abandon the city's residents while businesses are looted. The story has all of the heroic elements, including some bad dudes who hunt for Luis at the behest of crooked politicians. The rich STEM themes make this novel noteworthy. The author has done a solid job weaving in science topics as well as current political and social themes, to create a significant story about infrastructure, science, and class relations.