Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Firebreak by Jennifer Phillips - Available

Firebreak

by Jennifer Phillips
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Read a sample Read a sample
1 of 1 copy available
High school junior Alia is good at sports but struggles with schoolwork, hindered by her learning disabilities. The latest history assignment on genocide is just more homework to be endured. That's until a troubling conversation with her beloved grandmother reluctantly jolts Alia into action. Between the country's shifting mood toward the elderly and new government programs championed as practical ways to deal with a burgeoning elderly population, Alia fears that senior citizens are being targeted for something more ominous. To rally others and challenge the growing oppression, Alia will need to step up and speak out. But people tend to doubt Alia due to her learning difficulties. Can she get people to listen to her? More importantly, can she believe in herself? Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and themes that are relevant for high school students, Horizon's Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for teen reluctant readers. Horizon books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 14 and up.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Horizon

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 1, 2024

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781631638428

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781631638428
      • File size: 1006 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      June 1, 2024
      A high school junior finds her voice when her grandmother's personal freedoms are challenged. Alia is a nationally ranked tennis player whose learning disabilities make academics hard. But when her world history class begins studying the warning signs of genocides, Oma, her German immigrant grandmother, encourages Alia to look closely at what's happening around the country. Recently, the government has begun closely monitoring citizens 80 years and older; those who get a poor Senior Situation Score are moved into assigned housing, the argument being that the senior population is depleting funds targeted for other things. Attacks on elderly people are on the rise. Alia attends an activist meeting with Oma, and as she learns more about what's happening and starts to gain confidence in her leadership abilities, she encourages her friends to get involved. Alia and Oma are interviewed on news shows and are subjected to harassment by groups advocating for government oversight of older people. But as the teens' local efforts gain momentum, a local congressman goes on record supporting senior citizens' rights, signaling a shift in public opinion. The short chapters and spare text will pull reluctant readers in, and the realistic portrayal of grassroots activism will keep them reading this well-told story. Most characters are cued white; Alia's close friend Jonah is a member of an unspecified Native American tribe. A timely tale with real-world connections to the power of speaking out against injustice. (Fiction. 12-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading