SuitabookThis is not a drill
Rebecca McDowell
- Reading
- Because the story combines immediate danger with grief and relationship strain, consider checking in at pauses or after reading. A young reader may prefer to talk about the characters’ responses before moving on.
- Themes
- Two alternating viewpoints: The novel alternates between Emery’s and Jake’s viewpoints as they face the hostage situation and try to work together. The book presents this mainly as information or explanation.
- War, trauma and threat: A soldier who served in Iraq has PTSD and uses deadly force during a custody dispute that leads to a hostage crisis. The soldier’s service in Iraq and PTSD are part of the events leading to the hostage crisis.
- Worth knowing
- The premise includes hostage-taking, a gun-wielding threat and deadly force, alongside bereavement, relationship betrayal and a custody dispute. Consider how a young reader responds to sustained danger and loss.