The Big Dark, Rodman Philbrick
The Big Dark, Rodman Philbrick
2 Rating(s)
List: $18.50 | Sale: $12.95
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The Big Dark

Author: Rodman Philbrick

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 3 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/05/2016

Categories: Children's Fiction

Synopsis

In this page-turning adventure by Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick, a solar event knocks out our planet's electricity, and a boy must risk his life to save his sick mother.What would you do if every spark of electricity suddenly vanished, as if somebody had flipped a switch on the entire planet? Cars won't start, the heat shuts off, there's no water in your faucet, and your radio, TV, and flashlight go dark. Everyone in Charlie's small town is baffled. But as time passes, lawlessness erupts and takes an ugly turn. When the market and pharmacy are torched by an anti-Semitic arsonist, Charlie realizes his mother will die without her medicine. So he dons skis and heads off alone, seeking the nearest hospital. After traveling 50 miles through brutal ice and snow, Charlie encounters a burned-out, looted city of terrified citizens. Will he be able to save his mom?Heroic, eloquent, and unforgettable, The Big Dark raises timely questions about responsibility, tolerance, and love.

About Rodman Philbrick

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick has written more than a dozen novels for young readers. In 1993, he published his first children's book, Freak the Mighty, which became an instant classic, and was made into a feature film. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book. Philbrick's other acclaimed novels include Max the Mighty, The Young Man and the Sea, The Last Book in the Universe, Zane and the Hurricane, and Wildfire. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website: rodmanphilbrick.com.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Dean on November 15, 2007

Freak the Mighty is a tear jerking story about two total opposites that become best friends. The 2 main characters, Max and Kevin a.k.a Freak the Mighty lead amazing unpredictable lives, they went on quests and fought dragons. The book is very good, the action really ramps up toward the end leading......more

Goodreads review by Colby on December 23, 2017

When one of my students looks me in the eye and tells me that I HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. You read that book. So glad I did.......more

Goodreads review by Whitney on January 16, 2024

i started this to revisit a book i know i read for 6th or 7th grade english class, expecting to dnf it because of ableism and outdated writing. what i didn't expect was to fly through this in one sitting! and yeah, there was use of the r-slur and bullying toward the main characters, but the friendsh......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on January 15, 2008

This is a fun book, and the kids love it (I teach junior high and cover this book every year). It's the story of an unlikely friendship between a very small boy with health problems and a short life span, and a very large boy whose childhood has been pretty rough. There is a little bit of language t......more

Goodreads review by Mariah Roze on May 24, 2016

As a special education teacher I struggled listening to parts of this book. The language used in this book is inappropriate. Also, they make having a learning disability sound like a bad thing. The book made it seem like your really stupid if you have one. And that is not true. The book did have som......more

Quotes

Praise for The Big Dark



"A riveting, credible, and even inspiring vision of life just after the apocalypse." --Kirkus Reviews



"A fast pace, pulse-pounding premise, and approachable first-person narration." --Booklist



"Philbrick (Zane and the Hurricane) weaves an absorbing tale about the breakdown of contemporary civilization, the return to chaotic vigilante justice, and the strength of kindness and community." -- Publishers Weekly

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