Float (Float #1)

by Laura Martin (Author)

Float (Float #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Float

Emerson can float...he just can't do it very well.

His uncontrollable floating is his RISK factor, which means that he deals with Reoccurring Incidents of the Strange Kind. The last place Emerson wants to be is at a government-mandated summer camp for RISK kids like him, so he's shocked when he actually starts having fun at camp--and he even makes some new friends.

But it's not all canoeing and capture the flag at Camp Outlier. The summer of fun takes a serious turn when Emerson and his friends discover that one of their own is hiding a deadly secret that puts all of their lives in danger.

It's up to the Red Maple boys to save themselves--and everyone like them.

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ALA/Booklist

Martin’s novel feels exactly like summer camp should; the antics of the boys and the friendships they develop will make readers wish they were roasting marshmallows in the woods with their best friends.

Publishers Weekly

In this lighthearted middle grade romp, kids with super powers enjoy a fun-filled summer at a camp designed to accommodate their special needs. Twelve-year-old Emerson's ability to float marks him as a RISK--a reoccurring incident of the strange kind--forced to wear weighted shoes and a vest just to stay on the ground. At Camp Outlier, he's surrounded by people just like him, cursed with powers they can't control, such as the accidentally invisible Hank, the spontaneously combusting Anthony, and the time-traveling Murphy. As members of the Red Maple cabin, they bond through hazing rituals, pranks, and the usual camp-sponsored activities. However, when they discover an unsettling secret involving Murphy's intermittent trips through time, Emerson and the others must find a way to change his fate. While there's an underlying tension involving the unknown tragedy in Murphy's future, the real heart of the story is in the idyllic satisfaction Emerson feels as he makes friends and lives life to the fullest, eschewing electronic devices for adventures in the great outdoors. Drawing from her father's stories of childhood escapades, Martin (Code Name Flood) conjures a sense of wonder and whimsy, even as she reminds readers that her characters' powers are as much a blessing as they are a curse. Ages 8-12. (May)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--Emerson floats. Unfortunately, he has almost no control over his floating, which makes it a Reoccurring Incidents of the Strange Kind (RISK) factor. He and other kids like him are sent to Camp Outlier where the government can keep a close eye on them. It's a motley crew in Emerson's cabin: Gary is sticky, Hank can't control his invisibility, Zeke has sporadic X-ray vision, and Anthony is a human torch. For once in his life, Emerson feels like he finally fits in. With lots of action, great dialogue, and plenty of humor, Martin's style and tone are reminiscent of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman. VERDICT With a great premise and solid writing, this should be a popular addition to the middle grade collections.--Jane Hebert, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062803788
Lexile Measure
840
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
July 23, 2019
Series
Float
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV001010 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure | Survival Stories
JUV032170 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | Camping & Outdoor Activities
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Friendship in children
Fantasy
Secrecy
Secrets
Camps
Humorous fiction
Ability
Summer
Ability in children

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