5 kids form an unlikely alliance against an organised swindle fraud at an exclusive wellness camp in the middle of nowhere.

Jett Baranov – son to a tech giant and one of the richest men on Earth, Jett is used to getting anything he wants at the snap of his fingertips. Giving up his phone and other tech when he and his minder are checked into the Oasis Meditation Retreat is just the first insult to his spoilt, rich kid world. He is determined to do everything he can to get chucked out. He is an expert at trouble, officially being given the no.1 spot as most spoilt, reckless, rich-kid after many dangerous and expensive stunts in the past few months.

Grace Atwater -the opposite to Jett, Grace and her parents save up every year to attend the summer holidays wellness camp. Grace adores Ivory, the 6ft 4 meditation pathfinder who guides them into spiritual awareness. The owner and key advisor to a better and whole life is Magnus – who Grace sees as almost holy. Grace enjoys the weeks away from devices, the wholesome, strictly vegetarian diet, the thermal pool, meditation and peace of the retreat.

Tyrell Karrigan – Tyrell is plagued by allergies. Food allergies, dirt, dust, or nervous tension all send him into a scratching frenzy. The Oasis is supposed to help but just make things worse. He’s surprised when the son of a mega-famous tech genius befriends him, wary he is just a distraction not a true friend.

Brooklynne Feldman – The expert on the Oasis after attending since she was 6 years old, Brooklynne knows more about it than she should. Avoiding the activities the other kids are engaged in gives her time to explore the outer edges of the camp. She knows where the keys are for the camp launch, and other handy information for an adventure none of them are expecting. She’s also hiding something from her new friends. Something she’s hidden from all residents since she was 6.

Brandon Bucholz – Brandon is the son of an ex football player and is just about as big. He isn’t any happier than the other children attending with their parents and reluctantly attends the activities. It’s not long before he and Jett clash, and he vows revenge on the smart-mouth rich kid.

It’s a small lizard that unites the first four, but also gives Brandon something over them. Keeping pets at Oasis is against the rules. The lizard, named Needles by Grace who found him, brings out different traits in Jett. So do his new friends. But the friendship is stretched when Jett discovers something so bizarre, no one will believe him, let alone trust anything he says going on his past behaviour.

Unplugged is told in these five points of view. Each character is different, providing an interesting mix of personalities, beliefs, quirks and reactions.

This is pure middle-grade fiction with mystery, danger, new friendships and an inevitable foe all swept up in the mix. The climax is full of action as the tweens clash with the villains of the story.

The personal growth of Jett is a given but plays out gradually and in a plausible arc. Great read.

Author – Gordon Korman

Age – 8+

Click here to read an excerpt from Unplugged.

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(2021, Harper Collins, Healthy, Mindful, Camp, Retreat, Oasis, Spoilt rich kid, Friendships, Courage, Alligators, Personality clash, Trust, Growing up, Action, Reptile, Animals, Fraud, Money, Secret, Mystery)