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A review by lazygal
The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith
3.0
At first I thought this was going to be like Savvy, but it wasn't: not everyone has the ability to affect the weather (although I'm not sure that an earthquake is a type of weather, but whatever). Usually it's a skill/talent that emerges when the person is in their 20s, but in this case, Simon is only 12 - the youngest StormMaker ever.
The McDuff family has moved to a farm in Wisconsin, where they will make a living off Dad's invention, Mom's painting and a few crops. At least, that's the plan. But there's a drought and neither the painting nor the invention are working well. One day Simon seems to short circuit the toaster... and then a car battery. It turns out that he's a StormMaker, and the focus of Rupert London, the leader of MOSS. London has a plan to use weather to destroy, rather than help; of course there is an opposition in the form of Daisy and Otis.
The questions here are of whom to believe, which side is telling the truth, and how to be loyal to your ideals. Luckily, these teens aren't preternaturally smart and you sense their confusion, making this fantasy feel more real than most. Simon's twin, Ruby, is the narrator of this story, which makes it perfect for both middle grade boys and girls.
ARC provided by publisher.
The McDuff family has moved to a farm in Wisconsin, where they will make a living off Dad's invention, Mom's painting and a few crops. At least, that's the plan. But there's a drought and neither the painting nor the invention are working well. One day Simon seems to short circuit the toaster... and then a car battery. It turns out that he's a StormMaker, and the focus of Rupert London, the leader of MOSS. London has a plan to use weather to destroy, rather than help; of course there is an opposition in the form of Daisy and Otis.
The questions here are of whom to believe, which side is telling the truth, and how to be loyal to your ideals. Luckily, these teens aren't preternaturally smart and you sense their confusion, making this fantasy feel more real than most. Simon's twin, Ruby, is the narrator of this story, which makes it perfect for both middle grade boys and girls.
ARC provided by publisher.