Middle School

As the son of the world’s most famous tech billionaire, Jett Baranov has always gotten exactly what he wanted. So, when his father’s private jet drops him in the middle of Little Rock, Arkansas, at a wellness camp called the Oasis, Jett can’t believe it. He’s forced to hand over his cell phone, eat grainy veggie patties, and participate in wholesome activities with the other kids.
At the Oasis, he meets Grace, who is his polar opposite. She thrives in the wellness atmosphere and resents Jett’s terrible attitude. Then there’s Tyrell, who suffers from a dizzying list of food allergies that render him constantly itchy. And also, Brooklynne, a girl who definitely seems to be hiding something.
As the weeks go on, Jett gets used to the unplugged life and even bonds with the other kids over their discovery of a baby lizard-turned-pet, Needles. But he can’t help noticing that the adults at the Oasis are acting really strange . . .
Jett is determined to get to the bottom of things, but can he convince the other kids that he is no longer just a spoiled brat making trouble?

Jett is a typical spoiled rich kid. He thrives on causing chaos and has never had to face any real-life consequences because his tech billionaire father has always cleaned up his messes. Jett’s constant whining and attitude made me want to kick him. But at least by the end, he’s gone through some character growth. Whereas Grace was annoying throughout the entire book. This girl was way too into the Oasis and too easily irritable when it came to anyone’s negative views of the Oasis.

I like the setting of the Oasis, a mind and body wellness center where you have no access to electronics, eat a healthy vegetarian diet and meditate. This place does seem nice, but the Oasis’s philosophy seemed a little borderline cult-like. The Oasis’s philosophy is talked about so much that it stopped meaning anything after a certain point.

I did agree with what the Oasis was trying to accomplish. I probably could benefit from unplugging. I’m constantly staring at a screen, whether a computer, iPad or iPhone. But unplugging from technology is kind of hard when you use a computer to do your job.

I don’t think I’d be able to handle an all-vegetarian diet. I don’t absolutely love meat, but I’m a picky eater, so I can’t really afford to cut anything out of my diet. A vegetarian diet is indeed good for you and the environment, but you shouldn’t shame others for eating meat because it’s their choice to eat meat, just like it’s your choice to not eat meat. Also, if you can’t have the occasional sugary treat every once in a while, life is not worth living.

This story has many mysteries to solve. Why are the adults acting strange? What is Brooklynne hiding? What kind of reptile in Needles? If you’ve read as many books as I have, you’ll probably catch on quicker to what is going on. As few things are more obvious than others. Still, I enjoy any story whereall the seemingly unconnected mysteries tie up together in the end.