Customer Reviews

Runaway Storm

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nathan is a runaway even though life isn't too terrible

for him. He has parents

who care, but when their separation drives Nathan's heart

apart, he decides to

steal his father's kayak to fulfill his life dream. He

kayaks day and night, battling

rough storms and violent drug smugglers; meeting runaway

friends along the

way. Danger lurks in every corner in the uncharted string

of islands off of San

Juan, and the need for food, water, and safety is vital at

this desperate point in

Nathan's life. Can he save himself and the Goth girl who

saved his life? Or will he

die trying?

I was very enthralled with Runaway Storm by D.E.

Knobbe. It was very good,

an easy read, although it was more of a leisurely read

than an edge-of-your-

seat thriller. I would recommend this book to any

teenager who would like an

informative and highly likable plot. Runaway Storm

includes very good detail

and action scenes that portray very believable scenarios.

At the end of the book I

was gripped with suspense and worry, tensions ran high - I

loved the elaborate

detail, and was pleasantly surprised.

NOTE: This book contains large amounts of swearing and graphic

situations.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer

Flamingnet Book Reviews

Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

Exciting, interesting, fast-paced, not too difficult or stressful--okay to read before bed. Perfect for the reluctant reader as well as the voracious one.

In the first book of the Runaway series, author D.E. Knobbe introduces us to an almost fifteen year-old boy named Nate. He's a troubled kid who's having problems adjusting to his parents split and the recent move to New York.

Nate decides he needs a break from his life and comes up with the prefect scheme. He's going to go kayaking by himself. He tells his mother that his dad wants him to fly to Vancouver while she is away in Paris. He forgot to mention that his dad is on a business trip.

He is quickly on his way to Vancouver with two hundred dollars in cash and his mother's credit card. When he arrives at his father's place, he finds his birthday present - a brand new, yellow Kayak. Two of his friends, Mike and Eric, helps Nate buy supplies and help him get to Galiano Island.

Nate launches his Kayak into the waters unaware of the adventures and dangers ahead of him. From drug dealers, to runaways and even a goth girl, this is a journey Nate will never forget.

"Runaway Storm" is an exciting coming to age story. Male readers will easily connect with Nate and relate to some of the problems he faces. I will warn you that there is some mild language in this book. Overall, I enjoyed reading "Runaway Strom" and will look forward to the second installment in the series.

With his parents recently split and finding NY a tough adjustment, Nate decides to take his fifteenth summer into his own hands. With each parent assuming he's in good hands with the other, he flies to CA and with his birthday kayak heads to Galiano Island off Canada. What seemed like an easy trip is filled with unexpected danger and pitfalls. Will Nate drown, starve, or be arrested? Will the foster runaways he encounters be discovered because of him? Who is the Goth girl he meets? And how will he handle the drug smugglers who land on the same small isle where he's camped? A real page turner with the plus of learning a bit about kayaking, how to catch salmon and crabs, and the value of thinking ahead. The Nate who left NY out of shape and not as confident as he wants to believe isn't the same kid after his Pacific Northwest adventure. Believable characters, setting, and action in this first novel. I was an early reader on this book and the finished novel does not disappoint.

Nate is misplaced and neglected in New York. With his parents' help, he travels to Canada. But that is only part A of his plan. Part B is a kayak trip where he steals his own birthday present. Nates's adventure brings him in contact with other runaways, a goth/artist girl, smugglers, and the coast guard. It is a tale containing danger, soul searching, and growth. The details are authentic, the characters believable.

In `Runaway Storm' by D.E. Knobbe, you're swept along on an exhilarating adventure with Nate who decides to take the fate of his summer into his own hands. Nate, our 17 year old protagonist, has been forced to deal with the misfortune of his parent's separation. Much to his dismay, Nate has been forced to move away from Canada to New York where his mother took a job and a new boyfriend. Nate is looking forward to him and his father spending the summer together on a much anticipated kayak adventure. However, when Nate finds out that his summer plans have been blown out of the water, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

D.E. Knobbe is a wonderful writer. The words flow together in a wonderful sea of perfection. Knobbe really understands and relays adolescence coming of age in `Runaway Storm'.

This book is a page turner that readers of all ages will appreciate. Younger readers will also relate to the feelings portrayed by Nate.

This book screams `rite of passage' as young Nate makes the trip of a lifetime and one that he won't soon forget. He meets many along the way who help him reach maturity and some who are dangerous. He navigates through one of the worst storms of his life, both physically and mentally.

D.E. Knobbe has a winner with her Runaway Series. This was one of the best, most action packed, heartfelt, realistic books that I've read in a long while. I can guarantee that you won't be dissatisfied with this one. Pick up a copy or two for the young adult in your life. I myself anticipate the release of `Runaway Fire'. It can't come out fast enough and once it does hit the shelves, I'll be eagerly waiting in line with my copy.

With his parents getting a divorce, 15-year-old Nate feels abandoned by his parents. Stealing a kayak, he sets off to some sparsely populated islands off the coast of Vancouver to get away from his life.

When he gets there, however, he meets some real runaways who make him feel like a fraud. Fighting to survive, find food, and to have shelter, he and the runaways team together to beat the odds.

Things aren't as hunky-dory as the group would hope, though. When a wild and crazy storm brings peril and cops chasing him, Nate is forced to take shelter on a small, remote island where he meets a Goth girl. When the storm also brings in a crazed drug smuggler who will do anything to protect his stash, things heat up and turn into a life-or-death situation. His only chance at survival depends on how well he can outsmart the enemy.

Can Nate save both himself and the girl?

The book starts off slow, but soon picks up and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters and plot are interesting, and the action in the story is intense. Those who like Gary Paulsen, action, adventure, and survival stories will all enjoy RUNAWAY STORM.

Reviewed by: Kira M

This is a wonderful book. A real coming of age story with twists and turns along the way. It is rich in characters, scenery, and plot. A must read for the summer!

Nate was not a happy camper in more ways than one. His mother was leaving him with him with his father for the summer while she ran off to "do her own thing" in Paris with her newest boyfriend.

The summer had promised fun. Nate's dad had planned a month of kayaking in the Gulf Islands but at the last minute informed Nate he was canceling their plans because he was needed on "urgent business". Nate was furious, commenting to his friend Sam, "Tell me what urgent business could a geologist have?"

As the two sat and talked, Nate decided he was going to go to Vancouver anyway and take that kayaking trip by himself. There was no way his mother would cancel her trip and his dad wouldn't know until he got home. Scrambling to get ready he headed for the garage fir supplies finding much to his surprise he found a beautiful yellow Kayak there. It must have been meant as his birthday present. He was naturally thrilled and had the Kayak, he named Solace, packed for the trip in no time.

With help from friend Mike Watson, he was ready for his adventure. After rigging a contraption to lower the kayak into the water, Nate was off, so far, no one the wiser that he was a minor all on his own.

After kayaking, he stopped at a small island and bought some basics. After some time kayaking Nate met some kids who had no homes and were determined never to go back to foster care. After gaining their trust, they became friends and worked together to keep the camp in good shape and keep out of the watchful eye of the ever wandering Department of Fisheries employees who made routine checks of the area.

As time progressed, all seemed fine until Nate found out that his parents had discovered he was missing. Not wanting to make life harder for his friends because of all the people who were looking for him, Nate decided it was time he left. He slipped into his Kayak and took off heading down river to find a little island or area where he could lie low for awhile.

About the time Nate was thinking things were going to work out, a huge storm appeared and struck with such force that he struggled to keep the Kayak upright and on course. But it rolled and Nate found himself underwater wondering what to do. Then he remembered a maneuver designed to right an upside down Kayak. Despite all his failures at camp practicing, this time Nate got it right and was soon back in the upright position and was searching for a place to settle, rest and think about what to do.

As he began to set up his shelter, he met up with a young girl in a sailboat, sail undone, needing some assistance to make her ship seaworthy. This young girl, dressed all in black, introduced herself to Nate as Kat. They made a trade for help with Nate assisting Kate in putting up her campsite and Nate getting fresh water. It was one that Nate couldn't resist so he took "Goth girl" (a private nickname he gave her because of her appearance) up on her offer.

Suddenly they spied a sailboat. After a few moments, the motor sputtered and died. Those on the ship, Jimmy, Tanya and Stef rowed to shore to ask for assistance. They all agreed that they would help the three stranded the very next day get help. A bit after this, Nate began to get a strange feeling about the three marooned visitors. Between overheard conversation, flags changing, to the boats name and origin had been changed overnight, Nate came to the conclusion that these three were trouble.

What happens next in the story is exciting, thrilling and downright genius on the part of the author. The predicament Kat and Nate are in is fantastic in suspense and the get away of the three only adds a much needed boost of adrenaline to the reader. But as they say, "all good books must come to an end" and luckily for Nate and Kat they are rescued from the island, the coast guard steps in to deal with Jimmy, Stef and Tanya and Kat gets the medical attention she needs.

This is one book I have to be totally honest when I say, I loved it. Although it is meant for a teenage age group it held my attention and it was totally entertaining from first page to last. So much so, that I will be purchasing several copies of it as gifts as well as donating a copy to our local middle school. As for my copy? That will go on a shelf I have that holds books that have touched me in some special way. And this one did just that. Check for yourself and see if it speaks to you or the teen in your life. I would bet it will and it will find a place on your permanent bookshelf as well.

I thought the best character in the story was the Goth girl. I liked how D.E Knobbe described her. Runaway storm had action going on the whole time. It's practically non-stop to the adventures this fifteen year old faces. And in the end, it seems that Nate (main character) has more knowledge on how to handle life then when he started out. I would recommend this book to Young adult readers looking for action and exciting thrills.