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Created page with "{{infobox |title=Aftershock (Shades 2.0) |author=Jill Atkins |reviewer=Sue Magee |genre=Teens |summary=Aimed at the reluctant teen reader, this is a good story which should en..."
{{infobox
|title=Aftershock (Shades 2.0)
|author=Jill Atkins
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Teens
|summary=Aimed at the reluctant teen reader, this is a good story which should encourage the eading habit.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=64
|publisher=Ransom Publishing
|date=August 2014
|isbn=978-1781276297
|website=
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781276293</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1781276293</amazonus>
}}

She's MADDY, you know, not MADELEINE, but that's only one of the problems which she has with her parents. They might be on holiday in one of the most beautiful places on earth, but her mother simply will not lighten up. She's always complaining about what Maddy does, what she wears or doesn't wear (there's not ''nearly'' enough of that bikini...) and Maddy has had enough. She slams out of their bungalow and goes down to the beach - but it's not long before the sea is all sucked away and tragedy hits. Will Maddy have the chance to apologise for all the hurtful things which she said?

The precise location of the family holiday is never stated, but we can probably guess that it's Thailand - or thereabouts - and the year is 2004. Jill Atkins does an excellent job of contrasting the peace and tranquility of the resort before the tsunami struck with the devastation and horror of the aftermath. Maddy is caught up in the water and there's a real sense of her fear and conviction that she was going to drown. Even when she escapes from the water she has no idea how she will find her family - or find out what has happened to them.

It's a short book, with a mere fifty seven pages devoted to the story and it's designed to appeal to the reluctant teen reader. Unfortunately there's no indication of this on the cover of the book (a peel-off sticker would be excellent) and I worry that it simply won't find its way to the young people who could really benefit from it. It's a good story based around an event which teens will know about and Maddy's behaviour and attitudes (they will understand how her parents make her suffer...) will not be unknown to them. The book will appeal to reluctant readers too - good clear font, double spaced to make reading easy and slightly off-white pages which cut out any glare.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

This book will probably appeal most to girls, but there are books in the same series aimed at boys. We can recommend [[Death on Toast (Shades 2.0) by John Townsend]]. Girls looking for something similar will probably enjoy [[Shadow Girl by Sally Nicholls]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1781276293}}

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