Book Review: Scrap City

Book: Scrap City by D.S. Thornton

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

This adventurous story centers around 11 years old Jerome Barnes who lives in Shoney Flats, TX with his father Jim. He is also still dealing with the mysterious death of his mother and younger brother Max.

Jerome really just wants to be left alone but his friend Cici Delgado is a huge pest. If she's not pestering him with stuff she always showing him from the Historical Society that her aunt runs (even if he does find it interesting, he's just not going to tell her) or about her Pinawa/Native American heritage (another thing he finds interesting but he's still not going to tell her), then she's just being a total annoyance about everything else.

When Jerome accompanied his father and uncle Nicholas "Nicky" Barnes to the local junkyard he thought it was going to be another boring real estate meeting but he found something rather extraordinary instead. His father and uncle had been hired by Mr. Kilman, a developer who wanted the land that was owned by old man William "Wild Willy" Videlbeck to build a mall for the struggling town. However, Wild Willy wasn't open to any negotiations because he wasn't going to sell his land to anyone.

Meanwhile, as the adults talked, Jerome wandered around the junkyard but he was completely taken by surprise when he met a metal boy named Arcticus "Arkie" Oscillo. Arkie was made from all kinds of old stuff but the main thing that stuck with Jerome was that Arkie was alive.

Meeting Arkie was an unbelievable experience but it happened so quick he nearly didn't believe it even happened. It wasn't until he went back to the junkyard the next day that he not only found out even more about Arkie who said he was a scrapper but also visited Smithytowne, the underground city were Arkie and the other scrappers live.

Jerome couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Smithytowne, it was just like Shoney Flats from buildings to buses and people doing everything they usually do except that everything and everyone was made from old stuff. His visit would have been enough of a surprise to the townspeople but instead it was Jerome and Arkie's discovery of oil in the tunnel that became more of a pressing issue.

What did the presence of oil mean and why did it make everyone so afraid?

This story has Jerome finding out that there was more going on than a simple business deal. If Mr. Kilman gets the land it could bring about the end of Smithytowne. He's torn because the town really needs the business but he doesn't want anything to happen to his new friends.

I like that this fast-paced story had a lot of layers and a lot of discoveries, as Jerome, Arkie and Cici try to do everything they can to save both Willy's junkyard and Smithytowne. Also in trying to save Smithytowne, Jerome found some closure for the death of his mom and brother. This is a good story about friendship and family and trying to do what is right. There were a few moments that could be a little heavy such as with Jerome's feelings about his mother and brother and what happened to them.

I love that the author provided a very good historical backstory for both Shoney Flats and Smithytowne and surprisingly how much they coincide. I also like the recycling/environmental aspect of the book. It's always great to find a book that not only kick starts my imagination but is also a good read.