Seconds Away by Harlan Coban
ISBN: 978-0-399-25651-6
Coban, Harlan. (2012). Seconds away. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Plot Summary
Mickey Bolitar, budding sleuth, has a dead father and a mentally ill hospitalized mother. Mickey lives with his uncle Myron in his father’s hometown. With his new friends Ema and Spoon, Mickey finds himself in the middle of a new mystery—who shot Rachel, the hot popular girl, and who murdered Rachel’s mother? Meanwhile, the mysterious Bat Lady, supposed leader of the Abeona Shelter, tells Mickey his father is not dead, but not to tell Myron. She also shows Mickey a picture of The Butcher of Lodz, the man who killed her family during the Holocaust. Surprisingly, this man looks exactly the same as the paramedic who told Mickey his father was gone. Coincidence? The chief of police also hates Myron and Mickey, and seems to enjoy arresting Mickey. This is enough for anyone, but Mickey is also trying to make the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, and the team captain is the chief of police’s son. Mickey also resents his uncle for past mistakes, and is not sure who to trust or turn to.
Critical Evaluation
Mickey and his friends are sophomores in high school, yet often display more intelligence and bravery than most fifteen-year-olds. They speak well, solve mysteries, and find themselves in dangerous situations many do not encounter in a lifetime. One wonders why the adults in their lives do not do more to keep them at home, or provide more supervision. The teens are allowed far too much independence. Fortunately, their intelligence, lucky breaks, and being on the 'good side' are enough to keep them out of the worst of trouble. Other plot lines are equally implausible, Ema’s mother is a famous actress, Mickey’s parents were involved in a secret organization, and all three teens are now also involved with the secret organization. Despite these faults, the novel is fast-paced, exciting, and well-executed. The friendships between Ema, Spoon, and Mickey are healthy and worthwhile. Mickey and his uncle Myron have a difficult relationship that is handled with care and realism. They do not have a perfect uncle/nephew relationship, which is appreciated because relationships are not easy. There are also typical high school trials and tribulations with bullies, teachers, and basketball tryouts. Multiple plot threads are seamlessly interwoven by an expert Coban. In the end, readers will leave with more questions than they started with, and hope a few more will be answered in the next installment.
Reader’s Annotation
After their friend Rachel is shot and her mother murdered, Mickey and his friends decide they must find the shooter. Meanwhile, Mickey is dealing with Bat Lady’s declaration that his father may still be alive.
About the Author
Harlan Coben is the bestselling author of twenty-four novels published in 41 languages. He is best-known for his series on Myron Bolitar, a former basketball player turned sports agent turned murder investigator. Coben also writes non-serialized novels when he feels Myron will not contribute to the plot. In 2011, Coben decided to try young adult fiction and wrote Shelter, a new mystery suspense series about Mickey Bolitar, Myron’s high school age nephew. Coben has been nominated and has won numerous awards including the Edgar Allen Poe Award, Anthony Award, Shamus Award, and Dilys Award.
Harlan Coben was born in New Jersey, the setting of the Mickey Bolitar novels, to a Jewish family. He attended Amherst College and was a political science major. After graduation Coben worked in the travel industry before turning to writing. He is married to a pediatrician and has four children.
Genre
Mystery/Suspense
Curriculum Ties
Holocaust
Booktalking
What would you do if your friend had been shot, solve the mystery?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include teenagers repeatedly ignoring adult authority and putting themselves, and others, in grave danger. Teenagers also engage in illegal actions such as trespassing and breaking and entering.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I read the first Mickey Bolitar book two years ago and have been waiting for the new one!
Others in the Series
Shelter (Book #1)
References
Coban, H. (2013). About the author. Retrieved from http://www.harlancoben.com/bio/
ISBN: 978-0-399-25651-6
Coban, Harlan. (2012). Seconds away. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Plot Summary
Mickey Bolitar, budding sleuth, has a dead father and a mentally ill hospitalized mother. Mickey lives with his uncle Myron in his father’s hometown. With his new friends Ema and Spoon, Mickey finds himself in the middle of a new mystery—who shot Rachel, the hot popular girl, and who murdered Rachel’s mother? Meanwhile, the mysterious Bat Lady, supposed leader of the Abeona Shelter, tells Mickey his father is not dead, but not to tell Myron. She also shows Mickey a picture of The Butcher of Lodz, the man who killed her family during the Holocaust. Surprisingly, this man looks exactly the same as the paramedic who told Mickey his father was gone. Coincidence? The chief of police also hates Myron and Mickey, and seems to enjoy arresting Mickey. This is enough for anyone, but Mickey is also trying to make the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, and the team captain is the chief of police’s son. Mickey also resents his uncle for past mistakes, and is not sure who to trust or turn to.
Critical Evaluation
Mickey and his friends are sophomores in high school, yet often display more intelligence and bravery than most fifteen-year-olds. They speak well, solve mysteries, and find themselves in dangerous situations many do not encounter in a lifetime. One wonders why the adults in their lives do not do more to keep them at home, or provide more supervision. The teens are allowed far too much independence. Fortunately, their intelligence, lucky breaks, and being on the 'good side' are enough to keep them out of the worst of trouble. Other plot lines are equally implausible, Ema’s mother is a famous actress, Mickey’s parents were involved in a secret organization, and all three teens are now also involved with the secret organization. Despite these faults, the novel is fast-paced, exciting, and well-executed. The friendships between Ema, Spoon, and Mickey are healthy and worthwhile. Mickey and his uncle Myron have a difficult relationship that is handled with care and realism. They do not have a perfect uncle/nephew relationship, which is appreciated because relationships are not easy. There are also typical high school trials and tribulations with bullies, teachers, and basketball tryouts. Multiple plot threads are seamlessly interwoven by an expert Coban. In the end, readers will leave with more questions than they started with, and hope a few more will be answered in the next installment.
Reader’s Annotation
After their friend Rachel is shot and her mother murdered, Mickey and his friends decide they must find the shooter. Meanwhile, Mickey is dealing with Bat Lady’s declaration that his father may still be alive.
About the Author
Harlan Coben is the bestselling author of twenty-four novels published in 41 languages. He is best-known for his series on Myron Bolitar, a former basketball player turned sports agent turned murder investigator. Coben also writes non-serialized novels when he feels Myron will not contribute to the plot. In 2011, Coben decided to try young adult fiction and wrote Shelter, a new mystery suspense series about Mickey Bolitar, Myron’s high school age nephew. Coben has been nominated and has won numerous awards including the Edgar Allen Poe Award, Anthony Award, Shamus Award, and Dilys Award.
Harlan Coben was born in New Jersey, the setting of the Mickey Bolitar novels, to a Jewish family. He attended Amherst College and was a political science major. After graduation Coben worked in the travel industry before turning to writing. He is married to a pediatrician and has four children.
Genre
Mystery/Suspense
Curriculum Ties
Holocaust
Booktalking
What would you do if your friend had been shot, solve the mystery?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include teenagers repeatedly ignoring adult authority and putting themselves, and others, in grave danger. Teenagers also engage in illegal actions such as trespassing and breaking and entering.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I read the first Mickey Bolitar book two years ago and have been waiting for the new one!
Others in the Series
Shelter (Book #1)
References
Coban, H. (2013). About the author. Retrieved from http://www.harlancoben.com/bio/
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