Blackout: Danger in the Dark

Gr 4–6—Science fiction author and game designer Rosenberg introduces the "S.T.E.M. Squad" adventures. Five culturally diverse high school freshmen are specially selected for a science class that meets below a hologram in the school basement. They are led on field trips by an affable but mysterious teacher who often speaks with a chimp sidekick—a former NASA astronaut who "drives" the autonomous school bus. There is also a fervent 18-year-old ROTC teacher's aide. In Blackout, a power outage during an overnight stay at the Museum of Natural History leads to a tour of an alternative energy plant. After several lectures on the history and development of various options, the students return to the museum to assist the energy experts in installing solar panels and a water filtration system for the museum—all in one afternoon. In Flood, the students help sandbag rising waters after intense rains, but a flash flood maroons them, and they must use teamwork to find a resolution. In addition to the heroic ensemble, there are scientists, the teacher's aunt, and many more characters who are barely developed beyond a mention of their physical features. Despite the protagonists being in high school, this series is squarely aimed at elementary school students. The cover art and interior illustrations of the characters depict them more like cherubic fifth graders than teens. Definition blocks for words such as momentum and amphibians are sprinkled throughout, although Blackout has many more technical passages. Each title includes 30 multiple choice comprehension questions, a discussion guide, and annotated lists of STEM professions and STEM tools. There are also lists of Internet resources for added investigation.