Outback

Gr 6—10—Jayden is down and depressed after his girlfriend dumps him, and when a chance comes to go to Australia to visit strange Uncle Mel, he figures, why not? He discovers that his biologist uncle wants to go into the Outback to find a new species of lizards, and the mission seems almost suicidal. Accompanying them is Mel's research assistant, pierced and surly Natalie. All signs point to disaster, and the ultimate happens: the truck catches fire with most of their supplies and belongings in it and leaves them stranded at least 10 days away from civilization with no hope of anyone driving, walking, or flying by. Unfortunately, the plot wraps up a little too neatly and easily, and there's no real romance, drama, or survival smarts happening in the meantime.—Amy Cheney, Alameda County Library, Oakland, CA