The Flicker

The book was damaged. The cover has been 1/3 ripped off.

The Flicker is a darker novel with elements of hope throughout.Author H.E. Edgmon’s characters are what pushes this story forward. Mille and Rose are well realized, as are the group that they join forces with.Edgmon’s straight-forward approach has many merits, but pacing sometimes gets lost along the way.The Flicker is a post-apocalyptic middle-grade novel that packs a punch. And as far as the post-apocalyptic elements — death, violence, starvation — go, it’s pretty brutal. Because of this, I’d suggest ages 10 and up, rather than the publisher’s suggested 8 and up.

There's quite a difficult line to find where a middle reader book tells a smart, stunning story without talking down to the age group. The Flicker accepts that challenge and excels at creating a story that allows middlegrade readers to be challenged with themes, style, and a great narrative.Millie and Rose are living in a post-apocalyptic world without their parents. Their survival is solely depending on their ability to find supplies, defend themselves, and network with other survivors. They have to find as normal as a life they can while dodging the shady and evil Hive corporation.The characters of this story are what really brings it to life. Most readers will find a way to relate to the POVs the story provides.

3.5 starsOne year ago, the Earth was scorched by the sun which destroyed life as we know it. With their parents gone, Millie and Rose have to figure out how to survive. Since they're running low on supplies, they decide to leave home to fine Millie's grandma. What they don't expect is to run into a group of fellow survivors that offer to help. All while trying to dodge The Hive, an evil corporation that has taken over at the end of the world. As they journey together, Millie and Rose realize that they need to rely on each other more than ever.I've loved Edgmon's YA books, so I was excited to jump into their middle grade debut. Especially when it comes to a post-apocalyptic story. I feel like we don't see a lot of those in middle grade, so I'm glade that it's crossed over.The strongest aspect of this book is definitely its characters. We get to flip between Millie and Rose's point of view, seeing how they both view the world they've found themselves in. We also get to see how they both grow closer to each other, realizing that they really need each other. But their journey also shows them that they can welcome others into the fold, too. Others that also help them to realize parts of their identity that they didn't know before.While I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot, the general pacing felt a little off to me. The ending felt like it wrapped up a little too quickly, even for a middle grade book. Expanding the ending a little would have helped in making the story itself feel more complete.All in all, not a bad middle grade debut for Edgmon! I think their writing style might be better suited to YA, though.

This is a lovely, character-driven novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. Tender and emotional, with an array of diverse characters. This book touches on a number of deep topics: gender identity, Indigenous culture, and the corrupting influence of power and greed. It also addresses the burden of being a caregiver—the pressure, the burnout, and the desire to take a break and do nothing (even when it is an impossible wish).Still, amidst all the struggles for survival there are some tender reminders of humanity's capacity for kindness. There are strong themes of found family and community, nods towards the caregivers of the planet, and opportunities to define the new “normal” when it comes to gender rules/roles.I was in tears by the end.