Gordon Korman

Unplugged was an interesting book that I ended up having to read with a third grade class while I was subbing for their teacher for a week. It's about a boy named Jett Baranov, whose father happens to be one of the world's richest tech billionaires. Jett is spoiled and used to a very comfortable life, but one day his world is turned upside down, when his private jet drops him in Oasis, a vast wilderness in Arkansas. Not only is Jett mortified by Oasis itself, but he becomes frantic when he realizes he has to hand over his cell phone. It gets even worse when all the luxuries Jett is used to (amazing food), technology, and hanging out with friends in his own socio-economic bracket, become nonexistent. Now, Jett is forced to eat gross food and hang out with kids that he finds "beneath" him. At first, Jett is a complete jerk about everything, but as the story goes on, he starts to realize that he's actually enjoying life "unplugged." He and his new friends also discover a baby lizard, which they all form a cute attachment to. The most interesting - and important - message in this story though, is the fact that when the kids aren't in their devices, they're paying more attention to the world around them. So much so, that Jett begins to realize that the adults in Oasis act incredibly strange, and he can't figure out why. This story teaches kids to literally "unplug" and to explore the world around them. The message is clear and definitely appropriate in today's time.… (mere)