Unplugged: A Rollercoaster of Disconnect and Connection
When I first stumbled upon Unplugged by the talented author, Kacey Lee, I was immediately drawn in by its vibrant cover and the intriguing premise of a tech-obsessed kid being tossed into a hippy commune. The thought of a spoiled rich kid, Jett, forced into a tech-free lifestyle in the swampland of Arkansas excited me. I mean, isn’t that a recipe for disaster—and hilarity? Having had my fair share of reading about characters navigating their unique journeys in life, I couldn’t wait to dive into this summer escapade. However, while Kacey Lee’s story set the stage for something refreshing, it ultimately left me feeling a bit… unplugged from actual enjoyment.
The heart of Unplugged revolves around Jett, a 12-year-old, whose life of luxury comes crashing down as he’s sent to the Oasis for the summer under the watchful eye of Matt, one of his father’s employees. The Oasis promises mindfulness, yoga, and a strict no-devices policy—basically a meltdown waiting to happen for our misanthropic protagonist. What follows is a clash of personalities, each equally strong-willed, between Jett and other kids acclimated to the commune’s lifestyle, forming a bond over their shared secret: a little lizard (or baby gator, as I kept insisting it should be called) they feel compelled to care for.
As I navigated through the chapters, however, I found myself grappling with a tidal wave of point-of-view characters. Each one, while they added different facets to the story, shared such similar voices that it was hard to differentiate who was who. Honestly, I often felt like I was in a crowded room of annoying kids and was desperate for them to just calm down and cooperate! The contrast between Jett’s arrogance and the overly enthusiastic children of the Oasis wasn’t as rich as I hoped. I struggled to connect with most of them—Jett’s insufferable spoiled nature made it difficult for me to sympathize, while the other characters seemed either cliché or too flat.
One silver lining I can’t overlook? The cover art—arguably the biggest lure for me—capturing the spirit of the story perfectly. The little lizard, called Needles, emerged as my favorite character. Its unexpected presence in the narrative provided some much-needed humor and warmth amidst the chaos. Although I could have happily skipped some of the POVs, Needles kept me engaged!
Despite my high hopes, Unplugged ultimately settled at a 2-star rating for me. I was left wanting more depth and a stronger emotional core to latch onto. Perhaps I’ve grown out of the target age group, or maybe those who haven’t dealt with the frustrations of today’s bratty youngsters will find more to appreciate. All I know is that this reading experience reminded me of the work educators do to help mold more thoughtful, considerate children.
If you’re a young reader, or if you’ve got a teenager at home who might relate to Jett’s journey (or even the other kids), Unplugged could spark joy. For me, I walked away with mixed feelings but also an understanding that there’s profound strength in the messages about connection—and sometimes, disconnect—is key. So here’s to more explorations, whether they lead us to a tech-free Oasis or not!