Flash Flood is the first book I have read by Gabrielle Prendergast. It was a super quick read for myself as it is a teen/YA level 1.5. This book is designed for new readers or help your kid with reading. With smaller sentences and chapters it will help readers stay focused on the story and have a feeling of accomplishment when they get through another chapter. This story follows to young boys in foster care as there is a flash flood happening. It is a great story about Zach who has been in foster care for awhile, he is understanding what Peter is going through and learning to help his younger foster brother along his journey. The only downside I found was the ending. I felt it could have been a little more polished but it was overall still a great story and a nice little read.

A short story about two teenage boys in foster care, one is settled (Zack) and the other has recently arrived (Peter) The elder one seems himself in his younger foster brother but he also sees the pain it puts their foster parents through. One night Peter walks out and no one can find or contact him, panicked the parents head out to search for him as Zack stays home in case he comes back. Tragedy strikes at the worst time, both parents are still out looking as Peter comes home to Zack and they immediately have to leave due to the flooding. A short journey of what it’s like to be a foster child as well as someone with adhd and other issues mentioned, and the bond it creates between these two boys fighting to get to safety and back to their parents

Tense and heartwarming story! A lot packed into the few pages, but it still read like a full-fledged novel..

Flash Flood is set to release August 13, 2024. Very was a fast intense read. We follow Zack foster teenage boy who finds himself carrying for his foster brother Peter. Zack is a very observant and carrying young man who has been dealt a crappy hand. Zack has ADHD and is medicated and cared for by his foster parents soon after Peter joins the family. Zack is quick to take him under his wing as they find themselves in a Flash Flood.

This book was such a short book but packed with such great messages. Being as this story was so short I rather enjoyed it and the writing. I easily could have spent more time in this book. Sad circumstance but also a very heartwarming story about humanity. We choose the impact we have on one another and I loved seeing Zack’s concern for Peter (his now brother). Eager to learn more about Peter in a helpful way, not in a ‘I want to change you way’. We see a found family come together as a brotherhood grows. With the hardship of our circumstance we are a product of our decisions. Zack is eager to help Peter and be there to support him but also room to help him learn. Both boys are foster children with their own neurodivergent dynamics. Beautiful story about relying on one another and joining one another in this life.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orca Book Publishers and Gabrielle Prendergest for this digital ARC copy of Flash Flood by Gabrielle Predergest

Short, quick read. Good storyline if the author went further. Terrible ending due to that fact.
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Flash Flood is a fast paced book about two teens in foster care! While dealing with family bonding and hard pasts, these boys face a hurricane that threatens. They must come together and forge ahead. I really enjoyed this book. It demonstrates potential feelings of teens in foster care well. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

YouTube review to come: 04/10/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

This book is good. A short story about foster brothers who are in a flash flood. How they experienced the flood, what happened who they met when trying to get to safety. I just wish there was more because I hated the ending. It needs more. For this book,more is better. Good story though.

I received a free copy of the book and is volunteer voluntarily writing a review

Zack has been with his foster carers, the Tates, for three years and has finally settled in. Peter has been with them for three months and, one night, decides to run away and try to get back to his parents. The Tates go out to look for him and Zack waits at home, when a mandatory flood evacuation order is issued and things start to get a lot more serious.

This is a very short novel and I can absolutely see how it would appeal to less keen readers. There isn't a word wasted and the story maintains a good pace throughout but without feeling rushed. The characters all felt real and responded to events pretty much exactly as I'd expect in real life, which was refreshing as this isn't often the case in fiction.

Flash Flood
By: Gabrielle Prendergast

Do you have a new reader at home who may just be starting on their literature journey but are hesitant? This may be the book for them! It's sure to catch readers' attention when a flash flood leaves 17 year old Zack and his younger foster brother stranded at home. Then it’s up to Zack to make sure they survive. It is an easy read for many reasons, the first being the ease of reading.

The text is larger than normal and spaced out for ease of reading. Personally, with dyslexia I found myself zooming through it. The larger font means the pages fit fewer words, perfect for someone looking for that sense of accomplishment when achieving a chapter. There is also not a lot of complex punctuation, perfect for those beginner readers or young adults! Even the plot is helpful.

It crafts up a survival situation, and each dilemma is directly dealt with. This means readers won't have to read multiple chapters to see. It fluently keeps the characters moving! A short tale featuring found-family, the importance of preparation in natural disasters, and responsibility.
I would recommend this book potentially for middle school readers! A perfect story to inspire them to keep learning and the joys of it. In that mindset, I give it 4/5 stars, I personally would have preferred a more lengthy ending into the characters' situation. However, the situation was wrapped up and was a heartwarming story.

Flash Flood is about Zach, a teenager in foster care who is suddenly having to look after his foster brother Peter alone when their street and home floods. Zach and Peter both have disabilities that mean things aren't so easy for them, and the high-stress situations that happen to them within the book certainly don't help.

This fast-paced book uses very simple language, which is suited more towards middle-grade or readers who prefer easier books. It's a gripping book that doesn't linger too long on each problem that comes up, but keeps moving the overall plot along. It also has good basic information about ADHD and other disabilities that the characters have.