Surviving Minimized

I did not know what to expect when first reading this book. I thought it was your typical juvenile scenario where a 13 year old escapes from his house to have a "trash war" with his friends to later find out that this was more than just a game and he is a little too ambitious while playing that causes chaos for his town. We do not see many novels other than Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, 1984, Ready Player One amongst many others have a setting in the future. This novel took place in 2083 where all that we know about the future is blown out of proportion (literally). Now a simple 'child-like" game becomes life or death. Edge of your seat fun that will not make you quit reading.

Thank you Netgalley and River Grove Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will consider this title for the YFiction library collection. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Surviving Minimized is a fun, descriptive story — and one my middle school students would have loved. Creative science fiction that works as a fine adventure.

This dystopian book about 2083 and a colony of miniature people is a wonderful lesson in bravery and resolution. Zert, our 13-year-old hero starts out as regular size (a Big) and lives alone with his father. Their surroundings are deteriorating and when Zert gets arrested and exposed to superpox in the same night, his father searches for a way to keep them together. They find out about the Rosie Project and use their savings to pay for the expenses to minimize and transport themselves to Rocky Mountain National Park. When they arrive they are the size of a thumb. Imagine exploring the park and surviving under those circumstances. They are given the opportunity to join a colony on a temporary basis, but have to earn the acceptance of the other residents. Zert is not happy about all of the challenges of their new home and misses all the gadgets from his old life as well as his pets. The other kids have lived in the colony their whole lives and find it difficult to connect with him. The descriptions of their experiences in nature and the adaptations that the colony has made are fascinating and so creative. Worm dogs on acorn buns are a staple and at one point, Zert is delighted to receive a parsley marshmallow as a treat from a neighbor. They use a padded soup can as a toy on their playground and a turtle shell for a hot tub. I hope more people will discover this book. It is so worth reading!

A big thank you to Greenleaf Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. After I read a description I knew I had to read it!

Surviving Minimized is a creative look at what our future society might look like. Plagued by filth in the lower cities and not wealthy enough to move to one of the Up Cities, Zert Cage just wants to have fun like other kids his age but when having a little fun gets him into some serious trouble with the law, his father does the only thing he can do to save his son from a long prison sentence, he has them both minimized. Zert now has to figure out his new world and how to fit in with kids that don't know what it is like to be BIG. Will Zert and his father be able to convince the residents of Paradise to allow them to stay? Or will they have to set out to find a new community to live in? Great read for Middle Grade students. I found this book both interesting and easy to read and was refreshed to not have to read a lot of profanity in a middle grade book. I will recommend this book to my 6th grade daughter to read. Great storyline and pacing, It made me want to keep reading and I finished this book in two days.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Surviving Minimized. I'm a middle school librarian and I can't wait for my students to read this book. It has everything that kids that age love - action, adventure, gross disease and survival in a new world. Zert (short for Bezert) lives in a future United States that has been ruined by pollution and nuclear war. A plague of small pox is wiping out the people that still live on earth and not in the higher levels populated by the wealthy. He has a miniature wolf and a mutant rat for pets and a friend who tends to get Zert in trouble. When their game goes too far and Zert is in danger of jail time, Zert's father makes the decision to participate in a Minimize program. The program is designed to shrink people to a smaller size and allow them to populate the remaining National Parks. Zert, of course, does not want to leave his old life and the memories of his mother behind, but its the only viable solution. What follows is an adventure involving bug farming, school held in an old plastic bottle and Zert's struggle to leave his old life behind and become part of a new society.

Andrea White crafts a wonderful tale of a teen-aged boy forced to leave all he holds dear and be the new, different kid, trying to fit in. It takes a while for him to settle in, and for his dad Jack too - especially after they find out their entry into the program wasn't all it seemed. Middle school children will enjoy this book - its funny, fun and exciting. I enjoyed it as well and appreciated the study guide and author interview at the end. This would be an excellent book for a group read or a book club.

Set in the future in a world much different that ours today Zert Cage gets in trouble with his friend and is forced to start a new way of life. He moves into a new community and starts a new life, He has to be accepted into this new community with his father or they will have to fight for their lives on their own.

Wonderful YA story.
In a dystopian future, a boy and his father have to make a choice with endless, albeit miniaturized, consequences. Only 4 out of 5 stars because it felt like the author spent a lot of time immersed in this whole story, but didnt bother to bring the readers along for the ride. We enter the world and then come through the other side. Left me scratching my head at times.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this eBook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This middle-grade novel has elements of dystopian futures, teenage angst, friendship and bullying, mystery, adventure, betrayal, grief, and a touch of romance. The problem is, it's not quite completely pulled together. By trying to include so many elements, there's just not quite enough time to really explore anything in depth. I was initially pulled in by the idea of people getting shrunk and having to survive in the wild. (Yes, I read the Borrower's as a kid and loved it!) The parts of the book where Zert faces danger through encounters with roaches, spiders, and beetles are the best part - you can really sense the danger. The part where he just gives in and eats these same bugs with barely a second thought were just too glossed over for me to find them realistic.

The characters developed in believable ways - although I struggled with how quickly they moved, it seemed unrealistic to me. The ending was a bit abrupt (especially the big secret twist, part of which I saw coming and part of which I did not). Things are definitely set up for a sequel, but there was an ending; it was not a cliffhanger. Recommended for middle grade readers who enjoy adventure and dystopian stories.