How would you escape?

Escape Room

Written by: Christopher Edge @edgechristopher

Illustrations: David Dean @DoodlesByDavid

Published by: Nosy Crow @NosyCrow

Published on: February 2022

Price: £7.99

First line: This is The Escape.

Genre: Contemporary/Adventure/Eco

Age: 9+

Thanks to my local library for the review copy.

What’s it all about? Ami has been granted a special treat by her dad: the chance to take part in the best escape room experience. Ami loves puzzles, so it’s perfect. At the building, Ami meets some other contestants, and all seems normal, until the first game. Fearfully, they get locked in and barely escape with their lives. This pattern continues as they move from room to room. Will they be able to escape the ultimate Escape Room before it’s too late.

Why should I read it? It’s a little tough to explain this without giving it away. This is one of those stories where the twist is so large, it defines the book, and consequently, you just have to read it. Merging together the modern excitement for escape rooms and a contemporary look at what is happening in the world as a whole, this story contains a strong and powerful message. Even though the story does follow a typical room-by-room storyline, it still feels free and exciting, with gradual build ups and exciting twists in the narrative. The characters are fully rounded and compliment each other in different ways. The room’s mysteries (each quite unique; they range from a large library, to a room full of junk computer parts to a spaceship control room) are difficult to solve until each character discovers a bit more, leading to the ultimate ending. In many ways they remind me of an Agatha Christie novel, where you are enlightened gradually with little clues within the locked room, but not really enough to solve the problem until the character does themselves. Perhaps in some ways, the reader does need a little more to go on, without just waiting for the character to give them a lifeline. Having not read a Christopher Edge book since Space Oddity in 2021, it was interesting to come back to this author. Having reqd my review of that book again, it seems that he definitley has a clear, distinct style. He always writes with great warmth and a deep felt message. The characters are easy to connect with whoever the audience is. Each chapter is of a good, short length, and there is a great balance between dialogue and description. There also seems to be a theme of dads and their children.