The Zorki Chronicles.

Lowenburg, Bill.  The Zorki Chronicles.  Amazon  2013  464p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-49227-474-2  hs/adult  Conflict  VG-BN 

Miles is a disenfranchised high-school senior.  On his own most of the time, as his workaholic father travels on business and his mother has passed away, Miles rebels by walking away from sports, even though he excels at baseball.  When that fails to capture his father’s attention, Miles ditches classes and instead fills his time with taking photographs with a vintage Russian camera, the Zorki, that he picked up on eBay.

From this point on, the book becomes a page-turning political thriller.   “Cowgirl” Connie, a woefully under-qualified presidential candidate, wins the election, and the United States is soon fighting a war on multiple fronts while personal liberties are vanishing.  Each chapter features three news headlines that set the time, place, and tone.  It is clearly a world defined by fear, and yet Miles continues to pursue his ideals of respect and integrity while living for his art.  Cognizant that he cannot be an agent for change, Miles instead records the issues with his Zorki.  Inevitably, Miles’ photographs become an issue.

This is a compelling coming-of-age story with a strong, authentic voice.           

Summary: Miles searches for self-identity after walking away from sports.  He finds inspiration through the viewfinder of his camera.

Coming of age-Fiction                                       --Hilary Welliver

The Zorki Chronicles.

Lowenburg, Bill.  The Zorki Chronicles.  Amazon  2013  464p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-4922-7474-2  hs/adult Conflict    VG-BN

Who isn’t attracted to the opening line: “Never let school interfere with your education”?  This line sets the tone for inquisitive, thoughtful teens who are in for a treat as they read about Miles, an intelligent, rule-breaking teen who is abandoned by his single father; his best friend Bird, a walking encyclopedia and math freak; and Katie, NHS president who is living a double life in private.  When Miles completes a “Problems of Democracy” class project, he is interrogated by the FBI because of photos that show him objecting to the president of the United States.  Set in the near future, this book will cause the reader to question how prescient the headlines that start each chapter may be.  What passes as news has degenerated into tabloid headlines with a nugget of chilling “hard news” thrown in.  As Miles becomes a “forced dropout” due to violating school rules, he gets an education from the adults in the community.  Miles dabbles in photography and classic literary works of dissent, from Russian writers of old to current writers.  Can he and his close friends create change through civil disobedience?  The ending of the story brings back the “Crash, Boom, Love” demolition derby from Lowenburg’s previous book, decisions related to an unwanted pregnancy, and the new military draft, and it ponders what the future may hold for Miles and others like him. This novel provides thoughtful reading that seamlessly blends fact, wit, and humor.            

Summary: Miles documents his town, his friends, and his political concerns with his Zorki (a camera that uses film).  In this novel set in the near future, the national government and school policies are all under attack by Miles and his close set of friends.  Can student dissent create change?  Gr 9+

Student dissent                                             --Lois McNicol