Sky Jumpers
by Peggy Eddleman, Book Review
Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman is a children’s story for tweens, set in White Rock, Cook Nebraska, at a future time, after 2069, in the late 21st or early 22nd century. Brock Sances challenges Hope Toriella to do a daredevil jump off a cliff. Her best friend Aeren, and his five year old sister Brenna are there to see the jump. Besides the danger of jumping off a cliff and perform a double front flip, there is Bomb’s Breath, a band of pressurized air, which is a side effect of World War III that can kill you if you do not hold your breath at a certain point during the jump. Hope successfully makes the jump, except Brock isn’t there to see it.
For World War III, they built bombs more powerful than those used in World War II. Nearly everyone in the world was killed. In his quest for power, General Shadel overthrew many governments in the world. Millions died, and there was an impending threat of world domination by Shadel. As a response to his tyranny, some scientists decided to develop a green bomb that would not have the effect of the bombs used in World War II. The information was leaked, and Shadel had scientists who also developed a green bomb.
General Shadel didn’t have negotiations with others to prevent the destruction of the world, in the quest for ultimate world power, nine of Shadel’s green bombs destroyed the United States, and then he fired another 18 green bombs at their allies. Before the bombs actually hit the US, the US was able to fire at Shadel and his allies. The first bomb they fired was targeted at Shadel’s location.
Only 26 people survived, including Hope’s grandparents, who found a place to start over – White Rock. This reminds me of Noah’s Flood, where the only people, plants and animals to survive the heavy rains were those in the Noah’s Arc. Noah’s three sons, Shem, Japheth, and Ham were sent off to repopulate and rule the earth. Shem went to Asia, Ham to Africa, and Japheth to Europe. In Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman, the 26 survivors decided to repopulate the area, many of them contributing by having many children.
White Rock, Cook, Nebraska is the home to many inventors and their inventions. Because of World War III, human beings have lost a lot of ground technologically, and technology and common appliances that we now take for granted are no longer available. Civilization has taken several steps backward. Therefore, the skill of inventing is prized, and from the age of four, you are expected to contribute to the community by creating inventions that will make life easier. Readers cannot help feeling perplexed about how excited the people of White Rock are over inventions like the steam plow, telegraph system, ammonia refrigeration. To us that’s so old school.
Hope Toriella is not very good at inventing, and every year at the big event where everyone gets to demonstrate their latest invention, her invention never seem to work. This year, at 12 years old, Hope is very excited about her potato peeler invention, but when she demonstrates her invention, it doesn’t work. Some people in the community believe that she is not contributing enough simply because she is not good at inventing. One person even go as far as telling her that the only reason her father doesn’t run for city council is because she is such a failure at inventing, one of the most prized skill in White Rock.
Hope is scared to tell her parents that once again her invention failed. But her parents love her unconditionally and they do not care about her lack of inventing skills. One thing they have observed that she excels at is her ability to lead. People are always following her, and she has the uncanny ability to solve problems. Hope has never given those skills a second thought because those skills are not respected or appreciated in White Rock.
The main job for everyone in White Rock is farming, and then a split job such as teaching, operating a shop, being a doctor, mining and so on. Mr. Hudson is the only person in the community who doesn’t have to farm, his function is that of inventor and teacher. He has had the most useful inventions and is very respected and appreciated in the community.
The surrounding towns of Bergen, Hayes, Arris and Browning face constant attacks by bandits. White Rock has avoided the attacks because there is only one way in and many are afraid of Bomb’s Breath because it has already killed several people. No one in the community knows that Hope, Aeren and Brock, have been able to move through Bomb’s Breath and remain alive. As usual, during the winter, White Rock sends most of its guards to protect Browning, which is vulnerable to bandit attacks. While the guards are away, the bandits, led by Michelson enter White Rock through the mine.
The bandits want Ameiphus, which is used to make a drug that can cure practically anything. The children harvest the plant during the fall when conditions are perfect. Dr. Grenwood is able to make pills out of the plant. Many lives have been saved because of Ameiphus. The harvesting this year wasn’t very good because the weather wasn’t conducive. Michelson demands all of Ameiphus. To demonstrate that he is serious, the lead bandit asks for the leader of the community, Hope’s father volunteesr and is rewarded with a bullet in his leg. All the residents are kept in the community center so that the bandits can secure the town.
Mr. Toriella becomes quite ill because the bullet is not very sterile. One dose of Ameiphus is left over from last year and it is given to him, but it is not enough and he is growing weaker. Hope knows that it’s up to her to save her father, she has to travel to Browning to get the guards. Remember that we have taken several steps back so there aren’t any cars. Because the bandits are guarding the entry points to White Rock, Hope will have to go through Bomb’s Breath. Her best friend Aeren knows her very well, and knows what she’ll likely do, and decides to go with her. Aeren is not 100 percent well because he sustained injuries a few weeks before. Hope and Aeren set a time when they will leave.
Hope tells her parents what she plans to do, but her father is adamant that she shouldn’t take the chance. The townspeople fear Bomb’s Breath because every person has been touched by a death caused by the pressurized air. She reveals that she has been jumping through Bomb’s Breath for two years. Mr. Toriella cannot believe what his daughter is telling him. Hope knows what she has to do and will do it without her parents’ blessing, otherwise her father and other community members will likely die.
She is restless all night, and fears what she has to do. Her mother gives Hope her blessing and is also able to scrounge some food for the trip while the bandits weren’t looking. Hope and Aeren are ready to leave. When they get outside Brock is there, he anticipated what they would do. Five year old Brenna will not be left behind and is bent on going with them, and to ensure her safety, they have to take her along. They now have to revise their strategy because a five year old is coming along and she cannot do everything that the older children can do.
Things seldom go as planned, and before they are safely away, a few of the bandits who are guarding the entry points spot them. Hope has to distract them so the others can jump off the cliff. Little Brenna tells them that when they land they should lay down and pretend that the Bomb’s Breath killed them so the bandits will not jump off the cliff in pursuit. Hope's first distraction is to toss a half rotten apple, but her target is not the bandit, but one of the horses, an ornery one at that. When the apple hits the horse, it tosses the bandit off its back. Hope is able to escape and leaps off the cliff. The bandits believe they are dead when they look down and see the four children lying there not moving.
It’s not easy getting to Browning and Brenna gets hypothermia. But things work out in the end. Hope, Brock, and Aeren return with the guards, while Brenna stays behind with Brock’s family – they discovered that Brock is originally from Browning. The guards arrive in White Rock in the nick of time, the bandits are leaving and Michelson has Dr. Grenwood’s doctor bag with the Ameiphus. Dr. Grenwood and two others are taken as hostages. The bandits told the community members that they killed four of their young ones so the community gave them all their Ameiphus.
The bandits and the guards are in battle and Michelson decides to sneak off, but the three children spot him. Hope is in hot pursuit while she sends Aeren and Brock to the community centre. She is able to take away the Ameiphus, but Michelson is not giving up that easily, so she tosses it into the Bomb’s Breath. He demands that she search for it, and offers to give her three doses for the three people including her father, who will likely die shortly if not given the appropriate medicine. Hope thinks about it, and decides not to listen to the bandit. He chases her and goes into the Bomb’s Breath, but having the ability to solve the problems that she faces, Hope is able to outsmart the lead bandit.
When hope looks at the pills that are made from the Ameiphus, she notices that the color has changed from white to blue. They are able to give the medicine to the three people, and they recover in record time. The Bomb’s Breath makes the medicine stronger.
Although Sky Jumpers
by Peggy Eddleman is for children, it is very appropriate for adults because we need to be reminded of the lessons in the book. Everyone is good and something and we shouldn’t devalue people’s skill. Inventions didn’t save the people of White Rock, Hope’s leadership skills and her ability to problem solve saved them. Although Hope experienced fear, she didn’t allow it to cripple her, she acted in spite of her fear. We should also look at the ways that information is shared and disseminated, information should not be hoarded. What if World War III really occurred the way that Peggy Eddleman describes in Sky Jumpers, how long would society take to recover because only certain people had been the keepers of the information?
I received an advanced fee electronic version of Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman from Netgalley.com. I have the same questions that I have with the story of Noah's Ark, with Sky Jumpers about the porcess of repopulation, but everything doesn't have to be explained completely so I will let it rest and I recommend the book. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Liked this post? Share it and subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Author Bio: Avil Beckford, an expert interviewer, entrepreneur and published author is passionate about books and professional development, and that's why she founded The Invisible Mentor and the Virtual Literary World Tour to give you your ideal mentors virtually in the palm of your hands by offering book reviews and book summaries, biographies of wise people and interviews of successful people.
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