Review | Averil Offline

Summary: Averil Offline

Averil’s mom and several parents of kids in her school and neighborhood use an app called Ruby Slippers to track their kids’ location, request video and photos from them on demand, and generally monitor their behavior and actions all day and Averil and Max, another classmate, are sick of it. Especially when they find out that the app will be updated soon to let parents remotely turn on their kids’ cameras at will. Both kids make a plot to ditch a camping trip and spend the weekend hunting down the original app developer, Rider Wollybeck, in hopes of asking him to rescind the update.

The Good

I had no idea what to expect with this book, and it was one of those delightful reading experiences where every page turn led to my wanting to turn the next page. Averil feels trapped in a glass box with her mom watching her every move, and many of the kids in her grade and neighborhood feel the same. I felt torn because I understand the parents’ worries for their kids’ safety, but I also could relate to the kids feeling a sense of lost autonomy. I think there will be lots to discuss on the topic while reading this book aloud or in a book club.

This story feels hijinks-filled like the classic stories where kids run away to save the day as Max and Averil stay on their town’s college campus, eating at the cafeteria and sleeping in the library for the 2-3 days needed to accomplish their plan. When they eventually locate the founder’s office on the campus, they need to complete a couple of puzzles before they can gain access to Rider.

Some parents may struggle with the slightly rebellious tone and the sneaking around, but this was so much fun to read, and I can see kids loving it. I also like that the story places plenty of emphasis on parents and kids talking things through and keeping communication lines open, instead of resorting to hovering or sneaking around. The author wins in my book for accomplishing this feat with minimal preachiness and a deliciously low page count.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None
• Sexual content: None

Diversity

• Ethnic: Main characters are white
• Sexual orientation: None

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Stories of kids going on sneaky adventures
• Mystery books with code deciphering and puzzles to figure out
• Unlikely friendship stories
• Books about coding