Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival

Some people worry about cancer being genetic. The Starkers worry about death by lightening being genetic. Going back generations, every Starker (except for one of Newton’s very far removed grandfather, who died of cholera) has been struck to death by lightening.

Newton Starker and his great grandmother (a grumpy old lady who swears she only survived because of SPITE) are the last two surviving Starkers. And Newton is determined that lightening will not get him. And so, he enrolls at the Jerry Potts Academy of Higher Learning and Survival, where the students learn how to survive anything. Newton is convinced that this school will teach him everything he needs in order to learn how to survive the threat of death by lightening.

Arthur show more Slade is a brilliant author who, from what I’ve seen, can tackle different genres, subject matters, and age groups, and do so successfully. I read Megiddo’s Shadow a few months ago, and one of the first things I said to Rachel when I started reading Jolted was that this had better be pretty bloody good if I were going to enjoy it was much as Megiddo. And I did, oh did I ever. It was so different, but had the same quality of story telling. As much as Megiddo had me in tears, Jolted had me giggling out loud.

The characters, oh the characters! Brilliantly developed. Brilliantly hilarious. The setting – ah! A few mentions of the history of Moose Jaw – the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, the history of the surrounding area, etc. – gave more depth to the area the story was in. And the humour - somewhat snarky and yet I can see how it would appeal to both younger and older readers. Specifically enjoyed the classes that Newton had to take:

Mercantile Fitness and Survival - financial training and outdoor survival.
Biology and Survival of the Fittest - along with typical biology subjects, also covers how to avoid and become predators.
Literature and Communications - an English class that teaches how to make smoke signals?
Culinary Arts and Survival - teaching which plants & animals outdoors are edible.
Ethics of Survival - the “taboos and misconceptions that surround survival.”

Dude, that’s almost as great as the classes they take in Marked and I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You.

Awesome notes of squee:

Newton has a pet pig. Named Josephine. (After Napoleon’s wife, I’m assuming.) She belonged to a man who harvested truffles before Newton acquired her.
Newton is obsessed (that word somehow doesn’t seem strong enough) with truffles. Not the chocolate kind - the fungi kind.
Kilts! They wear kilts at Jerry Potts Academy. And there is a diagram included in the book.
Newton’s favourite recipes are also included in the book. How random and fun is that?
This book takes place at a boarding school that is a castle just outside of Moose Jaw. In Saskatchewan. A gothic castle in Saskatchewan!
Done the squeeage for the time being. So yes, fabulously enjoyable and hilarious book.

Bottom Line: If you haven’t read it yet, go buy this book right now. You will not be disappointed! show less

This book was a disappointment. Newton, the main character, is extremely unsympathetic. Whiny, arrogant, and spiteful, even his gradual change into a better person at the end of the story leaves the reader cold.

His new friends, Violet and Jacob, are one-dimensional characters and no reason for their interest in the extremely unattractive Newton is given. The construction of the plot is confusing and haphazard; cooking recipes and excerpts from the school's survival textbook litter the bland plot and the whole structure of the school itself is extremely vague. There are a few moments of humor, but on the whole readers looking for the promised adventure/survival story won't be placated with a few gruesome insect-eating scenes and a show more miraculous pig.

Verdict: I purchased this on the strength of the description and reviews and was disappointed. I've only gotten a few kids to read it. I'm clearly not alone, as the hardcover is already out of print.

ISBN: 978-0385747004; Published March 2009 by Wendy Lamb Books; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library show less

This novel contains a variety of writings. There are recipes, e-mails, and other asides, which made the novel more enjoyable to read. The characters were unique and fun, and the conflict (feud) between characters were comical at times. Themes involve friendship (cooperation), and taking control of one's own destiny.

So far, the book seems a bit dull. The only interesting part is the main character, Newton Startker, whose family is apparently highly attractive to lightning. Several family members, including his mom, have died from being hit by lightning, and now Newton Startker is determined to be one of the few Startkers to survive.
Book jumps around a bit, but it has been an okay read up til now.

Can Newton Starker avoid the family legacy of death by lightning? He learns some rules for survival at an unusual boarding school. Offbeat and intriguing.

Good story. Easy to stay tuned into. Liked the setting and the characters. Even the recipes.
Author is Canadian.

Adventure story of a 14 year old boy who is cursed with family members being struck and killed by lightning. Newton is sent to a special school to learn to survive. He encounters some interesting children which he befriends for the first time in his life. Newton and his classmates are then sent out on a journey to find a talisman in order to get into the hall of heros at school and Newton will stop at no expense to get this, including risking his life.