Nick was an anxious kid even under normal circumstances. Constantly worried about bullies, his father’s volatile temper, and life’s challenges, the difficulties of adolescence were magnified for him. When a giant asteroid threatens to plunge the Earth into over three months of darkness and extreme cold, Nick’s concerns escalate to matters of life and death. While families prepare for the impending crisis, Nick and his friends grapple with the uncertainty of survival. As the 94 days of darkness set in, their world changes drastically. Will they make it through? And what will life be like if they do?

Blackout: 94 Days of Darkness by Greg and Christina Winick follows the story of Nick, a 12-year-old navigating the usual struggles of adolescence, compounded by the stress of a catastrophic environmental event with unknown long-term effects. Nick finds solace in time spent with his friends and conversations with the school therapist, but he cannot shake an overwhelming sense of dread about the future. His situation is made worse by the knowledge that not everyone will be trapped in a home with an abusive father, making the inside almost as perilous as the outside. As the darkness sets in, temperatures drop, and Earth enters a new ice age. The Winicks masterfully create a sense of doom and foreboding, eventually layering in a feeling of claustrophobia once Nick and his family are confined to their home. The sensation of endless night is palpable, despite the blackout occupying just over half of the book. As conditions deteriorate, survival becomes a race against time, with humanity simply trying to endure a natural disaster beyond their control. It’s a wonderfully tense read that never becomes emotionally overwhelming. The story subtly conveys a message of hope and the importance of controlling what you can in life.

While I would have liked to see more depth in some characters and situations, I was thoroughly engrossed and read the book in just a couple of sittings. Once the blackout occurred, I couldn’t put it down. Nick is a charming narrator who perfectly captures the concerns, both rational and otherwise, of a child his age, even before the literal impending doom. Blackout: 94 Days of Darkness is a captivating and intense read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

Pages: 159 | ASIN : B0BL42Z572