“Dear Library Board, Enclosed is my contribution for the Wolf Creek Community Time Capsule Project.”

From Kate Messner’s Breakout.

It’s early June and best friends Nora and Lizzie are looking forward to the the fun that summer will bring.  Wolf Creek, New York is a quiet town where not much happens and there is very little of anything outside the maximum security prison that provides most of the parents with employment.  As the end of school gets closer, about the only exciting thing that happens is the arrival of a new student (Elidee) for the last two weeks of school; the point of conversations at school (and aspiring-detective Nora) quickly focuses on Elidee and her mother’s move… which was to keep them close to Elidee’s incarcerated brother.  However, that instantly changes when two inmates escape from the prison, forcing hundreds of police officers, state troopers, and correction officers to turn the quiet town upside down.  The girls’ time capsule extra credit project was supposed to highlight the fun of summer, but quickly turns into a day-by-day telling of the changes taking over the town.  As the manhunt stretches on, Nora, Elidee, and Lizzie provide a glimpse into what happens during those few weeks, but also the mystery of how the inmates escaped and where they are now.

The style of this book is incredibly captivating, because the changes in narration, writing style, and medium create for a quick read that is never dull.  The story’s premise is interesting by itself, but using a variety of letters, transcribed audio recordings, pictures, and articles will keep even the most casual reader engaged.  The narrators are all unique, highlighting a wide variety of issues and emotions.  Messner is totally unafraid to take on issues such as friendship, race, and life-threatening dangers, all while managing to keep Breakout from being too intense for its intended younger audience.