Half-Life Will be Saved for Personal Collections
With creative illustrations and enthralling writing, Lawrey Goodrick’s, Half-Life, is a must-read! It is sure to hook you in and have you finishing the book before you even realise.
The book follows Half, a battery with dreams of changing the world and an eagerness for adventure, setting out to the world of the Electricians to fulfil his dreams. His courage and rebellion against the Electricians’ reign, and his triumph through adversity and intelligence, make Half the perfect hero. A hero needed in these times of improper waste removal and technology handling. The supporting cast are superb, with Half’s parents and friends supporting him through the journey and, in some cases, shining brighter than Half himself.
Through his unique perspective, Goodrick is able to teach younger audiences about the impacts of improper use and disposal of batteries and technologies alike. Electricians are akin to kings who care not for the kingdom they rule over.
His story telling conventions excel in the realm of writing. The human world transforms into a terrifying and alien domain in which the Electricians rule supreme. Things as simple as kitchen tiles become expanses of near impossible terrains. Bins, remotes, and LeapFrog tablets become objects of such significance that the batteries lives are dictated by them.
Goodrick seamlessly blends an engaging, emotional, and high-stakes story together with scientific terms, facts, and historical figures through a unique and creative lens. His illustrations are fantastic, reimagining various events and works with his own twist and style leading to a fun read and eagerness for the next illustration. His writing style integrates the otherwise complex terminology relating to various subjects in the fields of science without confusion, providing lessons about current and historical scientific advancements in an engaging manner. The incredible use of humour through the piece will have you laughing at several points, the characters will have you invested, and the world, reimagined through such an unfamiliar perspective will have you glued to the page.
With the lessons about technology, science, and the environment, Half-Life is a perfect tool to teach younger audiences about such topics through an engaging medium. You’ll even find yourself learning new things as well! Bring it to the classroom, put it in the library, or even gift it to your family and friends and they will be talking about the burden batteries bear for us, the injustices following stolen credits in the world of science, and the advancements made in technology in recent times, in no time.
This is a book that will be saved for personal collections. A great read for middle graders, an excellent educational tool, and a book with such an enthralling story that you’ll be hooked. It combines illustrations with technical knowledge and still contains a hero that rises to the challenge and defies the Electricians’ rule. Highly recommended!
Shane Werne
Reviewer