Flash Flood

Prendergast (Aftershock) chronicles the epic adventure of two white-cued foster brothers trying to survive a natural disaster in this intense climate drama. For the past three years following his parents’ deaths in a car accident and his grandfather’s refusal to become his guardian, 17-year-old Zack has been living with kindly foster parents the Tates, who help him manage his ADHD. Zack’s relative peace is disrupted by the arrival of 14-year-old Peter. Having been removed from his neglectful parents’ care, Peter struggles adjusting to his new circumstance, an experience that’s further complicated by his fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which he says “makes him slow to learn. And clumsy. And sometimes he makes bad choices.” During a rainstorm, Peter runs away, prompting the Tates to search for him, leaving Zack alone at home. When Peter returns without their foster parents, the two boys must journey together to safety after the town levee breaks. Though Zack and Peter continuously clash over the course of this harrowing read, their growing bond and mutual realization that they are stronger together than apart emphasizes the simple messaging of this brief story about family. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)