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Below Zero
Twelve-year-old Zak, who has an inoperable brain tumour, is with his sister and parents when their private plane is disastrously diverted. Wrecked on a remote research outpost in the Antarctic, they find themselves in an abandoned base. Then Zak's parents disappear, and the base's equipment starts 3D-printing nightmarish spiderlike creatures. Zak's bizarre visions appear to suggest a link to something else - beneath the ice - which only he can understand...
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2018
9 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Dan Smith
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 26, 2018
5 Words: Family, survival, evolution, cold, creepy.
This is not for bedtime reading.
Oh boy.
But it was so good that I have two copies of it now because I will definitely reread it. It's a compelling story and I struggled to put it down. And I'm so glad it wasn't snowing when I read it or that would have been too much.
I loved the relationship between Zak and May - the sibling aspect was caught so well and felt so real. They bickered and teased and there was the usual sibling rivalry between them, yet they still loved each other deeply.
The story itself is scary as. It's creepy and twisty and unexpected. I was thoroughly creeped out. I could picture the setting perfectly, and it made the story all the more powerful.
This is not for bedtime reading.
Oh boy.
But it was so good that I have two copies of it now because I will definitely reread it. It's a compelling story and I struggled to put it down. And I'm so glad it wasn't snowing when I read it or that would have been too much.
I loved the relationship between Zak and May - the sibling aspect was caught so well and felt so real. They bickered and teased and there was the usual sibling rivalry between them, yet they still loved each other deeply.
The story itself is scary as. It's creepy and twisty and unexpected. I was thoroughly creeped out. I could picture the setting perfectly, and it made the story all the more powerful.
January 23, 2018
I finished this book and then spent some time thinking about what star rating to give it. I did like the writing however, something just wasn't sitting well with me and to be honest, I wasn't sure what. However, due to the plotline and the setting of Antarctica which I haven't really seen in books, I settled on a solid 4 stars. Zak, our main character is twelve but throughout the chapters, the actions he was taking definitely made him feel older than that. He has a brain tumour to which is inoperable and he and his family are travelling on a plane. After a diversion, they crashland onto a base in the Antarctic lands that is deserted. But with no means of escape, everyone has to figure out just where the residents at the base are gone. One by one, they all start to disappear and Zak battles with some form of 3D spiders who are determined to get into his mind. The only way to live is to travel beneath the ice which his visions are guiding him towards. No one else can see these visions. As someone who has a fear of spiders, there were a lot of mentions throughout making me feel uneasy. I did feel scared at times however I just wanted to be scared just that little bit more. I feel that Dan's books are interesting premises and will be reading more of his writing.
March 12, 2019
ZOBACZ recenzję filmową! http://bit.ly/p42pzera
+ punkt wyjścia książki, czyli misja na Marsa, tajne organizacje, główny bohater i jego choroba oraz tajemnica tego, co jest pod lodem
+ nieliniowa narracja do momentu zbiegu wątków
+ traktowanie czytelnika poważnie
+ dynamika akcji w książce
+ zadawanie więcej pytań niż udzielanie na nie odpowiedzi
- zbyt małe rozwinięcie wątku choroby
- mógłby powstać ciąg dalszy, a na to się nie zapowiada
Pozycja dla fanów moich ukochanych Tuneli - może znajdziecie w niej coś dla siebie!
January 23, 2022
2,92
(dwie setne z dedykacją dla kogoś🐤)
Książka ,, Poniżej Zera" z początku brzmiała ciekawie. Pomysł na fabułę również zachęcał do przeczytania, jednak wykonanie i rzeczy, które na nie się składały, i do których zaraz przejdę, już niekoniecznie.
Bohaterowie, których poznajemy są bardzo ubodzy i słabo wykreowani, tak naprawdę nie złapałam sympatii do żadnego z nich. Najzwyklejsze postacie, których mamy od groma. Również samo wykonanie pozostawiało wiele do życzenia. Bo o ile styl pisania był szybki i prosty w odbiorze, to również tutaj znajdowałam go nudnego. Brak dłuższych opisów, pędzące wydarzenia, w skrócie nic powyżej standardu. Kolejnym aspektem jest zakończenie i rozwiązanie całej zagadki, całego problemu pojawiającego się w książce. Moim zdaniem zepsuło ono wiele, było nierealne, naznaczone jakimś, powiedziałabym nawet religijnym zabarwieniem, przynosiło więcej pytań niż odpowiedzi. O ile było to wytłumaczone o tyle jak dla mnie było po prostu słabe i jakoś dziwne. Następnie nie mogę nie wspomnieć o głównym bohaterze Zaku. Łudziłam się, że pozostanie na poziomie okej, jednak spadł niżej. Wątek jego ,,mocy" i nowo nabytej umiejętności na końcu był bardzo naciągany i psuł według mnie książkę. Ostatnią już rzeczą jest kilka ostatnich stron-☠️. Tak bardzo kiczowate i niepotrzebne, że już tego nie skomentuje. Te niepełne trzy gwiazdki książka otrzymuje ode mnie za wywołaną ciekawość tak do jej połowy i za dobrze opisane, wciągające wydarzenia, również do tego momentu. Koniec końców jednak, książka bardzo średnia z dziwnym pomysłem na siebie i jego wykonaniem.
(dwie setne z dedykacją dla kogoś🐤)
Książka ,, Poniżej Zera" z początku brzmiała ciekawie. Pomysł na fabułę również zachęcał do przeczytania, jednak wykonanie i rzeczy, które na nie się składały, i do których zaraz przejdę, już niekoniecznie.
Bohaterowie, których poznajemy są bardzo ubodzy i słabo wykreowani, tak naprawdę nie złapałam sympatii do żadnego z nich. Najzwyklejsze postacie, których mamy od groma. Również samo wykonanie pozostawiało wiele do życzenia. Bo o ile styl pisania był szybki i prosty w odbiorze, to również tutaj znajdowałam go nudnego. Brak dłuższych opisów, pędzące wydarzenia, w skrócie nic powyżej standardu. Kolejnym aspektem jest zakończenie i rozwiązanie całej zagadki, całego problemu pojawiającego się w książce. Moim zdaniem zepsuło ono wiele, było nierealne, naznaczone jakimś, powiedziałabym nawet religijnym zabarwieniem, przynosiło więcej pytań niż odpowiedzi. O ile było to wytłumaczone o tyle jak dla mnie było po prostu słabe i jakoś dziwne. Następnie nie mogę nie wspomnieć o głównym bohaterze Zaku. Łudziłam się, że pozostanie na poziomie okej, jednak spadł niżej. Wątek jego ,,mocy" i nowo nabytej umiejętności na końcu był bardzo naciągany i psuł według mnie książkę. Ostatnią już rzeczą jest kilka ostatnich stron-☠️. Tak bardzo kiczowate i niepotrzebne, że już tego nie skomentuje. Te niepełne trzy gwiazdki książka otrzymuje ode mnie za wywołaną ciekawość tak do jej połowy i za dobrze opisane, wciągające wydarzenia, również do tego momentu. Koniec końców jednak, książka bardzo średnia z dziwnym pomysłem na siebie i jego wykonaniem.
March 15, 2020
Trigger warnings: cancer, explosions, plane crash, possession(?????), gun violence.
If you asked me to tell you the plot of this book, I'm not sure that I could. I can tell you the various chunks of the story but I cannot for the life of me tell you how they all fit together.
So the plot is basically a giant string of question marks for me at this stage.
But I can tell you that I liked the characters and the setting, and it was a pretty fast paced story. Other than that? *shrug*
If you asked me to tell you the plot of this book, I'm not sure that I could. I can tell you the various chunks of the story but I cannot for the life of me tell you how they all fit together.
So the plot is basically a giant string of question marks for me at this stage.
But I can tell you that I liked the characters and the setting, and it was a pretty fast paced story. Other than that? *shrug*
January 13, 2018
A chilling, action-packed, Antartica-based stonker of a story. Zac's family crash land at an isolated research base and immediately find themselves in a non-stop blizzard of chaos and confusion.
Wrap up warm and prepare yourself for a teeth-chattering adventure. *Shudder*
Wrap up warm and prepare yourself for a teeth-chattering adventure. *Shudder*
January 23, 2018
"Your blood will run cold" reads the tagline. Boy, is that right! Below Zero is a seriously chilling novel in more ways than one.
The Antarctic setting is so well described that just reading this book will reduce your temperature and have you reaching for extra blankets and the thermostat. It really pulls you right into the setting. That setting is great too, an isolated Antarctic base filled with people preparing themselves for life on a Martian colony. Or rather, it should be filled with them, but they have all disappeared!
It's also a very chilling thriller; despite the fact that I was an adult reader of MG literature, I found myself getting rather scared reading it in places. There's a definite eeriness to it, made all the worse by the recurring tick-tack-tick-tack noises echoing through the supposedly deserted base. What happened to the original inhabitants of the base and what will happen to the new arrivals is a mystery that unfolds slowly and cleverly through the book.
I really liked the characters. Zak is a great young hero, and the relationship between him and his sister, May, is a believable and lovely mix of support and rivalry. The impact of Zak's illness on him and his family was handled really well too. The other young character, Sofia, is a good contrast, a tough, capable heroine from the start. It's also great to see Zak and May's parents playing a large role, as too often parents conveniently disappear out of the picture in MG and YA fiction. The villains are rather scary too, giving the book a combination of threats that we're just waiting to see collide. I'd love to see the Broker turn up in some more of Dan's adventure books, as I would like to see more of this intriguing character.
The cover is brilliant too. It is so stark and white, which fits the book perfectly and gives it a real impact, but there's actually so much going on in there, from the plane across the shiny text, to the silhouette of the mountain peaks across the bottom of the figure.
The publisher, Chicken House, recommend this book for ages 10+. This feels pretty accurate, as it is genuinely creepy. I think my ten year old daughter would enjoy it, but her younger brothers probably aren't ready for it yet.
The Antarctic setting is so well described that just reading this book will reduce your temperature and have you reaching for extra blankets and the thermostat. It really pulls you right into the setting. That setting is great too, an isolated Antarctic base filled with people preparing themselves for life on a Martian colony. Or rather, it should be filled with them, but they have all disappeared!
It's also a very chilling thriller; despite the fact that I was an adult reader of MG literature, I found myself getting rather scared reading it in places. There's a definite eeriness to it, made all the worse by the recurring tick-tack-tick-tack noises echoing through the supposedly deserted base. What happened to the original inhabitants of the base and what will happen to the new arrivals is a mystery that unfolds slowly and cleverly through the book.
I really liked the characters. Zak is a great young hero, and the relationship between him and his sister, May, is a believable and lovely mix of support and rivalry. The impact of Zak's illness on him and his family was handled really well too. The other young character, Sofia, is a good contrast, a tough, capable heroine from the start. It's also great to see Zak and May's parents playing a large role, as too often parents conveniently disappear out of the picture in MG and YA fiction. The villains are rather scary too, giving the book a combination of threats that we're just waiting to see collide. I'd love to see the Broker turn up in some more of Dan's adventure books, as I would like to see more of this intriguing character.
The cover is brilliant too. It is so stark and white, which fits the book perfectly and gives it a real impact, but there's actually so much going on in there, from the plane across the shiny text, to the silhouette of the mountain peaks across the bottom of the figure.
The publisher, Chicken House, recommend this book for ages 10+. This feels pretty accurate, as it is genuinely creepy. I think my ten year old daughter would enjoy it, but her younger brothers probably aren't ready for it yet.
March 13, 2019
Ever since I read the author's book 'Dry Season' - which came as a double surprise - I won a copy (my first giveaway!), and it was a really fantastic story - I am fan of this author.
Below Zero caught my interest because of two things: the arctic environment and the mention of 'spiderlike creatures' in the summary. As expected, the story did not fail to entertain me. It started as some kind of technological, almost sci-fi, thriller, but then made a big turn into something different, and more. I loved that the author added an almost philosophical dimension to the 'spiderlike creatures' which added even more depth and allure to the adventure Zak finds himself in. Turns out the obvious monsters are not always the bad guys, as I experienced with more than one book already.
Though it shows at times that this book is aimed at a teenage audience, it does not hold back very much, and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
Below Zero caught my interest because of two things: the arctic environment and the mention of 'spiderlike creatures' in the summary. As expected, the story did not fail to entertain me. It started as some kind of technological, almost sci-fi, thriller, but then made a big turn into something different, and more. I loved that the author added an almost philosophical dimension to the 'spiderlike creatures' which added even more depth and allure to the adventure Zak finds himself in. Turns out the obvious monsters are not always the bad guys, as I experienced with more than one book already.
Though it shows at times that this book is aimed at a teenage audience, it does not hold back very much, and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
October 5, 2022
2/5
mam wrażenie, że tempo książki było za szybkie a także za dużo informacji dostawaliśmy za jednym razem dzięki temu nie mogłam zrozumieć celu książki 😐😐 zamysł był super i dawał mi vibe więźnia labiryntu, a dokładnie kodu gorączki, ale i tak nic tego nie obroniło. pewnie zapomnę o niej za kilka dni
mam wrażenie, że tempo książki było za szybkie a także za dużo informacji dostawaliśmy za jednym razem dzięki temu nie mogłam zrozumieć celu książki 😐😐 zamysł był super i dawał mi vibe więźnia labiryntu, a dokładnie kodu gorączki, ale i tak nic tego nie obroniło. pewnie zapomnę o niej za kilka dni
January 5, 2025
Nie spodziewałem się tego..
Read
May 7, 2021Trigger & Content Warnings:
Cancer (brain tumour)
Gun violence
Explosions
Plane crash
Cancer (brain tumour)
Gun violence
Explosions
Plane crash
November 9, 2024
Piszę to jako czterdziestolatek. Bawiłem się wybornie czytając tę powieść.
February 16, 2018
‘A spine-tingling sci-fi adventure that both trembles and thrills whilst embodying all of the bite, chill and snap of the setting that it takes place in.’
Brace yourself because there’s no holding back as a sudden surge of panic pulls you in from the opening page to this already action-packed, arctic adventure as we encounter Sofia Diaz in a flashback three days ago from Outpost Zero. Sofia, the youngest member on base at Outpost Zero at fourteen years old, is stationed there with her family and seven others to participate in experimental training for the Exodus Project for a future life on Mars. However, a number of others are also there for altogether unexpected and unexplained reasons…
The pace of the story unrelentingly pulsates on, as we turn to the next chapter, with the attention switching to twelve-year-old Zak Reeves who is supposed to be enjoying a relaxing holiday in the sun with his family – Mum, Dad and older sister May – before he visits hospital for surgery for an as yet unnamed illness. From the start, there’s a sense of foreboding whereby we begin to notice that Zak is different. But it’s not until the end that we discover exactly how different he is.
Instead, the whole family have to cut their exotic holiday short to board a plane to the Antarctic in order to fix the ‘spider drones’ his parents have designed to support the Exodus mission as a result of them starting to mysteriously malfunction. As they arrive (…just!) on one of the last available planes in to Outpost Zero due to forecasted adverse weather conditions, they realise that things are about to go awry from the moment their plane crash lands in to the ice outside the research base whilst the whole site is plunged in to an abandoned and absolute darkness. This leaves Zak and his family finding themselves caught up in a flurry of fright and fear that will gradually end up with them fighting for their lives…
Throughout the story, the interchange of the dual narrative, which only adds to the suspense, between chapters backwards to Sofia Diaz and forwards to Zak in the present day continues. Further on, a triple narrative transpires as we are introduced to a new character known only by his alias, The Broker. It would be only maybe here that I could foresee any potential difficulties arising for some reading independently – particularly those readers closer to the lower age of recommendation – as they may be unsure of how to temper these three storylines occurring sequentially. But, by this point you’ll be feeling how I did where the sheer apprehension of what was about to happen to Zak next meant that you just have to read on to find out more with every turn of the page…
As the plot mysteriously shifts from the eerie and the sinister to the anxious and the downright heart-pounding, Zak makes a very important and other-wordly discovery about himself that’s been tormenting him ever since he got here.
Winter is not the only thing that’s coming for Zak…
As he starts to hear things…
Tick-tack. Tick-tack.
But then he starts to feel things…
Tick-tack. Tick-tack.
And then he starts to see things…
A discovery, deep within his psyche, which culminates in an almost apocalyptic, catastrophic crescendo of a climax that would rival any of the battles from Star Wars (I know from the references dotted throughout the book that the author, Dan, is a huge fan!) as nearly all of the previously described characters – under the condemned instructions of The Broker – converge for one last time.
I particularly enjoyed the brother-sister relationship between Zak and May and it is portrayed perfectly in that they initially tease, argue, annoy and fight with each other and they might not declare an immediate fondness for each other all the time yet we recognise early on how important they are for each other and this comes to an all important head at the very end of the story.
Fraught with all of the most essential ingredients found in the best adventure stories (i.e. tension, high intensity and peril), the front cover warns you that ‘Your blood will run cold…’ so as Dan advises in Below Zero, ‘Be Prepared’ or failing that, at least listen to and try to adopt the unofficial motto and mantra of the US Marines and ‘improvise, adapt and overcome’.
Brace yourself because there’s no holding back as a sudden surge of panic pulls you in from the opening page to this already action-packed, arctic adventure as we encounter Sofia Diaz in a flashback three days ago from Outpost Zero. Sofia, the youngest member on base at Outpost Zero at fourteen years old, is stationed there with her family and seven others to participate in experimental training for the Exodus Project for a future life on Mars. However, a number of others are also there for altogether unexpected and unexplained reasons…
The pace of the story unrelentingly pulsates on, as we turn to the next chapter, with the attention switching to twelve-year-old Zak Reeves who is supposed to be enjoying a relaxing holiday in the sun with his family – Mum, Dad and older sister May – before he visits hospital for surgery for an as yet unnamed illness. From the start, there’s a sense of foreboding whereby we begin to notice that Zak is different. But it’s not until the end that we discover exactly how different he is.
Instead, the whole family have to cut their exotic holiday short to board a plane to the Antarctic in order to fix the ‘spider drones’ his parents have designed to support the Exodus mission as a result of them starting to mysteriously malfunction. As they arrive (…just!) on one of the last available planes in to Outpost Zero due to forecasted adverse weather conditions, they realise that things are about to go awry from the moment their plane crash lands in to the ice outside the research base whilst the whole site is plunged in to an abandoned and absolute darkness. This leaves Zak and his family finding themselves caught up in a flurry of fright and fear that will gradually end up with them fighting for their lives…
Throughout the story, the interchange of the dual narrative, which only adds to the suspense, between chapters backwards to Sofia Diaz and forwards to Zak in the present day continues. Further on, a triple narrative transpires as we are introduced to a new character known only by his alias, The Broker. It would be only maybe here that I could foresee any potential difficulties arising for some reading independently – particularly those readers closer to the lower age of recommendation – as they may be unsure of how to temper these three storylines occurring sequentially. But, by this point you’ll be feeling how I did where the sheer apprehension of what was about to happen to Zak next meant that you just have to read on to find out more with every turn of the page…
As the plot mysteriously shifts from the eerie and the sinister to the anxious and the downright heart-pounding, Zak makes a very important and other-wordly discovery about himself that’s been tormenting him ever since he got here.
Winter is not the only thing that’s coming for Zak…
As he starts to hear things…
Tick-tack. Tick-tack.
But then he starts to feel things…
Tick-tack. Tick-tack.
And then he starts to see things…
A discovery, deep within his psyche, which culminates in an almost apocalyptic, catastrophic crescendo of a climax that would rival any of the battles from Star Wars (I know from the references dotted throughout the book that the author, Dan, is a huge fan!) as nearly all of the previously described characters – under the condemned instructions of The Broker – converge for one last time.
I particularly enjoyed the brother-sister relationship between Zak and May and it is portrayed perfectly in that they initially tease, argue, annoy and fight with each other and they might not declare an immediate fondness for each other all the time yet we recognise early on how important they are for each other and this comes to an all important head at the very end of the story.
Fraught with all of the most essential ingredients found in the best adventure stories (i.e. tension, high intensity and peril), the front cover warns you that ‘Your blood will run cold…’ so as Dan advises in Below Zero, ‘Be Prepared’ or failing that, at least listen to and try to adopt the unofficial motto and mantra of the US Marines and ‘improvise, adapt and overcome’.
August 28, 2018
This won’t be a surprise to many, but this summer in the UK this year has been an absolute scorcher. Days of squinting in the sun, lying awake at night amidst sweaty bedsheets… the whole thing has just been rather unpleasant. Sure, a cornetto by the beach is nice, but when you’ve got to shed half your body weight in sweat to do so, it loses its appeal quickly (At least to this grumpy reviewer).
So, when I was given the chance to jump into an outpost in the depths of Antarctica to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its residents, I eagerly shut out the blazing sun, zipped up my parka and poured myself a hot cup of cocoa for the ride.
Dan Smith’s Below Zero is punchy, gripping read that keeps you guessing where it’s going right until the very end. It’s written primarily as a Middle Grade novel, but because of its well-crafted suspense can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone who is craving a standalone thrill ride. It isn’t ‘pee your pants scary’, but Dan’s writing crafts isolated snow drifts and eerie isolation in such a way that you can’t help but shiver when something sinister approaches.
The action spreads across two main characters, Zak and Sofia, who are both instantly likeable. They drive the plot from two different perspectives and time periods that collide drastically by the time the conclusion comes around. Sofia is a badass young woman who doesn’t shy away from getting into perilous situations and getting out of them alive, often outsmarting men twice her age to do so. Zak by comparison is more ordinary, but feisty and serves as ‘regular eyes’ for the reader to see the wondrous technology of Outpost Zero through. Zak has cancer, but his character is in no way demeaned or weakened because of it. It serves as a strong character builder for him, having to be brave against a very scary and very real thing that affects every day people. Dan handles it expertly, showing kids that they don’t always have to let disease dictate to who they are or what they do.
The rest of the cast is kept modestly small, with a few stereotypes being played upon for some parts (The Russian pilot and Zak’s teenage sister May in particular) But with a novel that’s been written with such a pace, it’s an understandable decision. Below Zero keeps the action and adventure at the front of things, and it does so with a way that’ll make you want to devour it in one sitting like this reviewer did.
Summer may be reluctantly hanging around for now, so why not dip into something cool? Just as long as you watch your back. You don’t know what’s under the ice…
So, when I was given the chance to jump into an outpost in the depths of Antarctica to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its residents, I eagerly shut out the blazing sun, zipped up my parka and poured myself a hot cup of cocoa for the ride.
Dan Smith’s Below Zero is punchy, gripping read that keeps you guessing where it’s going right until the very end. It’s written primarily as a Middle Grade novel, but because of its well-crafted suspense can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone who is craving a standalone thrill ride. It isn’t ‘pee your pants scary’, but Dan’s writing crafts isolated snow drifts and eerie isolation in such a way that you can’t help but shiver when something sinister approaches.
The action spreads across two main characters, Zak and Sofia, who are both instantly likeable. They drive the plot from two different perspectives and time periods that collide drastically by the time the conclusion comes around. Sofia is a badass young woman who doesn’t shy away from getting into perilous situations and getting out of them alive, often outsmarting men twice her age to do so. Zak by comparison is more ordinary, but feisty and serves as ‘regular eyes’ for the reader to see the wondrous technology of Outpost Zero through. Zak has cancer, but his character is in no way demeaned or weakened because of it. It serves as a strong character builder for him, having to be brave against a very scary and very real thing that affects every day people. Dan handles it expertly, showing kids that they don’t always have to let disease dictate to who they are or what they do.
The rest of the cast is kept modestly small, with a few stereotypes being played upon for some parts (The Russian pilot and Zak’s teenage sister May in particular) But with a novel that’s been written with such a pace, it’s an understandable decision. Below Zero keeps the action and adventure at the front of things, and it does so with a way that’ll make you want to devour it in one sitting like this reviewer did.
Summer may be reluctantly hanging around for now, so why not dip into something cool? Just as long as you watch your back. You don’t know what’s under the ice…
December 18, 2023
This isn't a book I would have picked up by myself, but it was a rather pleasant experience. This was actually part of the Jólabókaflóð promotion at my school library. I liked the idea of this book. It appears nobody told Sofia to leave any creatures found encased in ice,
encased in ice.
Unsurprisingly, this caused havoc.
The isolated setting of Antarctica is perfect because it makes any anomaly so much more unsettling. Plus, us not knowing whether what Zak was seeing was real or in his imagination was also exciting. I found the relationship between him and his sister May to be very wholesome. The writing style of this book was great, with the descriptions having me be constantly engaged. The slight body horror had me cringe, meaning it was written perfectly!
The bad guys... They were pretty generic. An evil dude commanding soldiers, and wants to use the discovery in Antarctica for his own benefit. I guess for a "Middle Grade" book, it doesn't need to be more complicated than that.
However, the ending had me baffled. There was no way I could have predicted it. I feel like it removed the stakes from this book. Especially what happens to Zak as a result of this event .
Overall, this was a pretty solid book. 3/5 stars.
The isolated setting of Antarctica is perfect because it makes any anomaly so much more unsettling. Plus, us not knowing whether what Zak was seeing was real or in his imagination was also exciting. I found the relationship between him and his sister May to be very wholesome. The writing style of this book was great, with the descriptions having me be constantly engaged. The slight body horror had me cringe, meaning it was written perfectly!
The bad guys... They were pretty generic. An evil dude commanding soldiers, and wants to use the discovery in Antarctica for his own benefit. I guess for a "Middle Grade" book, it doesn't need to be more complicated than that.
However, the ending had me baffled. There was no way I could have predicted it. I feel like it removed the stakes from this book. Especially what happens to Zak as a result of this event .
Overall, this was a pretty solid book. 3/5 stars.
February 11, 2020
A crash landing in the antarctic. No power, no people but something very, very scary lying in wait under the ice. We review Below Zero a chilling adventure story by local author Dan Smith.
Ooh this is good! It’s the perfect side of scary for the braver middle grader. It’s adventurous, has strong male and female role models and reminded me a little of Aliens/Prometheus. If your child is bored of magic, finds tales of badly behaved children too babyish and gives you the eye role when you suggest a book about talking horses, this is the book you need (or should that be the book they need?)
If you follow Book Social you will know that we read and loved She Wolf last year. Our second dose of Smith doesn’t disappoint. It’s completely different yet equally as good. Dan isn’t afraid of scaring children or taking them to tough terrains and putting them through the mill. Yet he does it balances it perfectly and takes adults along for the ride. The book is very visual, yes there’s tech, science and a very remote terrain, yet it’s all understandable and somehow relate-able. And best of all in Below Zero, THERE ARE TWO PERFECTLY NORMAL PARENTS!!!! Well for the most part of it anyway!
On top of the action packed adventure, there is an underlying good story with a perfect ending although surely a sequel is in order?
Ooh this is good! It’s the perfect side of scary for the braver middle grader. It’s adventurous, has strong male and female role models and reminded me a little of Aliens/Prometheus. If your child is bored of magic, finds tales of badly behaved children too babyish and gives you the eye role when you suggest a book about talking horses, this is the book you need (or should that be the book they need?)
If you follow Book Social you will know that we read and loved She Wolf last year. Our second dose of Smith doesn’t disappoint. It’s completely different yet equally as good. Dan isn’t afraid of scaring children or taking them to tough terrains and putting them through the mill. Yet he does it balances it perfectly and takes adults along for the ride. The book is very visual, yes there’s tech, science and a very remote terrain, yet it’s all understandable and somehow relate-able. And best of all in Below Zero, THERE ARE TWO PERFECTLY NORMAL PARENTS!!!! Well for the most part of it anyway!
On top of the action packed adventure, there is an underlying good story with a perfect ending although surely a sequel is in order?
September 15, 2018
I'm ashamed to say that this is my first time reading a Dan Smith novel despite being a bit of a Twitter stalker of the author. Below Zero really caught my surprise as there were some really creepy elements to it. An isolated Antarctic location, an evil corporation and giant, scuttling robot spiders all contribute to the overall dread in the book. Main characters Zak and sister Mia make an excellent combination and it was lovely to see their relationship evolve throughout the book.
The beginning of the book where Zac and Mia, along with their parents, crash land into the research outpost with a bang and the action avd pace continues throughout. I really liked the fact that Zak is an unlikely hero and suffering from a brain growth that makes him doubt what he is seeing at times. The book raced to an ending that was jammed with thrills and action that made me shout at the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I'll be giving it to my nephew next as I think he will love it.
The beginning of the book where Zac and Mia, along with their parents, crash land into the research outpost with a bang and the action avd pace continues throughout. I really liked the fact that Zak is an unlikely hero and suffering from a brain growth that makes him doubt what he is seeing at times. The book raced to an ending that was jammed with thrills and action that made me shout at the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I'll be giving it to my nephew next as I think he will love it.
August 3, 2021
Raczej dla lubujących się w takim gatunku - niby thriller dla młodzieży, ale określiłabym go jako horror, sci-fi lub postapo. Mnie nie podeszło, ale ma szansę spodobać się młodszym lub mniej wymagającym.
December 31, 2024
Niby wiek to 9-12 ale w realu jest to pełnometrażowy horror, robaki, antarktyda, dzieciak ma jakieś zwidy, ma wizje, widzi ludzi, których nie ma, a do tego robaki przejmują władzę nad ludzkimi umysłami i je sterują💀💀💀 ale ksiażka ahhhhh mega taaaak🥰🥰🥰🥵
January 5, 2018
We should write a review. www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.com appearing on a blog real sooon!
January 25, 2018
This isn't the best book I've read, but it was fun. The story was quick paced and I read it in a day, so I definitely can't complain. Would recommend if you're looking for a quick read :)
May 5, 2018
2.5 stars. I'll need to buy a second copy as this will be popular at school, like Dan Smith's other books, but it just didn't work for me.
February 17, 2019
A fun little read where the nerd gets to be the hero. Also shows why we need to understand so much more of the world and that being rich does not make you nice!
November 27, 2019
I love the formula he uses. Fast paced, a bit weird but not too out there, lots of modern ideas mixed in. Very good younger readers book.
December 2, 2019
tense to the end!
November 28, 2020
Hmm... Wciągające, ma swój sposób intrygujące, ale zdecydowanie dla młodszego czytelnika
August 4, 2021
3.25/5 Okej... Na początku było ciekawie, jednak zakończenie troszke zepsuło książke :/
September 17, 2021
Dobry pomysł na fabułę, ale książka sama w sobie średnio wciągająca.
September 19, 2021
Pacy, engaging thriller/horror story set in the Antarctic. Great for reluctant readers.
January 18, 2022
Adventurous.
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