Can Jax and his other Earth-loving friends earn their keep at the Academy as they train to become part of the Climate Action Taskforce?
Current bookseller, former meteorologist here. This novel was an average middle-grade read in my opinion. Child tech-prodigy, Jax, gets in trouble with his school (and the law) while seeking revenge against a grump-of-a-teacher who is always unimpressed with his antics. He is given two choices: go to juvie or join a mysterious organization called the Climate Action Taskforce and use his skills for the good of the planet. In choosing to go with the taskforce, Jax meets other earth-loving youngsters like him from all walks of life. August is a nice, nerdy Canadian, Kylie is a granola-loving Australian, and fellow America, Gracie, is the veteran of the group, unimpressed with the new fellow recruits. Can Team 19 iron out the kinks in their teamwork processes and learn to work together while at the Academy and beyond?
I really enjoyed the idea of this book. This book includes mentions of cow farts and other kid-oriented, real-life climate facts as well as innovative solutions dreamed up by Team 19 members that are too cool for school. I would have loved this book growing up. The idea of the Climate Action Taskforce is fun- it gave me serious Spy Kids vibes, and as someone who has worked in the climate science realm, it is wonderful to read about a lightly science fiction world where kids are empowered to lend their skills to solve the climate crisis.
I did struggle to relate to the main character, Jax. I feel like kids books have to walk a tightrope with their main characters being rule-breaking, cool kids so that children are excited by them but also show their main characters growing and learning morals through the consequences of their actions, so that parents will approve of them. This novel swung wildly to the former side- Jax at one point hacks into a car and drives it off a cliff and the consequences are that he gets to become a climate wunderkind. Some of the side characters are also incredibly stereotypical, leading to an inauthentic feeling at times. This is the first book of the series, so perhaps this novel is establishing a baseline for each of the characters and future novels will highlight their growth as individuals.
I'd give this middle-grade book a 3/5, but with the caveat that I will most likely be keeping an eye out for the sequel to see how Jax and the rest of Team 19 evolve together.
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