Futureland

 Tell me a story... about the most spectacular theme park in the world

Futureland: Battle for the Park (Futureland #1) by H.D. Hunter

Publication date: November 8, 2022

Date read: January 3, 2023

Welcome to the most spectacular theme park in the world.

Everyone wants a ticket to Futureland, where you can literally live out your wildest dreams. Want to step inside your favorite video game? Go pro in a sports arena? Perform at a real live concert? Grab your ticket and come right in. Yet with all its attractions, Futureland has always just been home to Cam Walker, the son of the park's famous creators. And when Futureland arrives at its latest stop, Atlanta, Cam is thrilled for what promises to be the biggest opening ever. But things aren't quite right with the Atlanta opening. Park attractions are glitching. Kids go missing. And when his parents are blamed, Cam must find the missing kids and whoever's trying to take down his family . . . before it's too late.

This book is geared toward middle grade readers, so I am not the target audience for this one, but my review will address both adult and middle grade readers. 

First of all, I wish this book had been around when I was eleven. Science fiction can be such a fun genre and I wish it was written more for younger audiences. It reminded me of the classic kid detective stories, like Cam Jansen and Encyclopedia Brown (who I loved!), but set in a sci-fi environment. 

As an adult reader, I still actually really enjoyed this one. The mystery is a little easy to figure out, but that is to be expected. The story is actually very well-written and didn’t feel like it was “dumbed down” for kids. I also liked that the non-sci-fi plot points were actually pretty relatable - starting at a new school, trying to make friends, establishing some independence from your family. There is a lot that kids will like and identify with in this story. 

I also liked that, even in adult fiction, I’ve never really seen this idea played out, of a traveling amusement park. The closest I can think of is usually the horror trope of a traveling carnival. But this idea I found to be very creative, and can see how it would be very appealing to middle grade readers. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I think it’s a great story for kids who enjoy either science fiction or detective stories, and would also be a great option for getting new readers into these genres. It’s also a book that, as an adult, I wouldn’t mind reading with my child, as it would keep my interest as well. Highly recommend. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.