Crater Lake Evolution

Although more than five months have passed since Year 6 went on their trip to Crater Lake, Lance and his friends are still reeling from the experience. The transition to secondary school has seen been hard and the friends are no longer as close as they were. However, when reports of a explosion at the university leading to the escape of a mysterious creature and a town-wide curfew, Lance knows he and his friends need to work together once more to save Straybridge from a deadly enemy.

Sometimes a sequel fails to live up to the expectation, but that is not the case with ‘Crater Lake Evolution’. Jennifer Killick writes pacey, gripping adventures, full of suspense, but which are also infused with a keen sense of humour, taking the edge off the scary moments.

The plot is really well developed, referring to events at Crater Lake, but not to such an extent that having read book one is essential. Bringing the danger to threaten their own town adds an extra frisson of excitement to this story as family members change and are directly exposed to peril. Friendship is very much at the heart of the story, with team work and trust once again saving the day.

The tricky phase of transitioning to secondary school is explored really well in this story. The friends have grown apart as they are facing this next stage, leading to insecurities and misunderstandings. As the children re-group to face this new threat, they are forced to face some of these problems and share feelings about peer pressure, jealousy and anxiety- reassuring for those in a similar situation.

An excellent sequel, ‘Crater Lake Evolution’ is a deliciously dark adventure, mixed with humour and heart.

Crater Lake Evolution Jennifer Killick

Firefly ISBN: 978-1913102647

Crater Lake

On their way to Crater Lake, a brand new activity centre, Lance and his Year 6 class mates are shocked by the appearance of a blood-stained man who stops their coach, muttering warnings about the centre. The lack of camp staff when they arrive is also disconcerting, but that is nothing to the nightmare that follows. On this school trip from hell, don’t ever fall asleep…

Compelling reading, ‘Crater Lake’ is full of sudden frissons of fear and excitement. Jennifer Killick has managed to capture the dynamics of Lance’s class very well with its different groups and alliances yet she also shows how people are not always what they first appear and should not be instantly judged. Each of the group have been hiding something from the others and as their experiences draw them closer, they find comfort in sharing these with each other.

The reader soon comes to realise that there is far more to Lance than meets the eye, trusting him to lead the group to safety and overcome the dangers of Crater Lake. There are some great moments of humour mingled throughout the story to lighten the tension which are much needed!

This is a read-in-one-sitting, keep-the-lights-on-at-bedtime thriller of a story which is perfectly pitched for our Moving On Category. Just unsettling enough, it is a pacy and exciting read with much to recommend it!

Crater Lake Jennifer Killick

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102203