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    Broken Arrow
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    Broken Arrow
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    Broken Arrow
    Audiobook4 hours

    Broken Arrow

    Written by John Wilson

    Narrated by Mark Ashby

    3/5

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    Currently unavailable

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    About this audiobook

    Steve thinks he made the right choice turning down a snowy week with his cousins at a cabin in northern Ontario in favor of a relaxing (and perhaps romantic) time under the Spanish sun with his friend, Laia.

    But when an email from his brother DJ arrives, implicating their grandfather in some shadowy international plots involving nuclear bombs, Steve and Laia immediately put aside all thoughts of a lazy, sun-drenched vacation.

    In a desperate attempt to find out if Steve’s grandfather was a Cold War-era spy, they crack mysterious codes, confront violent Russian mobsters, dodge spies, unearth a bomb and avoid nudists. But the more they uncover, the more Steve wonders: whose side was Grandpa really on?

    An Orca Book Publishers production.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOrca Book Publishers Audio
    Release dateOct 1, 2014
    ISBN9781459808584
    Author

    John Wilson

    Qualified in agricultural science, medicine, surgery and psychiatry, Dr John Wilson practised for thirty-seven years, specialising as a consultant psychiatrist. In Sydney, London, California and Melbourne, he used body-oriented therapies including breath-awareness, and re-birthing. He promoted the ‘Recovery Model of Mental Health’ and healing in general. At Sydney University, he taught in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, within the School of Public Health. He has worked as Technical Manager of a venture-capital project, producing health foods in conjunction with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Dissenting from colonial values, he saw our ecological crisis as more urgent than attending urban distress. Almost thirty years ago, instead of returning to the academy, he went bush, learning personal downsizing and voluntary simplicity from Aboriginal people. Following his deepening love of the wild through diverse ecologies, he turned eco-activist, opposing cyanide gold mining in New South Wales and nuclear testing in the Pacific. Spending decades in the Australian outback, reading and writing for popular appreciation, he now fingers Plato, drawing on history, the classics, art, literature, philosophy and science for this book about the psychology of ecology – eco-psychology – about the very soul of our ecocidal folly.

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    Reviews for Broken Arrow

    3/5

    12 ratings15 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      The 8th book in The Seven Sequels series, I was hoping to like Coda enough for it to send me looking for the rest of the books in the series. Unfortunately, it did not. A novel of intrigue about a kidnapped hoodlum and musical & artistic freedom for a made-up Balkan country, Coda irritated me more than anything. Grant you, as an adult, I was not the target audience for this novel, however, I usually enjoy books written for kids and young adults as much as those written for "grown-ups." Coda, however, did not meet the mark. The plot was too campy and loose to come close to being either believable or engaging, and there was no character development, so I didn't care about any of the characters. Furthermore, the central question of whether or not Spencer's grandfather was a secret agent was never answered, leaving this unsatisfying novel with a completely unsatisfying conclusion.
    • 3/5
      This was a sequel to a book I did not read, but I still had no problem following along thanks to the authors quick recaps of characters and their shared background. Decent, action-adventure read for those who either want a one-sit read, or needing a Hi-Lo read (though I don't think this is technically a Hi-Lo read). Would recommend for pre-teens or older reading at a lower grade level (but don't want to be seen with Juvie books.)
    • 2/5
      Coda is definitely a teen novel. I just couldn't get into the story. The main plot of a young man searching for his brother is exaggerated and lacks any really character development. This may be because this is a sequel or it may not be. Reading this book did not make me want to run out and check out the first novel. The fact that it's a fast read is a plus for teens who have a hard time staying with a novel.
    • 2/5
      Received Coda by Ted Staunton from the early review. Spencer O'Toole, movie buff, is home for the Christmas school break. His brother, Bunny, has a ten day pass from Creekside Juvenile Detention Centre. What is supposed to be a uneventful, relaxing vacation turns into a race to save his brother from kidnappers and to find out the truth about their grandfather. Coda is written for ages 10+. As a children's librarian, I have read and recommended many juvenile books. I feel the storyline in Coda is too unbelievable, even for a 10 year old. The fictitious Balkan state of Pianvia is too outlandish to be believed. A cross-dressing society that makes it's national drink out of pork rinds? Seriously? I am also not impressed with the main character using his parents first names's when he is talking about them. They are his parents, not his "best buds". Throughout the book, the reader is always wondering if Spencer and Bunny's grandfather was a secret agent / spy / killer. In the end, that question is never really answered. Is this the "cliff-hanger" for another book? Who knows. Closure to this question would have been better. I am sure there will be young readers that will enjoy the absurdity of this story, but in my opinion I feel this book only deserves two stars.
    • 4/5
      The allure of this series is that it doesn't matter what order you read the books. I chose this as the next book to read because I'd just finished "The Wolf and Me" which features Spencer's brother Bunny. These two books actually go hand in hand and tell the same story from each brother's point of view. It wouldn't matter which you read first but I recommend reading them concurrently as one further explains the events in the other. This was a wild spy/espionage tale that involved a freedom fighting group from a fictional Balkan country. Just like the others I've read in this series so far references to James Bond are plenty and also other spy writers of the cold war sixties such as Len Deighton. This is just the type of book that would have had me as a teenager searching out those other books. This is an over-the-top wild spy story where suspension of belief has to be held to truly enjoy the ride, but enjoy it I did. DJ keeps being mentioned in each book I've read so far so I might look for his to read next.
    • 3/5
      College freshman Spencer spends his Christmas vacation looking for his brother Bunny, who has mysteriously disappeared. Bunny is on a temporary release from prison and must be with family at all times. Since their parents and extended families are out of town for the holiday, the responsibility for finding Bunny falls to Spencer...with the help of his friend and crush AmberLea, her friend Toby, and pop star Aiden Tween. What ensues is entertaining, but totally implausible. The author describes this book as an "affectionate spoof of classic espionage tales" although the reader doesn't know that until the acknowledgment page which is in the end of the book. Spencer is the narrator of the tale and portrays himself as a sincere but bumbly kind of character. His voice is sarcastic which lends some humor to the escapade. Younger teens might enjoy this although it lacks depth and has no character or plot development. "Coda" is a part of the "Seven Sequels" series which is a sequel to "Seven: The Series." Each book in the series stands on it own and usually has a different author. The "Seven Sequels" series follows the characters in the original series. What ties both series together is that each of the seven is a grandson of David McLean. Upon his death, McLean left directions for each grandchild to carry out an assignment that had something to do with his murky past.I've read 1 book in each series and while there is very little literary competence, there is entertainment and some excitement and may appeal to young male readers looking for something light to read.
    • 3/5
      I've read a few of the other books in this series and this was not one of my favourites. The positive side of it is that it is a fast read with lots of action. The not so great part of the book is that the language is fairly simple and repetitive. I think the series is aimed at trying to hook reluctant readers, but I don't know if this will do it.
    • 3/5
      Was a very good book. I really enjoyed the action and twists that really kept my interest. I will definitely have to read the rest of this series.
    • 3/5
      This book is part of a series written by several authors. I haven't read any of the other books in the series but I didn't find it too difficult to just jump right in.The book was action packed which helped to make it a quick read. I enjoyed the action and I did really enjoy the historical aspects to the book.
    • 3/5
      This is an ambitious project involving one plot line, seven protagonists, and a different author for each volume. For the undertaking alone, I give the book credit. There are numerous connections with other story lines and characters which Wilson, as well as his co-authors, does a good job keeping tight. The story has a decent flow and never really slows down so it does a good job writing for its YA audience. The plot of this particular book is stretched a bit thin and the resolution is a bit sudden but given the scope and material the author has to deal with, it is understandable. I do think the author underestimates the language ability of the YA audience as the dialogue is a bit flat and repetitive but overall it is a good addition to an interesting literary project.
    • 3/5
      Featuring almost nonexistent character development, Broken Arrow is nevertheless a action packed and quick read. Centering on a young man’s attempt to discover whether his grandfather was actually a Cold War spy, a sweet love story underscores the action. There is ample historical detail added to the story and yet, it fails to ever elevate the story beyond forgettable YA fare. Perfect as a summer beach read!
    • 4/5
      Broken Arrow uses facts from an historic 1966 midair crash off the coast of Spain to propel Canadian Steve and his girlfriend Laia into investigation and adventure when they visit Laia's family in Spain. It helps to know the backstory of this series, to understand sibling and cousin banter and references. The 7Series is a set of books about seven different grandsons, written by seven different popular Canadian tween/YA author. Each book focuses on a different grandson and gifts/tasks set out for him in their grandfather's will. I haven't read these books, but am familiar with some of the authors, and can see how they would be popular as a boxed set.Back to Broken Arrow...following up on Lost Cause (from the original 7Series) readers meet teens Steve and Laia, who are visiting her family in Spain, over Christmas. Steve has come into some information that leads him to think his grandfather may have been a traitor and a spy. He and Laia must break the code and outwit some baddies to find the answers to his grandfather's past. As an adult, I enjoyed the background of the Palomares incident, where nuclear weapons were released accidently during a mid-air collision, resulting in plutonium contamination and possibly a missing, not-yet-detonated bomb. I found the history part interesting, but I don't know that reluctant readers will stick with the somewhat low key action/adventure story line. The chase scenes are short and not all that edge-of-your-seat, and having it wrap up with a long-lost letter that explains everything seems too pat.I would suggest this to readers who know the 7Series and want more, rather than readers looking for a stand-alone action/adventure.
    • 3/5
      I found this book a bit difficult to rate. On the one hand, the writing is smooth and makes for an easy read, and I appreciated the historic underpinnings to the story. On the other hand, the tale is rather slight, with little character development. Kids may like the adventure and figuring out the codes, and may find their curiosity sparked concerning another place and time. But the way I judge a kids' book as a four or five star is dependent upon my willingness to mail it to my granddaughter. I won't bother doing that with this, but if she spots it on my shelf when she comes to visit, I certainly won't mind her reading it.
    • 2/5
      Unbeknownst to me when I received Ted Staunton's "Coda", the book is actually part of a series of books which is a continuation of a series established back in 2012. I had received Eric Walters' "Between Heaven and Earth" which focused on the lead character's journey to Africa in order to fulfill his deceased grandfather's final wishes. Staunton's "Coda" is part of the second series which follows the same characters that were the focus in the first series; the protagonist of this book is the cousin of DJ, the protagonist of Walters' "Between Heaven and Earth", so there is a connection (albeit very limited) between the two.I had personally not been a huge fan of Walters' book; I felt that it lacked any real depth or development and that the plot was oversimplified and unoriginal. Since reading Staunton's "Coda", however, I may have to reconsider my impressions of "Between Heaven and Earth" because compared to this drivel, Walters' book was a literary masterpiece.There is very little I can say about “Coda” which could be considered positive. The plot is outlandish and unbelievable, the dialogue is unrealistic and contrived, and the characters are paper-thin and unrelatable. Perhaps the disconnection that I felt for the characters may have been due to the fact that the majority of the characters presented in “Coda” were introduced in Staunton’s first book “Jump Cut”. Yet even as a sequel to a novel that I have not read, the book was not able to capture my attention whatsoever. Staunton tries to base the plot of the book on a fictitious nation that is laughable in its description. There is not one character that is well-developed and the decisions and actions made by the protagonist, Spencer O’Toole, are ridiculous and unbelievable. Any good book, regardless of its target audience, must have at least one area of literary strength; well-defined characters, an interesting plot, an intriguing structure, etc. “Coda” has none of these aspects going for it. There is nothing either memorable or interesting about the book and I would guess that, should any reader choose to start the Seven Sequels series with this book, they would likely not progress any further with it after reading this novel. I can’t see ever recommending this book to young readers and I sincerely hope that the other authors in the series put more effort into their works than Staunton did with “Coda”. Avoid this one.1.5/5
    • 4/5
      In CODA, Spencer spends his Christmas vacation looking for his brother Bunny, who has mysteriously disappeared while the two of them were skating. Their parents and extended families are out of town, so Spencer must save Bunny on his own — with the help of his girl-crush AmberLea, the suave Toby, the diminutive pop sensation Aiden Tween, and a cast of strange minor characters.The author calls CODA "an affectionate spoof on classic espionage tales," which explains the far-fetched and somewhat campy plot of this novel. Adult readers may recognize the various films, books, characters, and songs the text references, but younger readers may be bewildered by the sometimes bizarrely meta-fictional elements of this story. Despite its realistic setting, this novel verges on screwball comedy; readers seeking problem-based fiction may be disappointed. The author often coyly glosses past matters that YA books normally linger over, such as sexuality and drug and alcohol use, and despite repeated threats and the presence of guns, the violence in the novel is cartoonish. The resolution is completely unbelievable, but by that point readers have either embraced or rejected the novel's larger logic, so the late revelations should simply act as a punchline to the running joke of the novel.CODA is a fun and easy read, and readers who like absurd, over-the-top texts should enjoy this novel. CODA is a volume in the SEVEN SEQUELS series and is the companion novel to Richard Scrimger's THE WOLF AND ME, which readers may want to check out to learn the other side of Spencer and Bunny's story.