Disconnect

by Lois Peterson

Since moving hundreds of miles to a new school, Daria has become increasingly dependent on her cell phone. Texts, Facebook and phone calls are her only connection to her friends in Calgary, and Daria needs to know everything that is going on at home to feel connected to her old life. Her cell phone habit looks a lot like addiction to her mother and to her new friend Cleo. Daria dismisses the idea of technology addiction as foolish until her habit puts a life in danger.

136 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

After writing for adults for more than 20 years, I turned to writing for younger readers in 2007. My first children's book, MEETING MISS 405 was published by Orca Book Publishers in Fall, 2008, and subsequently won top place in the BC Choclate Lily Children's Choice Award.

My subsequent seven books for readers aged six to 14 have been nominated for awards and included on prestigious lists of recommended reading.

My how-to book '101 - and more - Writing Exercises to Get You Started & Keep You Going' is used by writing teachers, students, and writers.

My first nonfiction book SHELTER; HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY will be published by Orca Book Publishers on Oct 12, 2021.

www.loispetersonwriter.ca

Reviews

[Gena Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! It aimed straight at today's youth, who seem to be overwhelmingly dependent on their phones and computers. I liked how there was a moral to the story. It showed what could happen if you're not paying attention and are on the phone too much! This book had a lot of excitement to keep me engaged the whole time. I also loved how she meets a new girl Cleo and they research this addition of technology and learned from it. I definitely will cut back my usage of technology because I have a bad habit of check my phone 24/7. Overall, it was a really fun read because it's very relatable.

[Erin Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a classic “phones bad” tale spun by an adult aimed at young people.

Daria was believable, the the situations she found herself in bordered on nonsensical. I thought Cleo was going to have more depth to her than being the 13 year old “voice of reason”. The characters all spoke in a stilted, stiff way.

In the end, it sounded like Daria had a friend problem, not a phone problem. Phones are not the enemy. Having the entirety of human knowledge at our fingertips is daunting at times, yes, but it can be a wonderful tool if used properly.

[Veronica Steiger-Gaboury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great young adult book about the perils of being too attached to technology and not paying enough attention to the people right in front of us. Middle school reading level appropriate, all levels relevant.

[Willow Morris · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a teen myself, it’s probably VERY ironic that I didn’t like this book. It had a good message, but the whole thing felt really unrealistic. Is there phone addict teens in the world like Daria? Yes. But if a person like Daria was babysitting, I don’t think that it would’ve escalated the way it did. Like she knew she was supposed to be watching Caden since she signed up to watch him, yet he got stitches from an injury since she was too busy on her phone. I feel like that’s just a stereotype of the whole addiction to phone things. If a teenager who liked technology was in her shoes, the whole situation would have been prevented. Or if it was to her level of ‘addiction,’ wouldn’t have even chose to watch Caden in the first place. Also I felt like some of the text messages that was sent felt like a robot trying to mimic texting. Like nobody ACTUALLY types like how it was seen in the book. (At least not anymore.) At the end of the book, there was an ACTUAL line, and I quote, “The kids that didn’t were bullied into it. Peer pressure at its work, I thought as I looked at Cleo,” like what?? Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the book that it’s good to take breaks from technology?? I only finished it for points. (But I read it like 2 years ago, so my memory of the book isn’t crystal clear, I mostly remember how it was inaccurate and at some points made my blood boil.) I know that I’ll live and it isn’t that serious, but I’ve had these thoughts ever since I read it. As a conclusion, it was an insanely hard read and I wouldn’t have finished it if a reward wasn’t involved. Remember that I’m saying this as a teenager who doesn’t think the world revolves around phones and social media, and yes I am in extracurricular activities after school, and am a straight A student.)

[AliKat · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Disclaimer: I'm a teenager! (This might change the view and perspective of things)

I was forced to read this book for a group project in class.
1. There were no real descriptive words in the book so it was hard to paint a picture of it.
2. There was only one suspenseful moment and that wasn't even halfway through the book or after
3. The storyline didn't make sense, it was either too fast to follow, like Daria's doing this and suddenly she moved on to something else without transition between. Or it was too slow-paced that my group and I nearly fell asleep reading it
4. There isn't a whole lot of character development in the story, Daria is addicted to technology then she gets her phone taken away because she wasn't paying attention when she was babysitting, does a project on technology withdrawal, then gets her phone back as a reward. It makes no sense and she doesn't change through the plot line
5. The ending was the worst one ever

Sorry for the long list of complaints but I needed to put it somewhere

This book was a waste of our time and we didn't like it

It had an okay theme and message but it wasn't too interesting to read

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much of a story the author created in such a small book.

It was really good. Daria is a pain as a character, but Cloe was fun and definitely a jumping point for Daria.

The subject of addiction to technology is front and center in this book.

Clear writing and down to earth.

[Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short, quick read. Very good!! Subject that touches us all.
Good references to encourage a reader of any age to check into..Rudyard Kipling's poem IF is a poem
that will resonate with all..maybe for some, change the last bit.."you'll be a man, my son" to "you'll be a woman, my daughter".

[Manjusha Deshpande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly relevant when we do not want to part with our devices! And to stay connected is the ultimate end all be all. It could have used some of Sophie Kinsella's magic though.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fine choice for high interest/low level YA fiction. Plot moves briskly. Characters are believable, and conflicts likely to appeal to reluctant teen readers.

[Gerson Renoj Ovalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very interesting a really good example of real life.

[Bridget's Quiet Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What attracted me to this book?

The fact it was a short book!...It's only 124 pages.

I was at the library browsing around really quickly and just looking to see what would catch my eye and saw this one and noticed its short...so, I grabbed it...Didn't have time to read much of the summary because I was supposed to be in there for something else and had someone outside waiting for me...At first, going by the cover, I thought it was a Dystopian Novella....But I did a quick scan of the summary and saw "New School", "Facebook" and knew it wasn't dystopia...but wasn't sure what it was until I got home, read the summary better and read the book (within a few hours...hey, I'm not a fast reader and have kids and other things I kept having to stop reading to handle)

So basically, this short little book is about Daria, who was dragged to another city, away from her two best friends. They are always texting, Facebooking, emailing, etc...And her family and the other knew girl at her new school are telling her she is addicted to technology and she says she isn't...

Well, a dangerous situation ends up happening that begins to open her technology addiction...

I wasn't sure what I would think about this book when I picked it up...I just knew I wouldn't like it but I went with it anyway....And as it turns out, its a good book, well written and easy to read. The chapters are really short. The characters are pretty easy to like. This is a true teen/YA book. The characters in this book are written in a way that it could be happening in everyday life...And I think that was the purpose of this book. And of course, with it talking about technology addictions...It leaves you with a little message without shoving it down your throat and making you feel bad for liking technology....But just letting you know that it can become one like any other addiction out there...Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc...

Well worth the read!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This quickie read is a morality story preaching the vices of addiction - specifically technology addiction. It definitely made me rethink my dependence on the Internet and computers, although I am one of the very few left in the world who does not own a smart phone. We have a pay-as-you-go cell.
After reading this little story, I decided that my New Year's resolution is going to be to cut back on my Internet/Facebook usage.

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that book was amazing because it talks about true facts such as, teens and how there eyes are glued to the screen. Its like technology is preventing them from reaching their goals in life. It is still really interesting to read.This book also has some exciting chapters that engage the reader to read more! I would recommend this book to students who love their phones or their technology they own!

[Nesma Bazali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Daria who moves to a new place an is addicted to her phone. She says her phone is the only way to stay connected to her two best friends, Josie and Selena. She realizes that she is a little to addicted to her phone when a child gets very hurt in her care. She meets a new girl Cleo and they research this addiction.

[Beyond Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because I could relate to people all around me. People are glued to their devices and it's becoming a habit to a lot of people. I liked this story quite a lot but didn't like what happened in the climax, but I'm glad that the author out that there. It just shows the consequences that could happen being on the devices that have now become addictions.

[Axel M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was interesting because of what it was talking about the whole title says It all it talks about how people spend to much on there phone and how they get grounded but it's a interesting book because that's how life is right now all you see is people on there phones texting,talking or having technology with them.

[Kaylyn Kehoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In disconnected a girl was babysitting and well she was doing her job. instead she was talking to her old friend from where she used to live. and well being connected cause danger on her job. One of her kid get injured.

[Madz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Would definitely make you want to not use your phone while babysitting.