Control Room

by Ryan Wolf

Maggie is pulled from her high school after her mother begins dating a member of a small "forward-thinking" group led by a man who proclaims secret knowledge of life and death. She begins homeschooling at the group's compound, where she is educated in their cult beliefs. As the group's leader becomes progressively unhinged, and her mother grows more connected to the cult, Maggie must rescue her mother and other cult members from a horrific fate before it is too late.

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

Published August 16, 2020

About the author

Ryan Wolf is the author of the young adult novels Watches and Warnings, Control Room, The Real Unreal, Songs for the Offseason, and Doubling the Bounty. He also crafted the Creepy Critter Keepers chapter book series for children, as well as Moving Through Walls, The Memory Vampires, Darkness at Dreamer Mountain, and Rulers of a Dead Planet for middle-grade readers. Wolf’s work has been recognized by the Junior Library Guild, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Reviews

[Sandi Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi-lo verse novel that follows Maggie, a teen trying to expose the cult her mother forced them to join. A lot is packed into this quick read, and the topic is interesting and well researched. I think teens will enjoy this book, and teachers could use it to teach mob mentality and the power of persuasion.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

During this past first semester, it was an easy flow. I did have my little moments where I struggled with some lessons in a few specific classes. But other than that I always try my best to get what I can get done, which does a lot for me. I have passing grades, which Im proud of myself for. I was doing great in the beginning of the year, I had specifically A’s and B’s. All the lessons were part review, things that I have done before, or just were simply an easy task for me. But now at this moment I have about two C’s. I’ve learned a lot this semester, from each class. So I’d have to say my accomplishment is my passing grades.
My big improvements this semester. My improvements in Painting were improving my painting skills, and learning about different ways to paint, especially types of texture. For this first semester of taking Child Development, I mostly got to learn more about the process of a developing fetus in the mothers stomach. I even got to watch a birth video but I looked away for most of it. For history there's really no specific improvements, I just do my work and study for my tests. Algebra 2 has been a good class for me. I think I do well there, even if I don’t have a 100% because I know algebra can be a struggle but I put all my attention and focus into that class so I got a passing grade. For ceramics I’ve gotten to improve the most there. I get to learn a lot in that class, such as different ways to use clay, types of texture, and using the wheel, or by hand. I really enjoy that class, it’s very relaxing there. I take it very seriously because I could see myself doing something like that in my future.
In my English class, the three most important things I’ve learned was that it's very helpful to annotate. It can be helpful when it comes to quizzes and to have more useful notes for yourself. Especially if you struggle with understanding a word, you can annotate it and be able to understand when rereading it later on. Another important thing I learned in English is listening to what your teacher suggests to you. It can be very important information you can use for later, such as homework, notes, tests, etc. Last thing that I learned in English that's important to me is when you are reading and you don’t understand a word and you can’t look it up during a test or something else, you should look around the word cause it can give you clues as to what the word most resembles.
This semester I've been able to learn many skills from my teachers. And I appreciate what they have taught me. I’ve been able to improve things over the years, even relearning things helps too because I do end up forgetting things. So it’s nice to refresh my memory. The first semester was a great start to my junior year. And hopefully my second semester is just as great.

[Joshua Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed Ryan Wolf’s previous effort, Watches and Warnings, I was pretty excited to read Control Room. I loved W&W for its frank but soulful depictions of harrowing experiences. I think one of the central problems with books written for younger people is the purposeful ignoring of the real darkness that fills their world. I sometimes worry that kids might turn away from books altogether if those books fail to treat them with the respect that a reader of fiction deserves. Ryan Wolf refuses phony emotion and easy resolution. Finally here’s something for young people actually worth reading!

Control Room takes us into the troubling world of cults. He’s clearly done a great deal of research. This book can teach you a lot about how cults work, especially the insidious brainwashing techniques they use. You know he’s done the research because he lays in the informative stuff so smoothly he must have really soaked those details up thoroughly.

Strong characterization and immersive descriptions make for an intense and intensely enjoyable experience. Read it!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and very readable account of the manipulation and turmoil of cults on young people and their families in general. This is clearly written by someone well-read in cults and cult-like social experiences. And the shorter paragraphs make this easily digestible for those just getting into or back into reading, while still having beautiful language and imagery. Overall a responsible and fun treatment of a difficult experience many young people unfortunately have to go through.

[amandalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

A novel-in-verse about a teenage girl pulled into a cult by her mother. Great concept, but there were some issues with pacing (a super rushed ending) and character development (specifically that of the main character and the cult leader).

I wish that the story had been flushed out a bit more or more detailed or more descriptive or something.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggie’s story takes us inside a cult that might just be a weird yoga/vegan utopia, or might have sinister intentions. Written in verse, the story quickly moves along with the help of a flash back or two and some helpful Cult-101 factual info. A fair place to come for understanding why some folks get a little culty. Took an hour to read.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was a good story behind this, but the verse writing did not work for this one at all. There was way too much left unexplained and there was zero character development. I’ve read verse novels that have blown me away with how much they say with so little, but I can’t say that about this one, sorry.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Control Room is a hi-low novel in verse about cults. I liked the references to other cults because it could lead readers to other books. The ending of Control Room was a bit abrupt, but this one will appeal to our low readers.

[Kamila Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think this was perfectly executed to show a cult to a young adult. The format is the only thing I feel that wasn’t needed. It could have been written like a regular story.

[Ranette · Rating 3 out of 5]

after the death of the dad mom decides to join a group to feel better. Her teen daughter goes with her but they soon find some secrets.

[Thaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was written in a poem form but I didn’t really like the flow so um :/

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a compelling and intriguing novel-in-verse about cults. However, I think it's too black-and-white for such a complex and grey issue. Hmm the ending left me feeling ambivalent.