There are just a few nuances, but they really help create an authentic atmosphere. One thing I was impressed with was Northrop’s grasp of a typical teenage boy. What’s the point of reading a novel that builds you up (even if only a little) to expect a climax which ends up being non-existent? I was expecting a climax where everything would come together, but instead the ending was unsatisfying and empty.
Trapped also ends all too swiftly, which left me feeling robbed.
Trapped is an all too realistic story where sitting around and waiting for rescue takes up the majority of the story. In short, there just isn’t enough happening to make it a thrilling or exciting read. There weren’t many huge disputes between the group of seven high schoolers, and the ones that existed weren’t engaging or long-lasting. Sure there’s the little bust up between Pete, Scotty’s friend, and Les, but that’s really not enough, particularly when it’s not really covered and only told through second-hand speech. The basis of all good novels is conflict- between characters, in the story, anything- but Trapped just doesn’t have enough of it. Due to these limits, Michael Northrop doesn’t have much leverage when it comes to defying expectations.
The only way a Day-After-Tomorrow-esque story like Trapped can progress is from bad to worse, from problem to conflict and salvation. The nature of survival novels such as Trapped is that often they’re a better idea in theory rather than in practice. You know things are even worse when you’re stuck in a high school, nobody knows you’re there, and nobody can save you… You know things are bad when it starts to snow heavily and doesn’t stop, the power goes out and the heating dies, and the roof groans under the weight of the snow.
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