Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? In Spark, Becky and her friends have a series of days far worse than any rough day that you’re picturing in your mind. In this near-future thriller, Canadians Becky and Meghan are looking forward to meeting up with a couple of friends that they haven’t seen in a long time. Quickly, things deteriorate in their small coastal city. An unexpected earthquake tears apart their happy reunion, driving the entire city into chaos and turmoil. Separated from the others, Becky, her brother Tommy, and her friend Connor decide to make a trip halfway across the country in search of a safer area. However, with borders closing and a highly contagious virus spreading, their drive will be far from a fun road trip. In fact, with numerous perils awaiting them every step of the way, their journey will be more hazardous than any of them could possibly imagine.
The rapid series of disasters that Becky has to survive, including earthquakes, wildfires, car accidents and flooding, combined with more personalized struggles like the drug withdrawal symptoms of her brother, make for a nearly outrageous account, pushing the limits of reasonable belief. However, relatable characters help keep the story grounded. For example, Becky’s compassion and love of animals make her someone that many readers will identify with. Her level-headed friend Connor maintains a necessary focus and stability amid the ongoing catastrophes. And her brother Tommy uses sarcasm and indifference to mask his personal struggles, making him a polarizing yet familiar personality type. Dramatic and shocking events are sure to take even the most astute readers by surprise throughout Becky’s wild journey, as her misfortunes continue to pile up. Taking cataclysm and tragedy to the extreme, Leung maintains a high level of suspense for a book that moves at such an energetic pace. Those looking for an exciting, action-filled disaster thriller will find Spark to be a novel that doesn’t disappoint in either disasters or thrills.
