The Bunker Diary

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 6, 2015

Review

This 2014 Carnegie Medal winner for children's literature is a difficult but gripping thriller told from the first person perspective of a diary kept by sixteen-year-old Linus, the runaway son of a wealthy father, who is the first of six people kidnapped and held captive in an underground bunker by an unseen, sadistic villain. The successive arrival of the remaining five victims, including 9-year-old sweet-natured Jenny; a young, selfish woman named Anya; a man named Fred who is suffering from heroin withdrawal; and two older men - Bird and Russell, who is terminally ill, unfolds quickly, setting the stage for a brutal clash of motives and interests among the group. An elevator without any controls is the only way in or out of the bunker and the six are being watched via a camera system but have no interaction with their captor, who over the course of the novel introduces various hazards to the group - poisoned food, an attack dog - and contrives to turn them against one another. Readers will sympathize deeply with Linus's understated desperation and be touched by his protectiveness of Jenny and others. Brooks has crafted an exceedingly readable narrative that for all its horror will spur the audience on. Philosophical questions abound, but the novel remains plot-oriented which will allow teens to choose their level of engagement. Sophisticated readers who favor writers such as Melvin Burgess and Andrew Smith will find plenty they like here -providing they can make peace with the bleak ending.

Overall Book Score: very good