Mum and Dad watch their film on the Big TV. Usually it’s one where people follow each other round an old house, saying long words at each other. Sometimes Mum and Dad randomly skip bits and I’m not sure why. I guess they’re impatient. The family goes on a road trip to get to Grandma (they don’t know if she’s ok and they can’t call her because her number is saved in the mobile phone!) Stella witnesses a world gone slightly wonky from the adults having no screens. Wait, how do you even get there without a GPS? Money, work, lives, all gone crazy! Sunday night is always film night: Mum and Dad watching on the TV, Stella on her phone and little brother Teddy on his tablet. That is, until one terrible evening when all the screens go blank! It’s nice to see that without technology people find different things to do and see what’s around them more. I am currently reading this as a class novel with a Y6 class and they are loving the family dramas and tensions as Stella's mum and dad try to stay in control of events. Stella's voice, as she observes and comments on the dynamics, is a huge hit with them ! Stella's family are so relatable and endearing and we have sympathy and empathy for every single member and their various breaking points along the journey.

The Day The Screens Went Blank | BookTrust

Well, I looked at Mum and told her my film had gone too and she asked Teddy if his thing was still working, but it wasn’t. Wallace has written yet another entertaining tale that imagines what if people had to do without technology to deal with life and how much misadventure could happen? The absurd situations make it a joy to read. It’s funny and the continuing calamity surrounding the car journey will make kids giggle.I wasn’t a fan, but anybody who likes stories that involve families going on adventures around the country for a completely useless reason should read this book. Best-selling writer, Danny Wallace, turned his hand to children’s fction with his debut Hamish and the WorldStoppers. Filled with his trademark humour, this fantasy adventure series was inspired by the books that set Wallace’s own young imagination alight. Everyone loves Hamish! The frst two books have received fantastic praise and children nationwide have devoured his stories. Hamish is a thoroughly endearing character and Danny’s writing has a sense of humour that appeals to kids and parents alike. Danny has collaborated with leading illustrator Jamie Littler, who brings the world of Hamish to life with his quirky illustrations that ooze child appeal. And you’d think as an adult reader (me), you’d be able to predict all the things that go wrong but screen use is far more insidious than I think! The key used to be Post-it Notes, until I realised that was bad for the environment, so now I use the organizer on my mum's old phone. There's nothing more satisfying than a full calendar."

The Day the Screens Went Blank (Audio Download): Danny

Tracy Beaker is now a mum, and this marvellous tale, narrated by her daughter Jess, introduces the spirited character to a new generation of readers.Serious issues are explored with sensitivity and humour, creating a funny, moving and uplifting tale. There is such a warm hearted and positive feel to the story that, although it makes the reader stop and think "what if...", the story is also full of fun, kindness and of our ability to rise to the challenge and adapt. As strangers help out the family and connect with them, we see Stella's family themselves reconnecting with each other and, without digital distractions, discover the strength (and joy) they have in relying on each other.

The adventure the family go on is good, the character development is good, unfortunately this book didn’t give me the answers I wanted. Imagine if all the technology in the world just . . . STOPPED. When ten-year-old Stella wakes up to discover a world full of BLANK screens, her family, town, and in fact the whole world seems to have been thrown into chaos. And what about poor Grandma who is stranded at the other end of the country? He kept shouting, ‘Alexa! What time is it?’ and ‘Alexa! What’s going on?’ and ‘Alexa! What did I do? Why aren’t you talking to me?!’ So I take off Mum’s headphones and now I can actually hear him properly and he’s complaining that their film’s just stopped.

The Day the Screens Went Blank - Scribd The Day the Screens Went Blank - Scribd

But the story is about so much more, it’s an adventure that brings a family closer together and a realization that we used to do so much more when we didn’t use screens so much. It’s about discovering the joy of swinging in the park, visiting a library, and having fun with games like marbles and other activities long forgotten from our younger days. When ten-year-old Stella wakes up to discover a world full of BLANK screens, her family, town, and in fact the whole world seems to have been thrown into chaos. And what about poor Grandma who is stranded at the other end of the country? Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Part of the Solve Your Own Mystery seri... This hugely entertaining comedy road trip involves numerous family fallouts and misfortunes with road rage, cow snot, and a very angry waitress - but some positives come out of the chaos, when the family have no choice but to talk to one another instead of being glued to their devices. Can you imagine a world with no screens? Don't miss the hilarious new 'what-if' adventure from bestselling author, comedian, and presenter Danny Wallace.It was fiction I liked the main character best (stella) because she showed her views as I went through the book and told me in first person what were her opinions. Teddy was sitting miserably at the kitchen table with his blank tablet. Usually he’d be watching an age-appropriate video of giant airliners or something. Wallace's second solo book, Yes Man was published in July 2005. In it, he describes how he spent six months "saying Yes where once I would have said No", to make his life more interesting and positive. In this book he shows the tribulations and mischief that he got up to while he said yes to any question or proposal. The book was described as "one of those rare books that actually has the potential to change your life" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and as "a fascinating book and a fascinating experiment" by David Letterman. A film adaptation of Yes Man was developed with Warner Bros. and stars Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in 2008 in the US and the UK. Wallace appeared on screen in a cameo in a bar scene in the last ten minutes of the film, holding a British pint glass. Join Stella and her family for an adventure to see her Gran when a global disaster strikes: the phones, iPads and all of the technology has gone off!