The Perfect Escape

 

Shirley J.              Young Adult Fiction                            Escape Rooms, Zombies, Korean Culture

The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park    320 pages

Nate Jae-Woo Kim and Kate Anderson meet at the zombie-themed escape room they both work at and although Nate has been carrying a passion for years for another girl who sometimes notices him and hangs with him and his buds, Kate has a certain je ne sas quoi and while Nate has to question his feelings he begins to let go of the dream as the former gal fades into the background and Kate comes center stage in his life.   They share witty banter and the characters are so likeable not always so much Nate's 6 year old sister, Lucy, who he absolutely adores and excuses far more than anyone I know would.   But Lucy does have her good points and shows her golden side.   Nate's family are in financial arrears when his Dad is pushed out of his position at work and Nate is frantic to try to help out.  Kate wants money to get away and start a new life, her mother is dead and her Dad is a drone parent, not spending time with her but having the family robot keep an eye on her and put her under house arrest if her Dad so deems it.  Both Kate and Nate are so up on zombies that they decide to team up and enter a week-long survivalist  competition held by a local tech company in which the participants have to evade zombies to win.  The cash prize is huge and could be the answer to helping Nate's family and getting Kate to NYC away from her Dad.    A good story with lots of fun repartee.   I recommend this one to Middle Schoolers on up though with the warning that Nate is fond of using the F word.