Reading Metrics
Description
In Abandoned Amusement Parks, twelve-year-old William Wright wakes up alone in a deserted park, his memories of a war that no longer exists and his mother's scream echoing in his mind. Rescued by the Harrison Home for Youth, he must keep his head down while his internal energy known as the Spark fails, leaving him powerless and vulnerable. Armed with only a dead phone and a mysterious key, William sets out to uncover the truth behind his fractured reality before his secret is discovered.
Quick Summary
If you're into the whole eerie-but-cool vibe, this one's for you. "Abandoned Amusement Parks" by Williams, Dinah takes you inside eleven forgotten theme parks across the U.S., spilling the real stories behind why they closed and what happened to the rides, roller coasters, and mascots left behind. The writing feels like a mix between a fun road-trip guide and a spooky travel journal, so it keeps things interesting without getting too heavy or dry. It's perfect for kids who love trivia, urban exploration, or just weird history that reads more like gossip than a textbook. At a 5.9 reading level, it sits right in that sweet spot where younger middle graders can handle it but older kids won't feel like it's talking down to them. Parents will appreciate that it's purely educational with zero iffy content, just some mild "what went wrong" tension that makes these places feel a little haunted without being nightmare fuel. If you've ever wandered past a chain-link fence and wondered what was on the other side, this book feeds that curiosity in a completely safe way. Fans of "The Boy Who Loved Batman" or anyone who devours Those Amazing books will probably tear through this too.