Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Nojadera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming romance highlights communication and integrity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
High school senior Nate Kim is offered a large amount of money by one of his wealthy classmates in exchange for committing grade fraud. The extra cash could help Nate support his family and jumpstart his business, but is it worth compromising his integrity? At the same time, Kate Anderson wants to get away from her controlling dad and pursue her dreams of becoming an actress in New York. But how can she move across the country when her dad tracks her every move? Sparks fly when Nate and Kate meet at the zombie-themed escape room where they both work. As the two teens start to get to know each other, they decide to enter a local tech company's weekend-long zombie survivalist competition, which offers a huge cash prize. Will winning the game solve their problems and be THE PERFECT ESCAPE from reality?
Is It Any Good?
Suzanne Park's charming romantic comedy highlights the importance of communication, integrity, and perseverance. Nate and Kate are smart, driven, and ambitious teens searching for The Perfect Escape and seeking acceptance from their families. And while there are many hilarious and lighthearted moments, especially during the action-packed zombie survival adventure, the book also thoughtfully explores classism, privilege, and family expectations, making it a must-read for teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the romance portrayed in The Perfect Escape seems realistic and relatable. Do YA romance novels help readers sort out their feelings and learn how to communicate, or do they create false expectations about teen relationships?
Talk about the various kinds of diversity in the novel. Why are diverse representations important in children's and young adult literature?
How do the characters demonstrate communication, integrity, teamwork, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Adventures , Robots , School ( High School ) , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire
- Publication date : April 7, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 4, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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