Read Online Disconnect by Lois Peterson - Free Book Online

head.”
    Some students gasped. Others muttered.
    â€œBut he’s fine now,” Cleo added quickly.
    Harrison clapped. Other students joined in.
    I dropped the handouts on the desk.
    â€œOur presentation is about the effects of dependence on technology,” I said. “But you probably know all about it already. In fact, I bet right now most of you can’t wait for class to be over so you can check your messages. That’s how dependent you all are.”
    There was lots of shuffling and nervous laughter.
    â€œSome schools in the States did something called Project Disconnect,” I went on quickly. “The school banned all devices. For a whole month. Not even teachers could use them on school time. Can you imagine! We don’t have to go that far, maybe. But perhaps my story—and our project—is enough to make everyone think about their preoccupation with technology.”
    â€œThat’s it, folks,” said Cleo. “Send your questions by carrier pigeon, if you have any!”
    â€œThank you, girls.” Ms. Stryker tapped my arm as I went back to my desk. “I’d be interested in knowing more about Project Disconnect.”
    A couple of students groaned as I handed her the printout.
    â€œI wonder if this might be worth considering as a class project,” said Ms. Stryker. “What do you all think?”
    The room erupted in jeers and cross talk.
    â€œI’m in.” Cleo’s voice cut through the noise. “Who’s with me?”
    There was laughter. Some from the back called out, “You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œYou don’t even have a phone,” Drew said.
    â€œYou can’t even make a PowerPoint work!” jeered someone else.
    â€œMaybe I can’t,” said Cleo. “Maybe I don’t,” she told Drew. “But what about you, Mr. Chess Champion? Are you up for it?”
    â€œI’ve got a chess app on my phone,” he said. “There’s an important tournament coming up.”
    â€œFine. What about you, Harrison?” Cleo asked.
    Now, he had a nice face, I noticed.
    â€œOkay, okay,” Drew interrupted. “But just for one week. One week and no more.”
    â€œI’m in too.” Harrison pulled his phone from his pocket. He made a big deal of turning it off and dropping it into his bag.
    Ms. Stryker watched without speaking as one student after another signed on.
    Some of them volunteered on their own, others were bullied into it. Peer pressure at work, I thought as Cleo picked out the kids trying to pretend they were not in the room.
    I confronted a girl who was texting under her desk. “You in, Madison?” I asked. “Or are you going to be one of the holdouts?”
    When Madison saw everyone staring at her, she slammed down her phone. “Okay. Okay. Now get out of my face.”
    â€œThat was interesting. And enlightening,” said Ms. Stryker. “I’ll spend a bit of time with this, do some of my own research. I’ll figure out how this might work. But for now, we have a few more projects to get through.”
    Cleo turned toward me and raised her hand.
    We high-fived.
    â€œThat has to get us an A,” she said.

Chapter Sixteen
    Cleo was wrong.
    â€œ An impressive piece of work. ” Dad read Stryker’s comment below the A-minus on the report.
    â€œWe deserved an A,” Cleo said for the hundredth time.
    â€œAnd we might have got one if we hadn’t screwed up on the PowerPoint presentation,” I said, being careful not to look at her.
    â€œThat’s right. Blame it on me.” When she shook her head, the strings on her hat flailed around her head.
    â€œDidn’t your teacher tell you that you lost points because you depended on technology for a project on technology dependence? Not because you couldn’t make it work?” asked Mom.
    â€œIsn’t that the same thing?” I asked.
    â€œNo. It’s