The Day the Screens went Blank

This comedy for children is less of the post-apocalyptic dystopia that its title and first few pages suggest, and more of a classic roadtrip. The sudden and inexplicable shut down of all screens forces the Bobcroft family to embark upon a trip across the country to check that Grandma is ok. Their long and eventful journey features petty theft, scary strangers and a great deal of pig poo, and it is narrated by Stella – the well-organised and sensible daughter of the family.
Stella begins her story by shining a light on just how dependent upon screens we have all become. Before her father has even left the house for work, he has already failed to tell the time, check the weather, read his emails and messages and watch the news. The sudden blackout is such monumental news that neighbours are popping round to tell one another about it. As the magnitude of the event slowly dawns upon everyone, Dad realises that they are going to have to drive the ten-hour journey to Grandma’s house, as there is no other way of checking she is ok.
Wallace has great fun exploring the question of what happens to grown-ups when you take away their technological safety net. The answer, it seems, is that they will quickly end up lost, stressed, frightened and covered in poo. Without phones and sat-navs, the Bobcrofts are forced to rely on the kindness of strangers to find their way to Grandma’s house. This opens Stella’s eyes to the rewards that can be found from investing time in other people, rather than in screens. Among the strangers who help the family on their way are mad ‘Uncle Tony’ whose farm is going out of business, and a seemingly selfish wealthy widow who’s so glad of some company that she’s happy to lend her Rolls Royce. Stella learns that little acts of kindness are contagious, and that helping others feels great and often leads to getting something in return. 
Read within the current context of lockdown and pandemic, the themes of panic, isolation and misinformation are very powerful. People try to make sense of what they can and can’t do, where they can and can’t go: the question of whether or not one should stay at home or risk travelling to see loved ones will be familiar for every reader. 
The Bobcrofts’ journey is full of laugh-out-loud moments and slapstick comedy, but the most enjoyable aspect of The Day the Screens went Blank is the charming and emotive way that the family, like most during the coronavirus pandemic, re-consider what is really important about their lives, and how easy it is to make magical memories together: no screens required!