Place Hacking

March 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-In this attractive addition, Rosen delves into the concept of place hacking, or the exploration of spaces that are off-limits. Vivid photographs throughout take readers to obscure locations: an abandoned prison in Pennsylvania, the catacombs of Paris, and the sewers of Russia. Rosen explains the subject in accessible language that will hook even reluctant readers. He acknowledges that this activity is often dangerous, even illegal (methods of "urban infiltration" covered include bolt cutting and lock picking), and in an author's note he makes it clear that this book is not a how-to guide. However, Rosen states that the risks may be worth it for these adventurers. An appended interview with archaeologist Bradley Garrett adds a philosophical layer to the subject, as he emphasizes that the desire to explore is a deep-seated, primal urge that makes us human. Garrett touches, too, upon the ethics of place hacking: "It's about making difficult decisions about rules: Are they there for sound reasons or for reasons that don't-or no longer-make sense?" VERDICT An engaging look at an intriguing topic.-Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014
A hodgepodge of adventuring activities designed for urban settings gathered under the rubric "hacking," as in the old sense of "play[ing] a sophisticated practical joke on a community," though considerably more inclusive here.Place hacking, for author Rosen, comprises three categories of activities: urban exploration, urban adventure and urban infiltration. By its nature, hacking is an outlaw activity, often involving a measure of risk and some illegal acts. There is an unofficial place-hacker code of conduct and an admirable acceptance of personal responsibility for one's behavior, plus much preparation for the hairier deeds. Still, there are some seriously dangerous exploits recorded in these pages, from entering buildings that may harbor toxic wastes, unstable flooring or creatures unhappy with your visit-skunks, snakes-to scaling the outsides of skyscrapers. But there are also a host of activities that are unlikely to hospitalize or incarcerate the participant, from exploring the urban underground to parkour, a kind of nimble, freestyle run-and-leap through an urban landscape. Despite the disclaimer, "This book...is not intended to be a how-to guide," there is a segment on staging an illegal exploration-but Rosen emphasizes the pleasure of discovery and the joy of participating in a sport with style and a goal of mastery. From the cockamamie (extreme ironing) to daredevilry (rooftopping) to a fine day out (catacomb rambling), a taste of unbridled adventure for everyone. (Nonfiction. 13-16)

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December 15, 2014
Grades 6-9 This look at the controversial but endlessly fascinating pastime of urban exploring should have readers scanning their skylines, checking out dilapidated buildings, and even eyeing manhole covers in a new light. Rosen describes the three types of exploring: urbex (the clandestine investigation of off-limit spaces); urban adventure (everything from parkour to pro hoboing to extreme ironing, which is exactly what it sounds like); and infiltration (sneaking into events and sites using fake credentials). The subculture has proliferated on the Net, courtesy of thousands of incredible photos of abandoned asylums, old subway tunnels, and so forth, and Rosen, with a personable and frank voice, ably transfers the thrill to print. Though cautions are littered throughout, the tone is fairly permissive and, to a certain degree, displays admiration for these explorersoften anti-authority types out to inspire others to share in their awe of hidden spaces, frequently with an eco-friendly edge. High-interest stuff that appeals to both the intellect and the adrenaline.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)