Main Character: Maddie Freeman
Love Interest: Justin Solvi (highlight to see)
Series: ??
Author: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Goodreads
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.
Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.
In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.
I’ve wanted to read this book for so long that I can’t seem to recall why I wanted to read it so much. Yes, the blurb sounds like it’d be a good read but what I think caught my attention was how realistic this book seemed. Like, if any of the dystopian books were to come true, I can completely see something like what happened in this book come true in real life. It’s hard for me to see something like what happened in The Hunger Games or even in Wither by Lauren DeStefano happen in real life but, this story? Yeah, I can totally see it happen especially because there are times when I can be a slave to my computer. I spend hours on my computer every single day and if I’m not careful, I’m going to end up just how Maddie was in the beginning of this book.
I’m a sucker for a romance in any setting, any genre, anywhere and the romance that bloomed between Justin and Maddie definitely had me coming back for more. I thoroughly enjoyed being teased throughout the entire book. Justin had his reasons for keeping Maddie at arm’s length and I loved that Maddie bulldozed right over his intentions and made him own up to his feelings. I thought it was great and I really enjoyed getting to know Maddie.
She was a strong character, one that had a difficult decision to make. The decision to choose her family over what she believes to be right. Who would want that kind of decision? I know I wouldn’t but what I enjoyed about this book was that Kacvinsky did a great job of showing us that Maddie really did struggle with the decision. She knew that her father was the most upstanding of people and yet she loved him because he was her Dad. Her struggle to find a solution where everyone wins was real and I appreciated it. Maddie wasn’t this perfect protagonist who thought she knew everything and she wasn’t one of those too stupid to live heroine types that we find in some books. She was just a young girl who has been living behind a computer screen for so long that she has to learn how to really live again.
This story follows Maddie as she meets a boy named Justin who challenges her to turn off her computer and take a chance at living a life outdoors. Before she met Justin, Maddie lived a pretty routine online life. She went to school online (by herself) and she went to the movies with friends in a chat room like environment (by herself) and she belonged to a bunch of online clubs and social networks where she really didn’t have to go outside anymore. She went out to play soccer but after practice, she went straight back home and returned to her online life. Her father is the man behind the online schooling, crimes are down because nobody is in schools anymore. They all go to online school and Justin is fighting for people to have the freedom to go to school if they want to.
It was funny to see how people dated in this world, they went on virtual walks on the beach instead of actually going to the beach themselves, they went on virtual hikes and it was like they played the Wii with their lives. It was strange but at the same time, it was very interesting to see how technology can take over our lives if we let it. Meeting Justin and his band of followers made this book really interesting because they went out and caught up with each other in real life over coffee and watching Maddie come to life throughout the book made for great hours of reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. I thought this book was a great debut for Ms. Kacvinsky and I can’t wait to read more from her. I’d also love to see more from Justin and Maddie in the future as well. Would I recommend this book? Of course, it’s an interesting take on a world where all of your decisions are made for you and all of your friends know you as an avatar instead of who you really are.
I’d give this a PG-13 rating because it’s a mature read, there’s a nationwide rebellion going on and language and some kissing...and that’s your scoop!
Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com
I’ve just started to hear about this book, but it does sound terrific
Thanks for the review! it looks like the type of dystopian I can read – I’m not a big fan of them – but this one looks good! 😀
And I like that it sounds realistic.
😀
Awesome Review Row!!! I just won an ARC of this not too long ago, and like you have been wanting to read it for the longest time. I’m glad you enjoyed it because now i’m even more exited to read it. 🙂
http://blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com/
I can’t wait for this to come out. I’m so excited for it! Dustopian novels always appeal to me and the plot sounds amazing.
Thank you for you review!
Gah, I’m blocked from my blog at work so it’s harder for me to comment back. Grr.
Oh well.
@Alex: I enjoyed this one, mostly because it’s a dystopian that I can actually see coming true. The characters are great too!
@Khadija: You should definitely read this one, it’s good!
@Lamia: Thanks for stopping by my blog, I just started reading dystopians and I’m really liking what I’ve read so far.