Johnsenclan

This is book twenty-five in 52 books in 52 weeks

Cory Doctorow is one of the excellent editors at Boing Boing.   He’s written a couple of novels for adults, but this is his first foray into junior fiction.

The story begins in San Francisco as Marcus and his friends skip school to go to an organized treasure hunt type game.  On their way there is an explosion nearby, and people are take off running.  They help one of the friends who is hurt, and suddenly they’re all picked up with armed men, hoods are put over there head, and they’re taken to prison cells.

There has been a terrorist attack and the Department of Homeland Security has taken over San Fransisco.  Marcus and his friends are interrogated for days.  Because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time they are suspects.  After a while he is let go with the promise that he will be watched.

As San Fransisco slowly changed to be under constant surveillance, and individual privacy and rights are taken away, Marcus starts to organize an underground.  He feels people’s rights are being bent and there isn’t much protection coming out of it.  It’s almost an updated version of Orwell’s 1984 with near-future technology.  Suddenly everyone is being treated like a potential terrorist.

The story is well-written, even if on a junior level.  The characters are very real, and the dialogue for the teens was all very well done.  Much of the organization is done online, with cell phones and using hacked Xboxes.   This is not a kiddie revolution that comes together cleanly.  There are many adult themes and a lot of pain that comes with what Marcus is trying to accomplish.  It’s very well done.

Grade B

My other reviews in 52 weeks are here.

Other people doing 52 books in 52 weeks

• Jamie reviews Mort by Terry Pratchet
• Heliologue reviews Knight of hte Avenging Blowfish by John Welter and Napoleon’s Buttons by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson

Other reviews of Little Brother

Dave thought it was a little too l33t

Neil Gaiman thought it was mostly brilliant

Sarah thought it had an important message