Monday, March 01, 2010

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Little BrotherThink back to your memories of 9-11. Were you afraid? Were you confused? Did you wonder if Wyoming may become a target? While you may have been too young to be fearful, you may remember your parents' reactions. But whether or not you remember that day, imagine a terrorist attack happening now. Would you want our government to act immediately? Would you be willing to give up some of your personal freedoms and privacy in order to be safe? Think airport security measures, computer monitoring, etc.

What if you were detained as a possible suspect, just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Now how likely would you be to allow those freedoms to be taken from you? I know what you are thinking. That could never happen to us, right? We are Americans, with unalienable rights, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution provides protections like rights of the accused, due process, protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Besides we are just teenagers.

You might be surprised with the lengths our government will go in the name of national security. Follow Marcus, a teenage hacker otherwise known as W1n5t0n or M1k3y, on his fight against an out of control US government.

Why I picked this book: Our teen book club read Orwell's "1984" and Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" so it seemed like a good choice to bring those ideas into the 21st century.

Why I finished the book: I couldn't put it down. Even though it was a work of fiction, I kept wondering how much of it was based on fact. It's one of those scary-real stories.

I'd give this book to: fans of 1984 & Fahrenheit 451, teens and adults alike. Anyone who likes to question authority and even those who believe that our government can do no wrong.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my Goodreads reviews >>

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