Homeland

Cory Doctorow's latest book, Homeland, is the exciting and adventurous sequel to Little Brother. Homeland takes place about a year after the end of Little Brother and starts out at the Burning Man festival where Marcus meets his old ex-Department of Homeland Security friend Masha. Masha gives Marcus access to hundreds of thousands of files that could be the downfall of the DHS, and expose its darkest secrets. Marcus must make a choice whether or not to release the files, and whatever option he chooses could bring anarchy to San Francisco. Homeland is an exciting page turner that will keep you hooked until the end. I would give this great sequel to Little Brother 9 out of 10 wolves.

Little Brother

Cory Doctorow's book Little Brother takes you with Marcus Yallow on his technological adventures following a terrorist attack on San Francisco's Bay Bridge. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) kidnaps Marcus and four of his friends following the attack. After playing mental games with Marcus they let him and two of his friends free. Vowing the DHS's destruction following his kidnap and the continued captivity of one of his friends, Marcus leads a techno-rebellion against the DHS. But he knows that the DHS is only one step behind him and his capture is inevitable. Little Brother is an amazing tale of youthful anti-dystopian rebellion that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the end, and you don't even have to wait for the sequel, Homeland, because it just came out. I give this book a rating of 9 out of 10 wolves.

Pirate Cinema

I recently received an advanced reader's copy of Cory Doctorow's new book: Pirate Cinema.  Ever since, I have spent every second available, and quite a few more, reading this amazing book.  Pirate Cinema focuses on the dystopian, internet-restrictive, England in which Trent McCauley lives.  Trent's habit of creating short films from the cut up parts of movies is illegal and gets his family's internet blocked for a year.  The schoolwork of Trent's sister begins to suffer, while Trent's parents struggle to make ends meet without the ability of getting Mrs. McCauley's medical money and the loss of Trent's father's job.  Trent soon heads out to London where he finds like-minded people and those willing to help him survive.  Then a new bill passes in Parliament which cracks down on illegal downloading even harsher, and sends young kids to jail. Trent and his friends must find a way to repeal the bill, but nothing they do seems like it does anything good.  Pirate Cinema is an amazing, fast-paced, and well-written book that is so good I will buy it when it comes out, so that I can reread it again and again.  I would give a rating of 9 out of 10 wolves.

Gone

While perusing my local bookstore the other day I happened upon an exciting Lord of the Flies-esque book that combines elements of fantasy with a post-apocalyptic feel that sets the book in its own unique genre. Gone, by Michael Grant, focuses on Perdido Beach, California after a mysterious mass disappearance that removes everyone over 15 years old from the area.  After the disappearance the main character, Sam Temple, must decide whether he will be the hero everyone wants, or run off and leave the children to be ruled by a succession of bullies.  Despite the apparent tranquility under the rule of Caine Soren, from the nearby boarding school, things turn for the worse when Caine's government becomes harsh and people who reach 15 start disappearing.  Gone is a fast paced book that will keep you reading until the end, and then send you off searching for the sequel.  If you are looking for a rating I would give this book 7 out of 10 wolves.