Annette's Book Spot: technology

Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Book Review: The Hive by Barry Lyga, Morgan Baden

The Hive by Lyga & Baden, book cover and review

I loved Lyga's I Hunt Killers series, so I couldn't pass up The Hive. I had a few issues, but for the most part The Hive was entertaining, and I think teens will love it even more than I did.

Cassie is having a hard time since her father died. She and her mother have had to move, and Cassie is entering a new school. Her father was a famous internet hacker, and taught Cassie almost everything he knew about coding, but since his death, Cassie has lost her passion for coding and hasn't done any.

Social Media is now governed by The Hive, a new justice system developed by the government to stop online bullying. Cassie believes in The Hive and its ability to mete out justice according to approvals (or disapprovals) by society. According to how many disapprovals a post gets, the person responsible is assigned a level (1 through 5) and assigned a punishment. Hundreds (or thousands) of people can meet this person and help decide an appropriate punishment. Should they have to wear a sign all day? Should they have to disrobe and be naked for a day? These are some of the minor punishments -- it gets worse as the level rises.

When Cassie, trying to fit in at her new school, is goaded to post a funny (but tasteless) comment about the president's new grandchild, no one could predict what happens. Suddenly Cassie is on the run and trying to find a place to hide in order to save her life.

I thought The Hive took a while to get going, but once Cassie is on the run, it gets very exciting and the pace moves quickly. It is very far-fetched, but as my eyes rolled, I was swiftly swiping pages to see what was going to happen next. So, for the teen audience, The Hive will be a good one.

I think the authors were trying to send a message about the dangers of social media, but I'm not sure it comes through very strong because of the improbable plot. But still, it is compelling.

Recommend this to your techie teens.

Published by Kids Can, September 3, 2019
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
416 pages

Rating: 4/5

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Book Review: The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid book cover and review

The Diabolic is a thrilling adventure that kept me glued to the pages. But -- Red Queen meets The Hunger Games (from the blurb)? I don't really see that comparison.

Nemesis is a diabolic, basically a robot who looks and acts like a human. Diabolics are bonded to one person, to protect them for life at all costs. Nemesis is bonded to a senator's daughter, Sidonia.

When it is decreed that diabolics are illegal and all must be destroyed, Sidonia's mother plots to keep Nemesis a secret to protect her daughter. Sidonia is in danger because her father is rebellious. He wants to learn about science -- something that is forbidden in this world. The emperor summons Sidonia to the Galactic Court. Since her mother is so fearful, she decides to train Nemesis to pose as Sidonia and go in her place. It is very difficult for Nemesis to hide her special abilities and act like a human, but she must or all will be lost.

Once Nemesis gets to the court, she learns quickly of the corruption and pure evil of the emperor. She also learns more about herself and her capability to be much more like a human.

The tension ramps slowly but steadily. No one can be trusted, and Nemesis witnesses betrayal after betrayal. At the same time, she also learns to accept her feelings -- things she's never felt before -- and create a bond with someone besides Sidonia.

There is a nice balance between science fiction, political intrigue, and the emotional aspects of Nemesis' growth. The Diabolic has a solid ending and appears to be a stand-alone (surprise!) But the world is such that more stories could be coming, and I would welcome them.

I'm looking forward to recommending The Diabolic to my teens. They will certainly enjoy it.

Published by Simon & Schuster BFYR (November 1, 2016)
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
416 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, October 27, 2014

Book Review: Run by Andrew Grant

Run is an exciting, fast-paced crime thriller, but I had a little trouble with the tone in which it is written.

Marc has just been relieved of his contract as a computer consultant at a high tech firm. He's been removed from the building without any of his belongings, including his computer. But what he does have are two flash drives containing a lot of data. He simply wants to use the data to test a new product he is developing that will make him a lot of money.

Marc's wife works at the company also. She returns home and begs Marc to give her the data. The company knows he stole it. Marc refuses, and his wife, acting very strangely, ends up leaving. His house is burglarized that night, and his computer is erased. He calls the police, but they aren't much help.

Then Homeland Security arrives. Or is it Homeland Security? Marc is visited by two different supposed agents, and he doesn't know who to believe. They don't believe Marc either. They think he is responsible for a virus that is on the company's computers and also in the data he stole.

Things just keep getting worse for Marc. He's trying to clear himself and find out what the virus does and who is responsible for it. In the process he ends up running for his life -- a couple of times.

Run has several entertaining twists and turns and definitely keeps you guessing. I really enjoyed the plot. What I had difficulty with is the tone of the writing, and maybe more specifically, the characters.

I didn't buy either Homeland Security agent. I hated McKenna. He's too flippant and cutesy. I never believed he was for real. However, I really didn't like the other agent either. Neither of these characters, as well as several other minor characters, rang true to me. I didn't think their reactions and attitudes were natural. It was like watching a movie with really bad, over the top actors.

There were also a few "no way that would happen" moments, but they didn't cause Run to lose all credibility.

I feel like my complaints about Run are pretty personal and may not apply to all readers. It's just the feeling I got when trying to relate to the story and "dig in." I felt like maybe Grant was going for some comic relief, but I didn't think the plot warranted that.

The second person ending was different. I give Grant points for originality, but I really thought it was kind of hokey. Given how I felt about other parts of the book, I guess it fits.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a thriller with a little technology involved. And lots of corporate espionage. Run is also appropriate, and highly recommended, for teens. It's exciting and may be just the thing for some reluctant readers. You can probably read the beginning and discover very quickly whether you have the same problems as I did. If not, I think you will thoroughly enjoy Run. Even if you do have problems, I still enjoyed the twists and turns very much, so it was worth the read.

Published by Ballentine, October 7, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
288 pages

Rating: 3/5

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Book Review: Deadly Odds by Allen Wyler

If you like a little high tech in your thrillers, Deadly Odds is a great choice.

Arnold returns home with the pizza he ordered and hears his friend yell, "run!" Arnold runs, but he hears gunshots. Arnold hides in the alley and manages to escape, but his friend has been killed. Arnold can't believe his life has come to this. He knows who the killers are, and he knows why. And now he's caused the death of his best (and only) friend. How can he save himself and also mange to avenge the death of his friend?

Arnold is a nerd. But he has become quite successful at predicting the outcomes of sporting events using technology. His only problem is -- well -- he's a virgin. And he wants more than ever to be able to interact with women. After trying the speed dating thing, he decides to go to Las Vegas and hire an escort to teach him how to please a woman.

This all goes very well. Arnold is happy with his escort. They shop for new clothes for him and eat at fancy restaurants. But as soon as Arnold has a few too many drinks, his tongue starts wagging and he begins to talk about his very secret computer program than can analyze virtually any situation and predict outcomes.

Things turn very bad, very quickly and you'll have to read Deadly Odds to find out what messes Arnold gets into, and how he manages to get out of them.

There is a lot of high tech jargon, but it isn't really difficult to understand. My biggest issue is the repetition. You only need to tell me once about the Deepnet. It was described at least twice, using almost the same exact words. A lot of the technological and secrecy aspects were repeated so much that I felt like it was being pounded into my head. I get that his basement is secret. I get that he has all his programs offsite. There were just many little things that were referred to over and over that didn't add anything to the suspense.

The tension builds slowly and nicely. Wyler pulls you into this dilemma without you realizing it. Arnold is very clever and it is interesting to watch his mind work and figure out solutions. The lawyer was my favorite character. He's a good guy and a straight shooter. He added a lot to the story. Deadly Odds also seems like a realistic depiction of what could happen. I have no idea about most of this stuff, but I believed it.

Other than the repetition, Deadly Odds is well written, keeps your interest, and offers a unique premise. I would have to recommend this to only the oldest teens. There is a lot of sex. Not explicit, but still, the subject matter is mature enough to cause my hesitation. Otherwise, if you like a pretty realistic techno-thriller, Deadly Odds is a good one.

Published by Astor + Blue, October 21, 2014
eARC obtained from the publisher
280 pages

You can purchase Deadly Odds at these links:

· Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xh54PS

· B&N: http://bit.ly/1sZrIy1

· Astor+Blue: http://bit.ly/1uspcim

As an additional note: This is the 250th book I've read on my Kindle. Just thought that was interesting...

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, October 13, 2014

Book Review: The Eye of Minds, by James Dashner

The Eye of Minds is the first book in James Dashner's (The Maze Runner) new series. While it doesn't live up to The Maze Runner, it will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat turning the pages.

Michael spends most of his time in the virtual gaming world, the VirtNet. This totally immersive world allows him and many others to experience a virtual life -- without the deadly consequences. Michael discovers that some things are going wrong in the VirtNet. People are disappearing -- when they die, they are also dead in real life. Some are stuck in the VirtNet forever and can't return to the real world. That's not supposed to happen.

Michael is kidnapped by a government organization that wants him to help them find the hacker that's trying to take over the VirtNet. Michael and two best friends (virtual friends) begin a harrowing adventure to try to outsmart this bad guy and allow the government to catch him.

What The Eye of Minds has going for it is action. This book never stops. I almost felt breathless at times as I felt what these kids are going through.

The part that bothered me is the "cop out" plotting. It seems that almost every time the kids are in a dire situation they "look at the coding" and can program their way out of it. It just seemed to easy sometimes. But I don't think the intended audience will mind this at all, and I won't hesitate to put The Eye of Minds in the hands of Dashner fans.

It's a very quick read, and an excellent choice for reluctant readers who want nonstop adventure. Also, we get a bit of a surprise at the end that just makes it harder to wait for the second book, The Rule of Thoughts, which is already available!

Published by Delacorte, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
310 pages

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Book Review: Remember Me, by Romily Bernard

I really enjoyed Find Me, the first book in this series, but Remember Me just seemed like more of the same, bringing nothing new to the table.

Wick is still working for Carson, because she has no choice. He knows too much about her. They are after another bad guy and Wick is using her hacking skills to help Carson. Griff and Wick are still a couple, but Griff doesn't understand why Wick won't stop helping Carson. He doesn't like what Wick does.

I enjoyed the scrapes Wick gets into, and how she works her way out of them. The individual situations have tension and are entertaining. I like Wick, and I really like the new character, Milo.

What I really had problems with is the overall supposed danger that Wick's family and friends are in. We are told, every few pages, that Wick is doing all this to keep her new mom, Bren, and her sister, Lily, and Griff safe. We are TOLD that. But the danger never seems real. I just felt like she could have gone to some grownups and told them her situation and they could have helped. But, then we wouldn't have this story. So there's that.

As in Find Me, I suspected who the bad guy was about halfway through. It's a bit disappointing, but I still enjoyed the rest of the story, and there was another big surprise that I didn't suspect at all.

The epilogue (titled "What Happened After") is a lead up to the next book, and I just didn't buy it. And I didn't buy that Bren would be so gullible.

I'm being a bit picky because I did enjoy reading Remember Me. The scenarios were creative and the resolution exciting. I just couldn't get into the deep dark danger that is the impetus for the whole story.

Published by HarperCollins, September 23, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
368 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Review: Find Me, by Romily Bernard

Find Me is a riveting thriller that I think many teens will really enjoy.

Wick and her sister Lily have had a rough life. Their father is a drug dealer who is on the lam and their mother committed suicide. But, things may be looking up because their new foster parents are well off, and seem to be very committed to the girls.

Wick, of course, can't trust anyone. She's a hacker, and she secretly helps women investigate the men in their lives that they think are cheating on them. She is socking away the money for the next time she and Lily have to run.

Wick finds a diary on her front porch that says "Find Me." It turns out the diary belongs to a girl named Tessa who used to be Wick's friend. Tessa has committed suicide, but there's obviously more to the story. As she reads the diary she discovers that Tessa was being abused by a man. And...Lily is mentioned in the diary because Tessa knows she is this man's next victim.

The love interest is Griff. He's just a fellow student who hangs around the computer room, and apparently has been crushing on Wick for a long time. The development of their relationship is quite cute.

The main mystery is Wick trying to find who the man is that drove Tessa to suicide, but there are many complexities that add to the intrigue. Tessa is, of course, reminded of her mom's death. Her dad reappears, and once again pulls Wick into his illegal schemes. Wick is so frightened of everyone, that she is literally crippled. There's a cop who wants to help, but she doesn't believe his motives. Her foster father is a counselor who she considers confiding in, but can't. It turns out the only person she decides to trust is Griff.

So there were a couple of weak plotting elements that I can't be specific about, and yes, there's a huge shocker of an ending. But....I wasn't really that shocked. I suspected this person for quite a while. It's OK though. I still enjoyed Find Me, and I thought the characters were really well done. Because of the ending, it's pretty obvious that there's going to be another book involving Wick's hacking and investigating, and I'm looking forward to it.

Find Me is a real page turner that I think can be enjoyed by teens and adults who like a twisted, psychological mystery that involves a tough teen heroine.

Published by HarperTeen, September 24, 2013
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating:4/5

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Book Review: Countdown by Michelle Rowen

Countdown is exciting. I flew through this book, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Let's get the inevitable comparison to The Hunger Games out of the way. Two kids in a life or death contest, must meet six different challenges in order to survive. The prize is "whatever they desire." A romance develops. Sound familiar? Yes, but trust me, it doesn't matter. It's different enough, and if you liked The Hunger Games why wouldn't you want more???

The setting is the future after a plague has killed a large portion of the people. Kira is homeless and living on the street since her parents and sister were murdered. Rogan is a convicted murderer. They wake up together in a dark room. They hear a coundown.. 59..58..57..56...and realize they must get out of the room before they are out of time.

Rogan knows what's happening. He's heard of the very secret game show, available by subscription only to the most wealthy people, called Countdown. He explains to Kira that they must meet six challenges. The penalty for failing is death. They have implants in their heads and must stay within 90 feet of each other. They are on camera the entire time.

There are surprises along the way. We find out more about Rogan and his crimes as well as the brutal murders of Kira's family. The relationship and trust between these two builds very slowly. There is a technological aspect of Countdown that I enjoyed. It felt like a future United States, unlike The Hunger Games which to me felt like a more primitive society somewhere else.

The pacing of Countdown is nothing short of breakneck. While I felt like some of the challenges were a bit easy or convenient to solve, it did keep the plot moving. I guess that's my one complaint. I felt like things happened so fast there was little time for relationships or getting to know the characters. But for teens, that is a small price to pay for a book that will be easy to devour.

I'll definitely recommend Countdown widely. I have a lot of students wanting "books like The Hunger Games," and Countdown will fill the bill. I think Countdown would be a great recommendation for the typical reluctant reader, boy or girl.

Published by Harlequin Teen, September 24, 2013
eARC obtained from NetGalley
336 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

Monday, March 25, 2013

Book Review: Going Vintage, by Lindsey Leavitt @lindsey_leavitt

Going Vintage is, as you would expect, a light, cute contemporary that had me laughing out loud a few times.

Mallory breaks up with her boyfriend after discovering his intimate emails to a girl who is his "wife" in an online game. She is also helping her dad clean out her grandmother's house. Grandma has moved into an assisted living facility. Mallory discovers an old notebook in which her grandmother wrote a list of things to do in 1962, when she was a junior in high school -- just like Mallory is now.

Mallory is so disillusioned by her life, and disappointed in her boyfriend that she decides she will stop using computers, cell phones and other technology, and that she will complete the tasks on her grandmother's list.

You can imagine some of the hassles that Mallory faces not being able to use technology. Basically, she loses almost all contact with her friends, because they only communicate by cell phone or "Friendspace." She can't use the internet to do her homework. And the tasks on the list aren't easily accomplished in the 2010's either. Things like sewing a dress for homecoming, and starting a pep squad!

There are a few characters that make Going Vintage more than a typical high school story. Mallory's younger sister is perfect. They have their squabbles, as sisters will, but they also have each others' backs. Oliver, the potential new boyfriend is my favorite. I love his quirkiness, and how he just fits into Mallory's "vintage" ideas without even meaning to. And Grandma, who turns everything on its head and really enables the defining moments in Going Vintage.

Mallory learns some lessons and does some maturing, which is expected in a contemporary, but really Going Vintage is just a funny, light book about contemporary teens. I think these characters will easily resonate with my students, and I'll be happy to recommend Going Vintage to many of them.

Published by Bloomsbury, March 26, 2013
eARC obtained from NetGalley
320 pages

Rating: 4/5