Today on our stop of the blog tour I have my review of Swiped.
Enjoy!
Published By: Thomas Nelson
Released : Available Now
Details : Digital , 288 Pages
RATING: 4.25 MIDDLE GRADE EXCITING STARS!
Book Blurb: Taken From Goodreads
Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?
Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship.
The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.
When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :
From the Prologue I was turning pages. How intriguing was that prologue? Like you weren’t going to keep reading to see what that was all about.
A playground, midnight, some kids and Meg....then the Dust was all over her......
This is a dystopian, fast paced middle grade read. I honestly forgot these kids were twelve years old. I had to keep reminding myself. It felt like an older middle grade book if that makes sense? Spy kids, meets dystopian, the Marked vs the Markless.
Logan Langly ..lol!! Sometimes reminded me of his age, at the start of the book he is a paranoid, scared boy who had a night light ( afraid of the dark) and his father tucked him in at night. By the end of the book......another matter! Logan has his reasons for his behaviour, his sister Lily died from receiving the Mark. He has felt like he has been watched for a long time. He can’t tell anybody how he feels.
At the age of thirteen you Pledge yourself and get Marked on your wrist. Now as far as I understand, the Mark is like you are barcoded and you scan your wrist to do things. I think it is a type of Big Brother in a way.
There was a war and this has been the end result to try to keep Peace ....but is it?
Evan’s world building I really enjoyed. He added some different things to his dystopian story. The middle grade school is underground...no..nobody is a vampire..hehe!! Residences, average height is twenty stories, one room per floor with an elevator and the yard is on the roof. Logan’s home is eleven stories. Musical instrument, Wailing Mitts, like turtle shells with ten finger rings , move them around and pull on the rings to make like a guitar sound or keyboard sound. I want me a pair of those, they sounded cool. We have rock, paper and scissors. Evan’s world has, rock, tablet, laser..ha!
I did laugh, for all the future type things like rollersticks and the spy gadgets, the good ol fashioned, can on the string was used to eavesdrop.
The DOME = Department of Marked Emergencies ( sounds like something out of Harry Potter) they are after a chappy called Peck. Now Peck is a BIG mystery, even down to what he looks like for most of this book. It is the rather good twist in this story. Even when we meet Peck for the first time, Evan tells us nothing, no description.
Enter Erin and her father, Mr Arbitor. He used to work for the Beacon Police, but now...........!
Erin and her father move to Spokie which is where our story takes place. Things are happening in Spokie and DOME wants to sort it out.
Erin is not too happy about moving to Spokie , but she makes friends with Logan and the story turns into these two pulling a Nancy Drew and uncover all sorts of things. They are actually doing a better job than DOME who are rather none the wiser to room 113B getting supplies nicked. Great security guys!
Dane , Hailey and Logan have been besties up until fifth grade, they did everything together. Dane decided he liked Hailey more than friends, Hailey decided she liked Logan, he was none the wiser , Dane got upset , jealousy flew in the air ( guys you are only twelve) . Logan still none the wiser as he is crushing on Erin, who is none the wiser..ha! But, Hailey is wiser and is upset with Logan. Dane is peeved at Logan and shows his affections to Hailey by calling her weirdo...hehe!
Then we have this bunch of misfits brought together by the infamous Peck. Eddie and Tyler are 13, Joanne 15, Meg has issues , I shouldn’t laugh but there was a fry pan Tangled ( movie) incident and Blake who appears in charge is 14. Blake appears so much wiser for his age. Eddie and Tyler belong in the movie Lord of the Flies. They were a little too eager!
You get the feeling Blake is more of a good guy, he cares for Rusty. You do wonder who are the bad guys, and who are the good guys...it’s not as clear cut as you think.
This was a great middle grade read it will keep you guessing and then throw in some twists along the way. The ending will have you wanting for more.
Michelle
BOOK # 2
SNEAK
DUE FOR RELEASE
4TH SEPTEMBER 2012
USA/CANADA ONLY
Oohh another dystopian novel.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever read Sneak? I found it even better than Swipe and lots of questions do get answered in the second book. I definitely understand about the er romantic aspects it felt weird since they were so young. Anyway, great review. I haven't seen many reviews for this one so it definitely made me curious to see you had read it.
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