In this contemporary thriller, National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestselling author Paolo Bacigalupi explores the timely issue of how public information is distorted for monetary gain, and how those who exploit it must be stopped.
Everything Alix knows about her life is a lie. At least that's what a mysterious young man who's stalkingher keeps saying. But then she begins investigating the disturbing claims he makes against her father. Could her dad really be at the helm of a firm that distorts the truth and covers up wrongdoing by hugely profitable corporations that have allowed innocent victims to die? Is it possible that her father is the bad guy, and that the undeniably alluring criminal who calls himself Moses--and his radical band of teen activists--is right? Alix has to make a choice, and time is running out, but can she truly risk everything and blow the whistle on the man who loves her and raised her?
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“Alix’s reluctant investigationdraws her down a rabbit hole of corporate conspiracy and pits principle againstfamily, while offering everything you could ask from an airport thriller:death-defying chases, gun-toting mercenaries, idealistic techno-hackers…To seethe world in black and white is to see it through a child’s eyes. Bacigalupi ischallenging this conflation of simplicity with naïveté, which makes fora…stirring cri de coeur.”
— New York Times Book Review
“In this provocative thriller, Bacigalupi traces the awakening of a smart, compassionate, and privileged girl named Alix Banks to ugly realities of contemporary life, while seeking to open readers’ eyes, as well…A highly believable plot and well-developed, multifaceted characters. Fans of Cory Doctorow’s work should love this book.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Bacigalupi’s characters are clearly drawn and believable. This gripping, outstanding contemporary story cites actual cases of corporate greed, which adds realism to the plot. Suspense builds at a steady pace, leading to increasingly dramatic plot twists and a climax that will leave readers’ hearts pounding.”
— School Library Journal“A searing indictment…Bacigalupi, unafraid to name names, makes readers question the morality of everyday decisions… and recommends that all of us be cynics when it comes to megaconglomerates….Multiaward–winning Bacigalupi is becoming an indispensable voice in YA.”
— Booklist“An exciting read…Bacigalupi has done an impressive job of placing the reader in the front seat.”
— VOYA“This is a gripping, unsettling read that will no doubt prompt further discussion long after the climactic, cinematic finale.”
— Horn Book“The book’s snappy pace, caper set-up, and sharp political perspective easily save the (novel’s) day and will bring in readers of thoughtful high action.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books“The public relations business becomes an unlikely but effective villain in this techno-thriller…A book bound to provoke thought—and arguments.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Emma Galvin’s slightly nasal delivery works well for the dialogue in this young adult thriller…Galvin does a good job differentiating the mostly teenage characters…Galvin’s pace is always good, and she breathes life into some lengthy monologues.”
— AudioFileBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Paolo Bacigalupi is the author of the highly acclaimed The Drowned Cities and the New York Times bestseller Ship Breaker, which was also a Michael L. Printz Award winner and a National Book Award finalist. He is also the author of The Windup Girl and Pump Six and Other Stories and is a winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Compton Crook, John W. Campbell Memorial, and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial awards. He lives in western Colorado with his wife and son.
Emma Galvin won the 2011 Audie Award for best fiction narration, was a finalist for the Audie Award in 2012, and won six AudioFile Earphones Awards for her narrations. A graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, her film appearances include My Suicidal Sweetheart, A Perfect Fit, and The Big Bad Swim. She has performed in several regional theater productions, including Love Punky, The Power of Birds, and The Realm.