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charlibirb's review against another edition
3.75
I was surprised at how well this book held up. I remember being blown away by this book when I was a kid and figured I'd unearth it. However, it's not even available at most libraries anymore! Such a shame. I had to order a copy from used bookstores! Great dystopian sciFi/Fantasy. Monica Hughes was one of my favorites as a kid.
serenity717's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting story behind this one... I originally read it when I was about 12 years old, sitting in the library, and it made such an impression on me that I remembered it all these years, but couldn't remember the title or the author. Finally, this year, I wrote to the library where I had read it as a kid, described it, and asked if they could help. Sure enough, they knew the book, and I finally had a title! I immediately ordered it on Amazon, and after 23 years, finally got to read it again. I was amazed how accurate my memory of it was! I also realized that this book had a lot to do with subconsciously shaping my views on nature, our modern way of life, survivalism, and not becoming too dependent on technology. It is a kid's book, but has a really good message...
djotaku's review against another edition
3.0
Read this as a kid. I think it was my first bit of post-apocalyptic sci-fi. I'd been looking for it for years on Google, but kept misremembering the title. I was starting to think I'd hallucinated the whole thing.
Anyway, it was a great book for young adult fiction. It got me to think about a lot of issues I'd later see as an adult. The main premise of the book, which I appreciated years later is that of a Pluto Republic where your test scores determine your lot in life. Until reading the book, I would have thought that was a perfectly great way to organize society. I think I may even have suggested something similar to adults whenever I saw how ridiculous governments were acting.
I never knew it was just the first book in a series, I'll have to track the others and see if it's too juvenile or if I can still get into it. I find that well-written YA fiction can appeal to adults just as well as kids.
Anyway, it was a great book for young adult fiction. It got me to think about a lot of issues I'd later see as an adult. The main premise of the book, which I appreciated years later is that of a Pluto Republic where your test scores determine your lot in life. Until reading the book, I would have thought that was a perfectly great way to organize society. I think I may even have suggested something similar to adults whenever I saw how ridiculous governments were acting.
I never knew it was just the first book in a series, I'll have to track the others and see if it's too juvenile or if I can still get into it. I find that well-written YA fiction can appeal to adults just as well as kids.
wealhtheow's review against another edition
4.0
In the far future, after the earth's petroleum ran out and the environment was toxic, humanity retreated into cities enclosed in plastic domes. Generations later, young Tomi is nervous. He's about to get another information pack slotted into the plug in his spine. If his body can handle it, he's progressed another level up the ladder in his society. But if his nervous system can't handle it, he'll become a menial laborer at best--at worst, death or brain damage awaits him. But to Tomi's joy, he takes in another pack worth of pre-programmed knowledge without a hitch. But this idyll can't last forever--the inequalities within the highly regimented, computerized and "fair" society are about to blow apart every thing he ever knew.
Told in a no-frills, no-nonsense style, this is a gripping adventure of the uncomfortable necessity of examining--and if possible, abolishing--one's privilege.
Told in a no-frills, no-nonsense style, this is a gripping adventure of the uncomfortable necessity of examining--and if possible, abolishing--one's privilege.
qwerty88's review against another edition
4.0
The age of oil ended in 2005 when the oil ran out, leading to general anarchy, and some scientists deciding that they need to create an Arc to preserve human knowledge and build on it.
This is Monica Hughes, who rarely found a tech scenario that wasn't a hidden dystopia that her teenage protagonists could deal with by connecting with friends and perhaps discovering an important ecological message.
In other words, a huge influence on a young me. Very unfortunate cover. A very large amount of story covered with very few pages. There is a sequel.
This is Monica Hughes, who rarely found a tech scenario that wasn't a hidden dystopia that her teenage protagonists could deal with by connecting with friends and perhaps discovering an important ecological message.
In other words, a huge influence on a young me. Very unfortunate cover. A very large amount of story covered with very few pages. There is a sequel.
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