Review: Swipe by Evan Angler

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

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.

MY TAKE:

I don't usually read YA dystopian novels but the premise of this book was very interesting.

In Swipe, most people are Marked when they turn 13. Most kids would be excited by this. Logan isn't, especially after what happened to his sister.

The idea of people having barcodes is not a new idea. It sounds like a cool idea, technology-wise. Of course, it has a lot of issues.

The book's concept is brilliant. The plot was interesting although I could occasionally tell where it was going. Logan is a perfect hero. He's kind of a weakling, but not completely incapable of functioning. Erin is my kind of heroine. She's bad-ass but not overly so. You can definitely imagine her doing what she does, without rolling your eyes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tommy Nelson for the e-ARC. Publication date of Swipe is on May 1, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. Interesting concept.
2. Strong characters.
3. Lots of potential.

THE BAD:

1. Still lacks a little something.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

There weren't windows in the traditional sense, but the walls were indeed lined with glass, behind which were simulated, three-dimensional video projections of vistas from all over the world- a reminder to the students of how thigns once were.

READ IT IF:

1. You like YA dystopian novels.
2. You've thought about a world with unified ID systems.
3. You like mysteries.

RATING:

SOUNDS INTERESTING?