Series: Standalone
Genera(s): Near-Future Dystopian Sci-fi Thriller
Subjects: technology, conspiracies, boarding schools,
secret societies, mystery, brainwashing
Setting: Seattle, Washington, and then Theden, a
boarding school in Massachusetts
POV/Tense: 1st person POV, paste tense:
Rory Vaughn
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 469 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “What
if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order,
who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your
complete and utter happiness? What if you never had to fail or make a wrong
choice?
What if you never had to fall?
Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been
replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most
life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly
optimizes decision making for the best personal results. Just like everyone
else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is
following what Lux recommends. When she’s accepted to the elite boarding school
Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on
campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious
dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn’t use Lux, and
begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going
against Lux’s recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that
everyone has been taught to ignore — a choice that leads her to uncover a truth
neither she nor the world ever saw coming.”
My Review: I
have not read a book with such a unique, solid, thought-provoking concept as
the one behind Free To Fall. It’s relevant, realistic and completely possible.
An app than can make choices for you? I surprised it doesn’t already exist. The
Lux in like Siri, but in your own voice and it make decision for you based off
of algorithms that weight opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses. I
can choose what you eat, wear and do and you don’t have to think for yourself.
It promises an easy and happy life. Sounds to good to be true. The Lux
manipulates its users. It was created by the company Gnosis, which replaces
Apple and almost all other tech companies.
The main character, Rory, constantly uses Lux to make
her decisions. Rory herself is smart and study-happy. She likes math and other
school subjects. She’s amazed when she gets into Theden. Theden is full of
secrets and it uses Gnosis technology in the classroom. Rory has a roommate named Hershey, which is a
very odd odd, unique name for a girl.
Rory and Hershey go to a off campus café the first day
a Theden and meet a guy named North. I love North, despite his strange
hairstyle and tattoos. He’s not the kind of guy that Rory expected herself to
like, but he turns out to pretty a pretty great guy. He’s into music and older
computer technology. The romance is not instantaneous, but Rory has a desire to
be with him instead of the guys at her school early on.
This book was full of the unexpected. There are
conspiracies and secret societies and riddles and simulations. They’re all kind
of strange thing. It’s not just one genera. It’s Dystopian sci-fi, but very
near-future. It’s a thriller and a mystery and romantic. I read that this book
started out as a script for a TV show. I can see how that’s likely. It would be
awesome as a TV show or even a movie. It makes you think and it show us that it’s
sometimes better to get away for technology. I see everyone on their smart
phone when all I have is a cheap cell phone that can’t access the internet. I
get jealous, but then I realize I don’t want to be leashed to my phone. I love
my computer, but I like real books and nature too.
The climax was awesome and the book ended in a way
that let us know that t is a standalone. I never expected to like this book as
much as I did. The cover and the synopsis made it sound like it was
contemporary. I’m so glad I gave this book a chance and I hope other sci-fi
fans out there give it a chance too. I read Paralle by Lauren Miller last year
and liked it, but this was even better. Lauren Miller know how to conceptualize
a story and then bring it to life. If you enjoyed The Program by Suzanne Young,
Divergent by Veronica Roth, Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam, then you
may enjoy Free To Fall.
Cover Art Review: Kind of plain. The pixel effect is
cool, but it’s not really eye catching. It fits the subject, but I wish is was
shiny or had a more interesting image on it.
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