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Book Review of Little Brother (Little Brother, Bk 1)

Little Brother (Little Brother, Bk 1)
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Marcus is a seventeen year old high school student. He knows a lot about technology and has strong views on how the world works, and how he'd like to see it work. He and his friends (Darryl, Van, & Jolu) enjoy playing the scavenger hunt game "Harajuku Fun Madness", but in order to fulfill the tasks that are posted on the net, they must sneak off school grounds to get a head start on their search for the clues. Even with advanced security measures the school's security system is no match for Marcus.

Things take a frightening turn for the worst when they find themselves in the middle of the aftermath of a terrorist attack on their city San Francisco. While trying to get help for his friend Darryl who was wounded, him and his teammates are taken by the Department of Homeland Security and sent to a prison where they are locked in cells, and have to sit through excruciating interrogations.

The DHS finally releases Marcus, Van, and Jolu, but Darryl is not released and his father assumes that he has died in the explosion. They are told not to tell anyone what happened, and if they do they will be taken again or worse. After returning home Marcus finds that his city has become heavily secured, and every person is treated like a terrorist. Marcus is afraid that if he tells his story that no one will believe him, so he decides to try and outwit, outlast, and outplay the Department of Homeland Security himself with the help of the Xnet and friends.

"Little Brother" is one of the most exciting, fun, and politically challenging Young Adult books I've read in, well, forever. Cory Doctorow has received high, and well deserved praise for his Young Adult Sci-Fi novel, from the likes of Gaiman, Weseterfeld, and Scalzi. How can avid Sci-Fi readers not be interested in this story? I know I was! Marcus is a very likeable main character, and his drive to accomplish his goals is admirable. Even while fighting the DHS he finds the time to fall in love with the smart, quirky, and charming Ange.