About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager begins to show a healthy skepticism of 'the way things are' or feels pressured by the weight of high stakes decision making. This story follows Cassia, a young woman living in a highly controlled society where every choice, from what she eats to who she marries, is decided by an algorithm. When a glitch suggests a different life path, she begins to weigh the safety of a predictable life against the vibrant risks of true autonomy. At its heart, this is a story about the development of the individual will. It explores emotional themes of self-identity and the ethical implications of systemic control. While it is a dystopian romance, it handles the central love triangle with maturity and depth, focusing more on the protagonist's intellectual and creative awakening through poetry and art. It is an excellent choice for parents looking to encourage critical thinking about technology and social conformity in their middle or high schoolers.
