About This Book
Reach for this book if your teen is beginning to question consumer culture, the ethics of fame, or the overwhelming impact of digital footprints. It is a perfect fit for the 'loner-philosopher' child who feels like an outsider looking in on a superficial world. The story follows seventeen-year-old Josh Swenson, who creates a viral anonymous website to preach anti-consumerism, only to find himself hunted by a digital stalker and overwhelmed by a fame that threatens to bury his actual message. Through Josh's experiment with minimalism, having only 75 possessions, the book explores themes of integrity, privacy, and the unintended consequences of online influence. It is a sharp, realistic look at how the media can distort a person's identity and how difficult it is to remain 'pure' in a commercial world. This is an excellent choice for sparking conversations about social media responsibility and finding one's authentic voice without the need for public validation.
