Or, Where Librarians and Computer Geeks Overlap
Instructions: after a work scheduling error, too much heat, a multiple encounters with bad drivers, you should come home, fix an iced coffee* with a spoonful of brown sugar, and plop down on the couch to finish Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.
It’s the best thing I’ve read in a while, and already on my list of favorite YA novels of the year. First off, it has a great sense of pace and compelling characters – you’re not going to get anywhere without that. Second, add in some real drama and plot. Third, relate that plot to a) current events and politics, in a gripping way and b) issues dear to the hearts of librarians and computer geeks (and some of the rest of you, too) the world over – privacy, censorship and free speech.** Oh, and don’t forget a healthy dose of humor, a touch of romance, and explanations of technology actually make sense to little ol’ me. Throw in a few afterwards and an author’s note containing real, practical, optimistic information and plenty of advice for further reading.
You end up with something awesome. And a much improved mood.
*I blame the book for a lot of my recent coffee cravings.
**I took a class this spring where we discussed a lot of these things – ethics, privacy, free speech, censorship, etc. – basically this book covered all the same information, but with plot. And no homework.
4 comments
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July 14, 2008 at 7:53 am
RW
I shall order it from our library immediately.
July 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm
k
Maybe I am an eejit , but I am puzzled how ”a few afterwards…” are thrown about ?
July 29, 2008 at 3:24 pm
jess
“Afterward” as in an author’s note type thing, but not written by the author. They’re at the end of the book, and talk about real-world applications of issues in the book.
September 22, 2008 at 3:06 pm
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