6 teenagers, all students at MapleThorpe Academy, all with a vested interest in keeping their ratings up. In this alternate society your ratings are everything - they can impact your scholarships, you job, the hospital you are allowed to go to, where you shop. It is in your best interest to keep your rating as high as possible but slip ups can cause you to lose points.
On the first day of a new school year vandalism rocks the Academy - "the ratings are not real". What does that mean and why is everyone so quick to hush up what happened. To top it off what is the meaning of the weird message that 6 of them get with the same jester sticker that covered all the security cameras.
Slowly 6 teenagers start making connections and unravel the mystery behind the message.
This was an interesting read. At one point - with the mysterious message and jester image I thought it would delve into something more creepy (it did not). I was then pretty sure it wasn't going to end satisfactorily - and while it is clearly the first in a series there was decent closure.
I have really read way more than 2 books in July. It hasn't been my best month due to traveling to NY and then to Guatemala, but I have read books - just not blogged about them.
Cora's life revolves around garbage. Her mother and father - recently separated - are both scientists who deal with garbage, recycling, sustainability. So, of course, Cora and her twin brother are involved with the family passion. Her friendship with her brother Kyle and Sybella is not garbage - they have been inseparable and even have an imaginary kingdom. But when a meddlesome girl takes advantage of a misunderstanding Cora and Sybella's friendship is in jeopardy. Can they figure out a way to fix it?
This story is told through multiple viewpoints and jumps around chronologically. There is also a mysterious diary of another girl with friendship issues. It all comes together at the end but I am not sure how effective the style was or if it will cause issues with middle grade readers.
Quentin is the newest part of the family in Mrs. K's home, Vic, Nevaeh, and Mara have been there for awhile. Nevaeh does most of the care actually - Mrs. K is an older lady who is still grieving her husband and works a lot. Nevaeh dreams of getting out and eventually becoming a doctor. Vic imagines that he is a spy who will eventually go to El Salvador to rescue his father. In reality his father has been deported. Mara barely speaks and when she does it's in Spanish. When Quentin arrives with Asperger's Vic sets out to help him reunite with his mom. But their quest soon involves all of the children and they learn that sometimes family is what you make of it.
Really well done and heartwarming.
