Little Brother

Little Brother
Doctorow, Cory, 2008.
Little Brother.
New York: A Tor Teen Book.
416 pages, hardcover.
$17.95

ISBN 9780765319852.

Format: book
Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars

Plot Summary
Marcus is a typical tech-savvy seventeen year old, who knows his way around computers and security systems. He and three friends are a team out to win the Harajuku Fun Madness contest for the grand prize: a trip for four to Japan, where most of the greatest games are created. Talking Darryl into cutting out of school when he discovers a new clue for the content, Marcus joins the others, but in a weird twist of fate – they end up very near the San Francisco Bay bridge when it is blown up. Caught by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), suddenly Marcus’ brilliant hacking skills are looked upon in the light of a potential threat to national security and he becomes an enemy in his own country.

Because of his rebellious attitude, Marcus is ruthlessly interrogated using both psychological stress and physical torture before being released as a marked man; Darryl never reappears. What can Marcus do to fight back? Obvious answer: hacking. He starts his revenge by figuring out a way to access the Internet though a virtual tunnel to keep from being monitored. He and his band of hacker friends outwit surveillance technology and other tracking devices, all in the name of defending the Bill of Rights. Even in his own household, Marcus is the only one who sees that what the government is doing is wrong, so he is set on stopping it by bringing down the DHS system, which is what hackers do best.

Critical Evaluation
Doctorow’s development of the Marcus’ character is a blend of a typical rebellious teen, hyper aware security conscious teen almost in his likeness in some ways, as he has the knowledge and maturity of an adult when it comes to understanding his civil rights and using his voice where most teens his age wouldn’t yet defend the rights of all. The way Doctorow has Marcus lead a rebellion is believable – and the tools they develop, common items used in a new way to beat the system instead of it working as intended shows the level of intelligence this new technology generation.

The geek-speak techno references of present and future are as rich as Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. However, some readers may become lost in some of the technological terminology.

Doctorow writes with the realism of understanding all of the issues at stake: technology, hacking, surveillance, civil rights, activism, and how in the name of security citizens rights are eroding. His use of Marcus’ father as a supporter of all of these ‘in the name of security’ measures is the impetus pushing Marcus even harder to defend their rights.

While Doctorow takes aim at some of the recent security measures since 9/11, I find it fascinating that it reads like one experiencing these violations firsthand – even though he is a Canadian who lives in England, and not the United States. Better for him, I suppose – more realistic perspective as an observer than a citizen living under these new security measures.

Reader’s Annotation
Marcus and Darryl ditch school to meet up with teammates to get a jump start on a new clue for the Harajuku Fun Madness contest (free trip to Japan for winning team), and they are nearby when the San Francisco Bay bridge is blown up by terrorists so they are caught up in the sweep by the Department of Homeland Security. Detained and tortured for days, Marcus is released as a marked man, one with a new mission: to take back his rights and take down the DHS.

Information About the Author
Cory Doctorow was born in Toronto, Canada in 1971 and currently lives in London. He is a science fiction novelist, a technology activist, journalist and a blogger. He is a contributor to The Guardian, the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and Wired to name but a few, and he is co-editor of the popular Boing Boing weblog. He is also a visiting lecturer, Fulbright Fellow and scholar.

Doctorow’s activist efforts include support a total shift in copyright law, as he is an advocate for Creative Commons licensing which encourages re-use and sharing; he offers many of his books as downloads to readers for free. His titles include Little Brother, For the Win, With a Little Help, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, - and future books include a novel: Rapture of the Nerds, a YA novel: Pirate Cinema and a graphic novel: Anda’s Game.

(Doctorow, 2011).

Genre:

Fiction: Issues – action adventure

Read-Alikes
Flush by Carl Iassen
Teen, Inc. by Stefan Petrucha

Curriculum Ties
Little Brother is a great example while studying the implications of science and technology, as well as psychological and sociological examinations on human behavior and studies of the legal system, free speech, and civil liberties vs. infringement in the name of national security.

Booktalking Ideas
1) cutting out of school, only to get caught up in the homeland security sweep
2) argument between Marcus and his father about the added infringement on other rights in the name of 'security' - and how it doesn't actually make anyone safer

Book Trailer Links
Book Trailer by a Reader

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 8 and up / Ages 13 and up

Challenge Issues
hacking, privacy, civil liberties, intellectual freedom, information access, terrorism, interrogations, violence, murder, social justice

First, I would share some of the recommendations used as part of the selection process, including reviews from resources as noted below. Next, I would point out the value in allowing these types of materials to be optional reading as teens grow ever closer to adulthood and making their own decisions. Finally, following our school district’s policy #KEC, after explaining that our school district’s philosophy is that no parent or group of parents has the right to determine the reading matter for children other than their own, I would refer the parent or community member to the building principal, so that he/she can file a written complaint to begin the process of review.

Awards
Best Book for Young Adults
Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel, 2008
Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel, 2008
Ontario Library White Pine Award, 2008
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, 2009
Emperor Norton Award, 2008
Prometheus Award for Best Novel, 2009
Indienet Award for Bestselling YA Novel in America’s top 1000 independent bookstores, 2008
Sakura Medal Nominee for High School Book, 2010
Florida Teens Read Nominee, 2009
New York Times Bestseller List

Why Title Included & Selection Tools
Little Brother is part of this collection because it is both a great read and it dares to challenge teens to stand up for their rights by showing them what could happen when they don't - slowly eroding in the name of security.

School Library Journal, Booklist, New York Times