Feed

Anderson, M. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Science Fiction (futuristic, dystopian society, futuristic technology)

Subjects: Young Adult Fiction - computers, brainwashing, adolescence, friendship, love & romance

Audience: ages 14 & up

Titus is a futuristic teenager who enjoys traveling to the moon with his friends. Humans have implants that allow them to connect to the Internet with their brains and keeps a scrolling interface running at all times that gives them news updates and allows them to shop at will.  During one of his trips to the moon, Titus and his friends' interfaces are hacked and they all end up in the hospital for several days.  Because they have always had the feed, they do not know how to think for themselves.  Violet his a shy, smart girl whose feed has also been hacked, and Titus and Violet begin dating.  Violet's feed still has issues and her family can't afford to fix it.  One night at a party, Violet's feed goes crazy and she begins shouting horrible accusations at Titus's friends.  She is quickly taken to the hospital where they learn that there is no way to fix her feed.  Titus takes her to a mountain cabin but instead of becoming closer to Violet, he breaks up with her.  After a couple of weeks, Titus visits Violet at her house where she is brain dead. He sits and talks with her about what's going on in the world, tells her stories about herself, and what he's been doing and he realized that he loves Violet.  Anderson has written a moving satire about the commercialism of the United States and the way that people rely on technology in our society.  He raises compelling issues about the overuse of technology that may encourage teens to think about its effect on society.

Awards:
Golden Duck Award for Hal Clement Award for Young Adult (2003)

Los Angeles Times Book Prize (2002)

National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature (2002)
Teaching Resources:
Author's Website
Interview with Author
Lesson Plan
Vocabulary List
Book Trailer