Feed

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

Reading level: Grades 9+

Summary:
Most people in Titus' world have grown up with a feed. The feed is a computer device that is implanted in a person's brain. It allows companies to stream endless ads and commercials into a person's consciousness. The feed also allows people to chat with each other, without speaking. On a visit to the moon, Titus meets a strange, but beautiful, girl named Violet. He finds out that Violet didn't have the feed until she was six years old, and this has begun to impact the way her body reacts to the feed. As Violet begins to deteriorate before his eyes, Titus must face his true feelings for her, and his true feelings about the feed.

Comments:
This book was very original. The world Anderson imagines is totally different from anything I have read before. I especially enjoyed the deterioration of language in the book. Adults use the same slang as teenagers, since they are all following trends from the feed. Peoples' vocabulary is quite small, since they do not talk to each other as much. Also, people don't have to learn anything, since everything they could possibly want to know they can look up on the feed. As for the story, I thought it could use some editing. There were many parts that seemed to drag on or be inconsequential. Interestingly, there were parts of the book that I could relate to present day situations, such as the prevalence of the media in our lives. This book certainly makes you think! I would recommend this book for high school readers and for book clubs due to its potential for discussion topics.

Rating: 4/5