Ones and Zeroes

Gr 8 Up—In Marisa's world, the Internet is no longer a luxury; it is necessary for survival. Megacorporations use technology to rule over neighborhoods and gain wealth. Implants inside the brain, called djinnis, allow people to be connected to the Internet, and one another, 24 hours a day. This sequel to Bluescreen finds Marisa and her gaming group, the Cherry Dogs, searching for Grendel, the hacker who may hold the key to the childhood accident that cost Marisa her arm. A possibly rigged global gaming competition, a revolutionist boy trying to take down a megacorp, and an arduous rescue are just a few of the complications that the Cherry Dogs face in their quest to conquer the gaming world and save Marisa's community. The futuristic setting is scary in its entirely plausible reliance on technology. The Cherry Dogs' realistic dialogue and diverse personalities, races, and sexual orientations give most readers someone to relate to. The secondary characters are also well-developed, with backstories that move the narrative forward without superfluous distractions, and Wells creates easily understood descriptions of technology. References to current celebrities and what they could be doing in the future add an element of humor to the tale.