Gr 6—10—With personal debt out of control, the federal government monitors spending and forces families who exceed their limit to undergo stringent measures to correct the problem. One option is for their teenage children to be sent to a workhouse where they can earn money to help reduce the family debt. Matt, a math and computer whiz, is not concerned for himself because his parents are smart enough and rich enough to play by the rules—right? But the unthinkable happens and, despite the fact that he is only in eighth grade, he is whisked off to a facility. His considerable intelligence and skills make him a "Top Floor"; he lives in luxury and is given intellectually stimulating work. Still, Matt realizes he is in a prison, and, with his hacker skills and the help of other Top Floors, determines to discover the truth. The protagonist is for the most part likable, and his actions and reactions are age-appropriate. The supporting characters, especially his parents, are not fully developed but do not detract from the fast-moving plot. Tension builds nicely as the climax nears, but most readers will guess some of the workhouse secrets before Matt and his friends do, and the denouement is unsatisfying. While the most egregious wrongs are resolved, the very idea of children being forced to work for their parents' economic sins is cheerfully accepted. This is better than Suzanne Wayne's The Bar Code Tattoo (Scholastic, 2004) but not quite on par with Margaret Peterson Haddix's Found (S & S, 2008). Fans of both books will enjoy it.—Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA
In the not-too-distant future, children are sent to workhouses to pay off their families' debts. Thirteen-year-old Matt is taken to one; he's categorized as a "Top Floor" and lives relatively comfortably. However, things don't turn out to be as great as they seem. There's a good amount of suspense throughout the story, but it's resolved a little too neatly.
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