Posted by : Deborah Takahashi Wednesday, December 29, 2010


Plot Summary:
In the not-so-distant future, the world has changed. Not only has the government been overrun, and taken over, by the Feed Corporation. When a child is born, he, or she, has a "feed" implanted into their brains that not only plug them into the highly advanced technological world, but use them as a means to "feed" the Feed Corporation. In this tale, a teen named Titus, who is a product of his world, is partying on the moon with his buddies. When all seemed fine, a techno terrorist uploads a virus into the feeds of the party goers and Titus loses controls of all his senses. The next day, he wakes up in the hospital completely unaware of what happened and there, at the hospital, he meets a girl named Violet. Unlike most of his friends, Violet is different. Not only is she unfashionable, she is intelligent, opinionated, and a free spirit. Moreover, unlike Titus, she does NOT have a feed implanted into her brain. Violet gives Titus a chance to see the world differently and how technology, albeit convenient, can be cumbersome and desensitizing.

Critical Evaluation:
M.T. Anderson provides teens with a thought-provoking story that stirs great conversation and forces readers to think about society and it's dependence on technology. Anyone who works with teenagers know that they are the key audience marketing companies appeal to; teens are the  largest group of consumers that rake in profit. Not only does the "Feed" provide teens of the future with ESP-like capabilities (teens can close their eyes and talk to their cousins in Paris using brain waves) and they can also stake out the best deals anywhere with the help of the Feed. For example, a teen is looking for a pair of Seven Jeans. She walks into a store, thinking she will get a steal until an ad pops up in front of her face telling  her where she can get better or different deal. Teens are not only bombarded with marketing material on a daily basis, their entire existence relies on having the best clothes to wear, the best toys to play with, and listening to the best music ever. In this world, individuality is frowned upon and commercialism and consumerism are the new Gods.

Information about the Author:
M.T. Anderson is a critically acclaimed young adult and children's author who has written a variety of stories including Burgerwuss, Thirsty, and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. According to his website, Anderson, just like his repertoire, has lived an exciting life. His family moved around a lot (his father was in the military) and he had lived in Italy and England (where he went college at Cambridge University). Anderson has also held quite a few different jobs such as working in retail, an editorial assistant, and a classical music reviewer. Anderson also says that ever since he was a teenager, he always wanted to be a writer and threw himself into his novels and comic books. After graduating from college, and variety of jobs, Anderson went back to school and received an MFA in Creative Writing at Syracuse University. A few years letter, he started teaching "Writing for Children and Young Adults" at Vermont College, which played a huge role in the creation of his works. Between graduating and teaching, Anderson started writing stories for adults and children, which eventually gave birth to his first novel Feed.  Not only did he manage to wow audiences all of the country, his books won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award. 

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi, Teen Romance

Reading/Interest Level:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Feed:

Awards/Recognition:
  •     National Book Award Finalist
  •     Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner
  •     New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year
  •     Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards – Honor Book
  •     Chicago Public Library Best Books for Children and Teens
  •     ALA (American Library Association) Best Books for Young Adults
  •     Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books of the Year
  •     Junior Library Guild Selection
  •     Volunteer State Book Award Master List (Tennessee)
  •     Riverbank Review Children’s Books of Distinction
  •     Book Sense 76 Top 10 Picks
  •     Horn Book Fanfare
  •     Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books – Bulletin Blue Ribbons
  •     Booklist Editors’ Choice

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Deborah Takahashi
Pasadena, CA, United States
My name is Deb and I am a Librarian who absolutely loves to read and recommend books to teen and tween readers. In this blog, you will find reviews on a variety resources ranging from books, movies, video games, and much more. Please feel free to leave any feedback, especially book recommendations!
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