Book Review: Glitch

Title:  Glitch
Author:  Heather Anastasiu
Where I got it:  From NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Summary:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In Heather Anastasiu's action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

My Thoughts:
Glitch carries an interesting blend of complete societal regulation and technology that really intrigued me.  Citizens of the Community spend their entire life connected to the Link via a V-Chip that is installed and upgraded throughout childhood, until the adult V-Chip is installed at age 18.  Society values order, logic, and community above all, and each member is charged with reporting any anomalies to the proper authorities so they can be addressed.  So when Zoel starts experiencing momentary disconnects from the Link, in which she is able to experience independent thought and emotion, she’s certain that she’s going to be discovered, but at the same time, she’s unwilling to self report.

Turns out, she’s not the only “Glitcher” in her school, and that all is not as it seem in the Community.  As Zoe and her friends learn more about the reality of their society, she is determined to find a way to change things for the better.

I completely enjoyed the technological aspects of Glitch, and the idea of first experiencing real life as a teen.  The portrayal of dealing with emotions for the very first time had to be extremely difficult, but hit dead on what I would imagine would happen.  There were little things, like crappy attitudes and convenient events that kind of bugged me during the book, but all in all this is definitely a dystopian type book that I would recommend to fans of the genre.