Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (2011), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 320 pages
Description
Romance. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it's to go to school or on a date, people don't venture out of their home. There's really no need. For the most part, Maddie's okay with the solitary, digital life�until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren't meant to be alone, he tells her. Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her�a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member tracythelibrarian
Awaken is the story of a future world where people live their lives online for the most part. All their social interactions are online, all school is online (DS - Called "Digital School"). People rarely leave their homes, and when they do they find themselves tracked by their fingerprints whenever
Maddie is the daughter of the founder of DS. She has a rebellious streak in her and is contacted by Justin, who leads a group trying to give people a choice between DS and face-to-face school. Justin introduces her to a world where people get together to socialize, food is made from scratch, and DS is optional. And Maddie introduces love to Justin.
What I love about this book: ACTION! There are actual chase scenes in the book. I also love that Kacvinsky has created characters that question the status quo and attempt to shake things up and create a revolution (much in the same way that Katniss and Peeta changed things in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series). And I love that Kacvinsky has created a world where online social interaction has become the main means of socializing. Why? Because this book takes what I see in my library every day (chatting online, Facebooking, texting) and makes you question the hold these online interactions have on us and how out-of-touch we can become by living our social lives online.
Part of me wishes that the romance played a lesser part in the book because with less of a romantic focus it could be a great YA book club book to discuss the affect of technology on our lives. I can see this book appealing to teen girls but not so much to boys.
Show More
they use public transportation (which is what most people use) and in a world of fake trees, grass, even food. Maddie is the daughter of the founder of DS. She has a rebellious streak in her and is contacted by Justin, who leads a group trying to give people a choice between DS and face-to-face school. Justin introduces her to a world where people get together to socialize, food is made from scratch, and DS is optional. And Maddie introduces love to Justin.
What I love about this book: ACTION! There are actual chase scenes in the book. I also love that Kacvinsky has created characters that question the status quo and attempt to shake things up and create a revolution (much in the same way that Katniss and Peeta changed things in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series). And I love that Kacvinsky has created a world where online social interaction has become the main means of socializing. Why? Because this book takes what I see in my library every day (chatting online, Facebooking, texting) and makes you question the hold these online interactions have on us and how out-of-touch we can become by living our social lives online.
Part of me wishes that the romance played a lesser part in the book because with less of a romantic focus it could be a great YA book club book to discuss the affect of technology on our lives. I can see this book appealing to teen girls but not so much to boys.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ComaCalm
In the year 2060, everything is done digitally. Kids no longer go to schools. They stay home and take classes online. Adults work from home, too. Even dating is no longer done in person. Why walk on a real beach when you can stroll down a digitally remastered one instead? No bad weather, no
Awaken is a very interesting idea, one that could very easily become true. The idea that humans could cut themselves off from the world completely isn't that difficult to fathom - after all, we've been doing it for years, slowly but surely. Madeline is a very interesting character, you see her rebellious side a lot but fear of her Father stops her from doing anything he might dislike - he doesn't trust her due to something she did in the past. Justin was my favourite character as his history was rather complex. Justin encourages Madeline to fend for herself and fight for what she believes in, so he's a crucial part of the book.
For me, I didn't like how it ended. I was expecting/hoping for an Uglies style cliff-hanger but what I got was a pretty ending tied up with a pretty pink bow. Otherwise, this book was perfect.
Show More
seagulls, nothing real to ruin a perfectly fine time. Though she's grown up in this digital world, something about being cut off from everyone doesn't sit right with seventeen-year-old Madeline. Her favorite activity, the only one she does off-line is soccer. She likes the physicality of it and the comradery with the other girls. Then she meets Justin. He, too, prefers life off-line. It's all he talks about. He even takes her out to a real coffee shop and an underground club. Maybe it's his attentiveness, or the physical closeness of actually being with someone, or just that he's very good looking, Madie is definitely drawn to him. But there's also something very aloof about him, like perhaps he's hiding something. When Madie uncovers the truth, she's faced with the question: What's more important, fighting for what you believe in or love?Awaken is a very interesting idea, one that could very easily become true. The idea that humans could cut themselves off from the world completely isn't that difficult to fathom - after all, we've been doing it for years, slowly but surely. Madeline is a very interesting character, you see her rebellious side a lot but fear of her Father stops her from doing anything he might dislike - he doesn't trust her due to something she did in the past. Justin was my favourite character as his history was rather complex. Justin encourages Madeline to fend for herself and fight for what she believes in, so he's a crucial part of the book.
For me, I didn't like how it ended. I was expecting/hoping for an Uglies style cliff-hanger but what I got was a pretty ending tied up with a pretty pink bow. Otherwise, this book was perfect.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
When I first read the summary of this book it sounded right down my alley. I love dystopia's and I'm always a sucker for a good romance but the book started off a little rough for me. It took picking it up a couple times and putting it back down and then picking it up again after seeing several
I absolutely loved the characters. At first it did irk me that Maddie who was supposed to be this computer whiz and socially awkward girl is of course gorgeous. I'm not saying computer geeks can't be pretty but come on! Why do they always have to be gorgeous in these books. Can't the mousy looking girl catch the hot guy now and then? But that is beside the point. Maddie was the perfect blend of the naive teen who grew up always "plugged in" and rarely having face to face interactions and rebelliousness against a system that so restricts people's choices. I could also relate to her as she went through technology withdrawals. To be honest the thought of not having internet access, reading email, etc makes me jittery just thinking about it. I remember I had to go one week using dial up service to get online and even that was torturous. I can only imagine how it must be to go from being online pretty much 24/7 to being cut off cold turkey.
Then there is Justin. Can I just say swoon?! He struck me as so much older than 20 but I guess that is what happens when you are left pretty much on your own and make it your life's purpose to save other people. I loved seeing him open up in small ways like knowing how to cook and letting Maddie experiment with peanut butter, tomato and other horrid sounding sandwich combinations. It was cute and so out of character with the serious, activist persona he tries to portray.
The supporting characters were just as intriguing. I love Maddie's mom and how she secretly tries to help Maddie rebel. I'm curious how she ended up with a husband that is so far gone in technology invading people's lives while she still enjoys introducing her daughter to actual paper books and *gasp* encouraging Maddie to write in a paper journal. Justin's set of friends are also a curious mix of personalities that I can't wait to see more of.
I think the story itself draws in the reader because while it's a dystopia it's not that too far off from where we are now. With Facebook, Twitter, blogs, iPads, etc I feel like people are constantly hooked into the internet and a lot of social interaction takes place in online communities. I know there are several people I talk to on Twitter, online book club and baby boards that I feel like I am closer to than some of the people I have actually met in person. Like I mentioned above I am a tech junkie and would hate to not have access to these online worlds and with the rate of violence increasing in schools it would not surprise me if we start moving towards digital schools.
And of course there is the romance. I loved seeing Justin and Maddie together and Justin made my heart pound and wish I could be in Maddie's shoes sometimes. I liked that although Maddie was in love with Justin she didn't blindly go along with his opinions and causes. She was torn between her love for him, what she thought was the right thing to do and her love for her family. My favorite piece of advice for Maddie came from Justin's mother. While she encouraged their relationship she tells Maddie that she shouldn't NEED Justin to feel whole. She has to be comfortable being on her own too. I loved that because I feel like that's one thing that doesn't come across often enough in these YA romances. You often see the heroine or hero who will just die pining from heartbreak if they were to lose the other person or even be separated from them for too long. The relationships are so needy it can't be healthy.
When I finished this one up I sighed in happiness and some regret as I realized I would have to wait patiently for the next book.
Show More
friends whose taste I trusted say they loved it. I kept with it this time and I'm not sure at what point it took place but it really sneaked up on me and I loved it. I had about 30 pages left when my commute to work was over so instead of my morning routine of breakfast and going through email I snuck in a few more minutes of reading to finish it off.I absolutely loved the characters. At first it did irk me that Maddie who was supposed to be this computer whiz and socially awkward girl is of course gorgeous. I'm not saying computer geeks can't be pretty but come on! Why do they always have to be gorgeous in these books. Can't the mousy looking girl catch the hot guy now and then? But that is beside the point. Maddie was the perfect blend of the naive teen who grew up always "plugged in" and rarely having face to face interactions and rebelliousness against a system that so restricts people's choices. I could also relate to her as she went through technology withdrawals. To be honest the thought of not having internet access, reading email, etc makes me jittery just thinking about it. I remember I had to go one week using dial up service to get online and even that was torturous. I can only imagine how it must be to go from being online pretty much 24/7 to being cut off cold turkey.
Then there is Justin. Can I just say swoon?! He struck me as so much older than 20 but I guess that is what happens when you are left pretty much on your own and make it your life's purpose to save other people. I loved seeing him open up in small ways like knowing how to cook and letting Maddie experiment with peanut butter, tomato and other horrid sounding sandwich combinations. It was cute and so out of character with the serious, activist persona he tries to portray.
The supporting characters were just as intriguing. I love Maddie's mom and how she secretly tries to help Maddie rebel. I'm curious how she ended up with a husband that is so far gone in technology invading people's lives while she still enjoys introducing her daughter to actual paper books and *gasp* encouraging Maddie to write in a paper journal. Justin's set of friends are also a curious mix of personalities that I can't wait to see more of.
I think the story itself draws in the reader because while it's a dystopia it's not that too far off from where we are now. With Facebook, Twitter, blogs, iPads, etc I feel like people are constantly hooked into the internet and a lot of social interaction takes place in online communities. I know there are several people I talk to on Twitter, online book club and baby boards that I feel like I am closer to than some of the people I have actually met in person. Like I mentioned above I am a tech junkie and would hate to not have access to these online worlds and with the rate of violence increasing in schools it would not surprise me if we start moving towards digital schools.
And of course there is the romance. I loved seeing Justin and Maddie together and Justin made my heart pound and wish I could be in Maddie's shoes sometimes. I liked that although Maddie was in love with Justin she didn't blindly go along with his opinions and causes. She was torn between her love for him, what she thought was the right thing to do and her love for her family. My favorite piece of advice for Maddie came from Justin's mother. While she encouraged their relationship she tells Maddie that she shouldn't NEED Justin to feel whole. She has to be comfortable being on her own too. I loved that because I feel like that's one thing that doesn't come across often enough in these YA romances. You often see the heroine or hero who will just die pining from heartbreak if they were to lose the other person or even be separated from them for too long. The relationships are so needy it can't be healthy.
When I finished this one up I sighed in happiness and some regret as I realized I would have to wait patiently for the next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member readingdate
In Awaken, the year is 2060 and the digital world has taken over. Everything is done online and there is very little face-to-face interaction. Madeline (Maddie) Freeman is 17 and participates in Digital School; an online home based education system created by her father. The only time Maddie ever
Maddie, however does have a rebellious streak, and has used her connections and tech savvy in the past to cause some serious trouble. Now her father is monitoring her closely, and every move and click of the mouse is watched. Maddie’s world begins to change when she meets Justin at a study session. Justin wants to go back to a simpler and more unplugged way of life. Maddie begins to see there is a whole other world out there if she can open her mind and heart to the possibility.
It is very easy to relate to the premise of Awaken, where an unstable and violent world forces people to live their lives indoors. This future dystopian world is frightening because it mirrors so much of today’s reality. In Maddie’s world she thinks she is more social and connected than ever with the ways she can interact with her on-screen friends. I was very aware of the fact that I was reading the book on my kindle, and of all the ways the world has switched to digital.
The characters of Maddie and Justin are intriguing. Maddie is smart, brave and inquisitive and it’s fun to watch her eyes open to the world Justin introduces her to. She makes a good match with Justin, who is focused on bringing change to the world, but is also closed off in his own way. Their relationship was a high point of the book for me and I liked how it built slowly. The chemistry is there even though on the surface their lives are so different.
The book is well paced and balanced with action, romance and suspense to keep my interest throughout. It has a good message and provides food for thought to remember to unplug occasionally. Recommended for fans of YA dystopian books, especially if you are looking for something less heavy and disturbing and more on the romantic side. I’m not sure if there are plans for a sequel, but the ending seems to suggest it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Show More
leaves her house is to play on a soccer team. She is addicted to her flip screen and to communicating through multiple social network channels. Her whole life is on a computer screen; there are no paper books or opportunities to socialize in person. There are not even trees outside; all trees are now synthetic and can be ordered online. Maddie is happy with her life though, and doesn’t understand why her mother has a fondness for the way things used to be.Maddie, however does have a rebellious streak, and has used her connections and tech savvy in the past to cause some serious trouble. Now her father is monitoring her closely, and every move and click of the mouse is watched. Maddie’s world begins to change when she meets Justin at a study session. Justin wants to go back to a simpler and more unplugged way of life. Maddie begins to see there is a whole other world out there if she can open her mind and heart to the possibility.
It is very easy to relate to the premise of Awaken, where an unstable and violent world forces people to live their lives indoors. This future dystopian world is frightening because it mirrors so much of today’s reality. In Maddie’s world she thinks she is more social and connected than ever with the ways she can interact with her on-screen friends. I was very aware of the fact that I was reading the book on my kindle, and of all the ways the world has switched to digital.
The characters of Maddie and Justin are intriguing. Maddie is smart, brave and inquisitive and it’s fun to watch her eyes open to the world Justin introduces her to. She makes a good match with Justin, who is focused on bringing change to the world, but is also closed off in his own way. Their relationship was a high point of the book for me and I liked how it built slowly. The chemistry is there even though on the surface their lives are so different.
The book is well paced and balanced with action, romance and suspense to keep my interest throughout. It has a good message and provides food for thought to remember to unplug occasionally. Recommended for fans of YA dystopian books, especially if you are looking for something less heavy and disturbing and more on the romantic side. I’m not sure if there are plans for a sequel, but the ending seems to suggest it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Show Less
LibraryThing member meags222
This is a book set in the future and is set in a society where everything is done electronically. Students go to school online, go on dates via webcam and simulations and no one goes outside anymore. When people are in the outside world they are so preoccupied with being plugged in that they miss
Show More
the beauty around them. That being said, most of the beauty around them is also simulated; they have fake trees and fake grass and as a result they have little wildlife. I have seen this theme on television but I haven't read any books that deal with the electronic revolution. While reading this book I thought that it really doesn't seem far off. How long can I go without going online, checking my phone, using my Ipod? I wouldn't lose my mind if I had to go without these things but it's not often that I decide to be unplugged. I'm sure this is true with many people my age. It's scary to read this book and to think of where the world could go. That being said, I find it highly unlikely that people would allow their lives to get to that point. I mean it's wonderful to talk to people via Skype but it can't beat hanging out in real life. My favourite thing in the world is to get outside in the summer and read my book. I couldn't imagine living indoors all the time. I know that when I do stay indoors too long my brain becomes mush and I become highly unmotivated to do anything. Anyhow, back to the book. Kacvinsky is an incredible story-teller. I couldn't put this book down. I felt personally invested in Maddie's life and I wanted to know what was going to happen with her. At one point in the book she is out with Justin doing things she shouldn't be doing and I just kept thinking, this is going to come back to bite her in the butt. I wanted to yell at her to think about her actions but at the same time I wanted her to get out and experience the world as it once was. Maddie is conflicted between her family and her increasing views that things just aren't right in the world. She wants to get out and experience more than the surface static that has become her life but she is constantly thinking of how her actions will affect her family. I also really liked Maddie's mother who in her own way encourages Maddie to live her life. I definitley recommend this book, I couldn't put it down and I read it in one day. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kritik
Awaken, a dystopian novel based in 2060. Where technology has now dominated the lives of everyone to the point where individuals spend 95% less communicating face to face. Crime, Teenage Pregnancy, Crime Rates and other issues have been reduced almost completely all because of Digital School and
Madeline Freeman is used to this lifestyle. Chatting with hundreds of people online every day without any worries. But she feels as if something is missing from her life.Then she meets Justin who teaches her the world outside technology and Madeline begins to see how much humans have enclosed themselves in their own little worlds. In this Novel, Madeline begins struggles on whether to fight for what she believes to be right or to hurt those she loves.
I really like this plot. As I look at the 21st century, a future such as the one in Awaken seems to be more realistic every day. I felt like I could really relate to Madeline and her transition from an enclosed lifestyle to a more open environment without technology. Her struggle to do whats right also made me reflect to myself many times in the book where I asked myself 'Is technology really beneficial to us all?' Of course even today we face similar conflicts that we see in Awaken such as how much time we let technology dominate our lives and how much face to face interaction we actually do.
Overall decision- I did find the story a little slow paced for me. Other than deciding whether she wants to fight with or against her father and a romantic struggle with Justin, Madeline didn't really have much to do. Of course, I love some romance in my books but I felt this book was more romantic and distracted me from what it was really about. But I still enjoyed reading it and from the ending I can tell there'll definitely be a sequel and i'll be waiting for it.
So I recommend this to anyone who's into dystopian novels. If your looking for anything action packed then don't look here because as I said before, the story can get a little slow. But I will definitely buy this once it hits the stores.
Show More
the advancement in technology. But at what cost? Madeline Freeman is used to this lifestyle. Chatting with hundreds of people online every day without any worries. But she feels as if something is missing from her life.Then she meets Justin who teaches her the world outside technology and Madeline begins to see how much humans have enclosed themselves in their own little worlds. In this Novel, Madeline begins struggles on whether to fight for what she believes to be right or to hurt those she loves.
I really like this plot. As I look at the 21st century, a future such as the one in Awaken seems to be more realistic every day. I felt like I could really relate to Madeline and her transition from an enclosed lifestyle to a more open environment without technology. Her struggle to do whats right also made me reflect to myself many times in the book where I asked myself 'Is technology really beneficial to us all?' Of course even today we face similar conflicts that we see in Awaken such as how much time we let technology dominate our lives and how much face to face interaction we actually do.
Overall decision- I did find the story a little slow paced for me. Other than deciding whether she wants to fight with or against her father and a romantic struggle with Justin, Madeline didn't really have much to do. Of course, I love some romance in my books but I felt this book was more romantic and distracted me from what it was really about. But I still enjoyed reading it and from the ending I can tell there'll definitely be a sequel and i'll be waiting for it.
So I recommend this to anyone who's into dystopian novels. If your looking for anything action packed then don't look here because as I said before, the story can get a little slow. But I will definitely buy this once it hits the stores.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksforCompany
This isn’t a book l would usually pick up from looking at the cover but after seeing this around a few blogs and reading the blurb l was straight away drawn to this book. It sounds like an unique read but l did feel it could go wrong if it got too unrealistic.
I didn’t feel this book got too
That said, l did really enjoy this book. I wouldn’t say this is a fast paced book but the story line was very intriguing, never knowing what was going to happen next with the characters relationships with each other and also where the story line was going.
This book introduces you to a whole new world which feels very real, the author has done a great job of putting in things which already exist in this world mixed which things that don’t. This makes it all much more believable and gives you the chance to make your own opinion on the things which the author seems to ‘discuss’ with the reader.
My over all opinion of this book is it’s a great read with a unique story line, l enjoyed reading about the different characters. I found Justin a very interesting character and wished his point of view could of been included.
Thanks Netgalley/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
I didn’t feel this book got too
Show More
unrealistic in the way of how things are in the future but l did feel some interactions between the characters felt ‘fake’. For example l felt some relationships grew too quickly for how things really would, especially for people who are meant to never have face to face conversations. That said, l did really enjoy this book. I wouldn’t say this is a fast paced book but the story line was very intriguing, never knowing what was going to happen next with the characters relationships with each other and also where the story line was going.
This book introduces you to a whole new world which feels very real, the author has done a great job of putting in things which already exist in this world mixed which things that don’t. This makes it all much more believable and gives you the chance to make your own opinion on the things which the author seems to ‘discuss’ with the reader.
My over all opinion of this book is it’s a great read with a unique story line, l enjoyed reading about the different characters. I found Justin a very interesting character and wished his point of view could of been included.
Thanks Netgalley/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Show Less
LibraryThing member Bibliotropic
Katie Kacvinsky wove an interesting vision of the future that reads like a highly entertaining cautionary tale of relying too much on technology and online communication, with more than a hint of rebellion against the concept of "we know what's best for you," and a hefty dose of trying to find a
The world in Awakened is compelling and interesting, and the bulk of the novel involves a fight against Digital School, which, in essence, is homeschooling 2.0. Students take classes from the comfort of their own homes, connected to other students via their computers, sending their work for evaluation to teachers whom they never actually meet. It's effective in protecting children from the dangers of the outside world, violence and misery and accidents, but also effective in cutting everyone off from human contact, limiting them in myriad ways. There's a sinister undercurrent to this: the creator of Digital School, also Maddie's father, seeks to quell the rebellion against his creation, and how better to do that than to make sure people are kept apart, their interactions kept solely online where Big Brother can monitor.
It isn't scary in the way that a horror novel would define the word. It's scary in its subtleties, the way that sort of thinking permeates life, the way we can see the seeds of that future growing in our own society. You, reading this right now, have likely only ever interacted with me by typing words to me, never spoken to me, never seen me, and how easy is it to think that that's exactly how it should be?
Slippery slope arguments are often invalidated, but so fascinating to consider the consequences of.
Kacvinsky does a great job of building characters as real as the world around them, giving them layers, quirks, foibles, difficulties to overcome that aren't always handled neatly and concisely. The romance between Maddie and Justin, for example, is the sort of "on again off again" relationship that frustrates me to no end when I see it in books, but as a counter to that, it's frustrating to the characters, too. The defenses they put up are logical, their arguments not always logical, their feelings often illogical.
Just the way real life works.
The author hasn't just stepped onto the YA stage here, she's fairly danced gracefully onto it. I eagerly look forward to what she's going to write in the future, and I hope it'll be as interesting as what she's done here. This book comes highly recommended to those who enjoy a good dystopian YA novel.
Show More
balance. This appealed to me in particular since I myself walk a rather fine line between making use of online communication and striving to find a greater connection with the physical world around me. It isn't an easy line to walk, as Maddie discovers over the course of this novel.The world in Awakened is compelling and interesting, and the bulk of the novel involves a fight against Digital School, which, in essence, is homeschooling 2.0. Students take classes from the comfort of their own homes, connected to other students via their computers, sending their work for evaluation to teachers whom they never actually meet. It's effective in protecting children from the dangers of the outside world, violence and misery and accidents, but also effective in cutting everyone off from human contact, limiting them in myriad ways. There's a sinister undercurrent to this: the creator of Digital School, also Maddie's father, seeks to quell the rebellion against his creation, and how better to do that than to make sure people are kept apart, their interactions kept solely online where Big Brother can monitor.
It isn't scary in the way that a horror novel would define the word. It's scary in its subtleties, the way that sort of thinking permeates life, the way we can see the seeds of that future growing in our own society. You, reading this right now, have likely only ever interacted with me by typing words to me, never spoken to me, never seen me, and how easy is it to think that that's exactly how it should be?
Slippery slope arguments are often invalidated, but so fascinating to consider the consequences of.
Kacvinsky does a great job of building characters as real as the world around them, giving them layers, quirks, foibles, difficulties to overcome that aren't always handled neatly and concisely. The romance between Maddie and Justin, for example, is the sort of "on again off again" relationship that frustrates me to no end when I see it in books, but as a counter to that, it's frustrating to the characters, too. The defenses they put up are logical, their arguments not always logical, their feelings often illogical.
Just the way real life works.
The author hasn't just stepped onto the YA stage here, she's fairly danced gracefully onto it. I eagerly look forward to what she's going to write in the future, and I hope it'll be as interesting as what she's done here. This book comes highly recommended to those who enjoy a good dystopian YA novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
The world you'll find in the pages of Awaken is not as far fetched as you'd think. Which, quite frankly, makes it a very scary world. Imagine not having the need to leave your home. You go to school online. Talk to your friends online. Watch favorite tv shows, the news, or even read books online.
Maddie has been content living her life in the digital world. After the incident a few years ago (when she was going through that rebellious phase that threatened to tear her family apart) she has been more than happy to lay low and live the way her father wants her to. But then she meets Justin Solvi. Justin who questions everything she believes in. Who convinces her that living behind a computer is not living at all.
I loved this book! I especially loved that it seemed a very realistic fate for humankind. My favorite type of dystopia, I might add. The year is 2060, not so very far down the line, and I can definitely see a world where computers are at its forefront. I mean 15 years ago who would have thought we would be where we are now when it comes to electronics and the world wide web. Just think how much time we normally spend in front of our computers. My job has me sitting in front of a computer 7 hours - plus at least 1 to 2 hours at home on week nights... and then there are the countless hours on our phones, iPads, etc. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely hooked. This book really gets you thinking.
Obviously, I am a fan of the world building. Putting that aside, I also really enjoyed the characters. The interactions between Maddie and Justin were enjoyable. I loved how their relationship develops slowly throughout the story. Even though I had a few moments where I didn't trust Justin (his interest in Maddie seemed too much about "the better good", as well as he had this terrorist vibe to him), but little by little he grew on me and I ended up really liking him. I also really liked the push and pull between those who believed in being "digitalized" and those who wanted more human interaction. As the reader, you are conflicted because both sides have some very interesting points. It's not all good vs. evil or black vs. white. I really found it thought provoking and it surely had me thinking about it long after I was done with it.
I'm not sure if this is a stand alone... I guess it can be, but I feel that we need more closure. I truly hope that there is more to come. Either way, Ms. Kacvinsky is definitely an author you'll want to keep an eye out for. All in all, I found Awaken to be a very powerful story, with three dimensional characters, action, suspense and romance. A very worthy read and one that I highly recommend.
Show More
You can even go on a virtual date online. Why bother leaving your home - when you are doing all this in the safety and comfort of your home. It doesn't matter what you're wearing or how you look. You are an avatar. You can do anything you want to do and be anyone you want to be. It's the perfect world... or is it?Maddie has been content living her life in the digital world. After the incident a few years ago (when she was going through that rebellious phase that threatened to tear her family apart) she has been more than happy to lay low and live the way her father wants her to. But then she meets Justin Solvi. Justin who questions everything she believes in. Who convinces her that living behind a computer is not living at all.
I loved this book! I especially loved that it seemed a very realistic fate for humankind. My favorite type of dystopia, I might add. The year is 2060, not so very far down the line, and I can definitely see a world where computers are at its forefront. I mean 15 years ago who would have thought we would be where we are now when it comes to electronics and the world wide web. Just think how much time we normally spend in front of our computers. My job has me sitting in front of a computer 7 hours - plus at least 1 to 2 hours at home on week nights... and then there are the countless hours on our phones, iPads, etc. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely hooked. This book really gets you thinking.
Obviously, I am a fan of the world building. Putting that aside, I also really enjoyed the characters. The interactions between Maddie and Justin were enjoyable. I loved how their relationship develops slowly throughout the story. Even though I had a few moments where I didn't trust Justin (his interest in Maddie seemed too much about "the better good", as well as he had this terrorist vibe to him), but little by little he grew on me and I ended up really liking him. I also really liked the push and pull between those who believed in being "digitalized" and those who wanted more human interaction. As the reader, you are conflicted because both sides have some very interesting points. It's not all good vs. evil or black vs. white. I really found it thought provoking and it surely had me thinking about it long after I was done with it.
I'm not sure if this is a stand alone... I guess it can be, but I feel that we need more closure. I truly hope that there is more to come. Either way, Ms. Kacvinsky is definitely an author you'll want to keep an eye out for. All in all, I found Awaken to be a very powerful story, with three dimensional characters, action, suspense and romance. A very worthy read and one that I highly recommend.
Show Less
LibraryThing member seescootread
Hmm, well I was not all that impressed with this book. I feel like the author had a great concept, but didn’t really do much with it. At times the adventure was great and the digitally minded dystopian world seemed pretty believable. However, I feel this book was all a build-up to ... nothing. Or
Show More
the second novel if there is going to be one. The main character Maddie did go through a lot of development as she learned that life in a digital world is not a real life. Yet, I still had the feeling of something missing. The story is told from Maddie’s perspective and is at times interspaced with her hand-written journal entries. The journal entries felt out of place, they didn’t flow well with the story. On the plus side I liked Justin, and his slowly building romance with Maddie didn’t seem forced. It was really sweet, and some of their scenes together were perfectly placed and written. I also love the cover art for this book! Awaken is an interesting read, but not one that I would be in any rush to purchase. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Set in a world of fear, technology and violence, a book like Awaken has incredible relevance -so much that it's almost scary. The world of Awaken strikes a frighten vibe with readers, as the creepy, technology-laden, isolated future painted in this novel feels like an incredibly plausible future in
In Awaken, Maddie's world is one of computers, digital school, constant electronic distraction and, most importantly, the lack of real human connection and fear of other people. Maddie has spent much of her life attending digital school, chatting with friends she's never met in person, and, most importantly, hiding behind her false online profiles. Then, one day in digital school, she begins speaking to a strange boy named Justin. As Maddie gets to know Justin online, he convinces her to meet him in person, and Maddie is forced out into the real world. But Justin isn't like most people in this world. Rather than spending his life behind a computer screen, Justin prefers to experience life for real and introduces these experiences to Maddie, who begins to awaken to real life.
The messages of Awaken truly resonated with me. The whole theme about people preferring to hide behind computer schools and online profiles, rather than conversing in real life, has becoming a highly common occurance, especially with the prevelance of Facebook and Twitter. Then's there's the inevitable related element where people are constantly in front of electronic devices (kind of Fahrenheit 451-like) and pay more attention to them than to the other people in their lives...even family. But for me, when Awaken explained the reasoning behind the creation of digital school -school shootings, out of control violence, the fear that people can never be safe -hits home in a bone-chilling way.
The rest of Awaken was pretty good. It's a well-constructed dystopia with enjoyable characters that keep me enthralled until the very end. However, there were a few small things that bothered me. The plot was a little predictable, and I thought the ending sputtered out a little bit, but overall, an enjoyable read with some fascinating, yet frightening speculation about the future.
Show More
the real world. Without bothering to sugar-coat things, Awaken tackles very real issues that tend to get swept under the rug -or virtually ignored -in our world today.In Awaken, Maddie's world is one of computers, digital school, constant electronic distraction and, most importantly, the lack of real human connection and fear of other people. Maddie has spent much of her life attending digital school, chatting with friends she's never met in person, and, most importantly, hiding behind her false online profiles. Then, one day in digital school, she begins speaking to a strange boy named Justin. As Maddie gets to know Justin online, he convinces her to meet him in person, and Maddie is forced out into the real world. But Justin isn't like most people in this world. Rather than spending his life behind a computer screen, Justin prefers to experience life for real and introduces these experiences to Maddie, who begins to awaken to real life.
The messages of Awaken truly resonated with me. The whole theme about people preferring to hide behind computer schools and online profiles, rather than conversing in real life, has becoming a highly common occurance, especially with the prevelance of Facebook and Twitter. Then's there's the inevitable related element where people are constantly in front of electronic devices (kind of Fahrenheit 451-like) and pay more attention to them than to the other people in their lives...even family. But for me, when Awaken explained the reasoning behind the creation of digital school -school shootings, out of control violence, the fear that people can never be safe -hits home in a bone-chilling way.
The rest of Awaken was pretty good. It's a well-constructed dystopia with enjoyable characters that keep me enthralled until the very end. However, there were a few small things that bothered me. The plot was a little predictable, and I thought the ending sputtered out a little bit, but overall, an enjoyable read with some fascinating, yet frightening speculation about the future.
Show Less
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
In 2060, the United States is digital. Kids 'attend' digital schools, chat online, dance online, maintain friendships online. Books are digital because there is no paper...real trees and grass having been replaced with plastic replicas. Dissidents work diligently to get the world to disconnect. Her
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky has a great premise as people are becoming more and more wired and face to face contact decreases. However, the plot is more love story (mostly Maddie pining over Justin) than social commentary and the ending is disappointing. Kacvinsky wants readers to believe that people in 2060 never leave their homes, which is difficult. The limited action is fun but the story would benefit from more. The ease and impact of manipulating information in a digital world is just touched on. Most characters have little depth. A more issue driven story would have been more powerful.
Show More
father, now an influential educator, developed digital schooling in response to school violence. Maddie got in trouble two years ago supplying classified information from her father's computer to protestors. As punishment, Maddie was 'sentenced' to probation during which time her father monitors her every movement. Maddie meets Justin in an online study group and he invites her to meet face to face. With her independent thinking mother’s tacit approval, she meets Justin, not knowing that he wants to recruit her to the protestor cause. As she falls in love with Justin, she is torn between her love for him and her love for her family.Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky has a great premise as people are becoming more and more wired and face to face contact decreases. However, the plot is more love story (mostly Maddie pining over Justin) than social commentary and the ending is disappointing. Kacvinsky wants readers to believe that people in 2060 never leave their homes, which is difficult. The limited action is fun but the story would benefit from more. The ease and impact of manipulating information in a digital world is just touched on. Most characters have little depth. A more issue driven story would have been more powerful.
Show Less
LibraryThing member renkellym
Summary: Maddie lives in a world overrun with technology. There’s no need to interact with other humans anymore thanks to her dad’s revolutionary invention—Digital School. But when Maddie meets Justin, a boy who still values face-to-face contact, she learns that there’s more to the world
My thoughts: Awaken brings a poignant question to the table—is technology doing us more harm than good? This message is conveyed almost entirely through Maddie’s questioning of the world around her and through the actions of those against Digital School. Thankfully, this means that Awaken doesn’t come off as preachy—it makes you think rather than trying to forcefully change your opinion.
Story-wise, Awaken was a bit slow. Maddie’s narration just didn’t grab my attention well enough; it was easy to put the book down to do something else. Though the premise is certainly interesting—it’s easy to see how the society in Awaken could be a possible future for us—I found it difficult to get into.
The characters in Awaken were likable and fun. Maddie’s stubbornness and drive to escape her father’s legacy were the qualities I most admired in her. Justin, the rebel boy, was also interesting—there is more to him than initially meets the eye, which was a breath of fresh air. The two had really great chemistry together, and I was really happy with the way their relationship turned out.
While I wouldn’t consider Awaken to be the best dystopian ever, I still think it’s a solid contribution to the genre. The story’s a bit slow, but the questions it brings up about technology and the characters make up for it.
Show More
than touch screens and chatrooms.My thoughts: Awaken brings a poignant question to the table—is technology doing us more harm than good? This message is conveyed almost entirely through Maddie’s questioning of the world around her and through the actions of those against Digital School. Thankfully, this means that Awaken doesn’t come off as preachy—it makes you think rather than trying to forcefully change your opinion.
Story-wise, Awaken was a bit slow. Maddie’s narration just didn’t grab my attention well enough; it was easy to put the book down to do something else. Though the premise is certainly interesting—it’s easy to see how the society in Awaken could be a possible future for us—I found it difficult to get into.
The characters in Awaken were likable and fun. Maddie’s stubbornness and drive to escape her father’s legacy were the qualities I most admired in her. Justin, the rebel boy, was also interesting—there is more to him than initially meets the eye, which was a breath of fresh air. The two had really great chemistry together, and I was really happy with the way their relationship turned out.
While I wouldn’t consider Awaken to be the best dystopian ever, I still think it’s a solid contribution to the genre. The story’s a bit slow, but the questions it brings up about technology and the characters make up for it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member readingbeader
As I read this novel set in a world where people interact mostly behind their computer screens, it was hard not to notice the irony of reading an electronic ARC on my Kindle. Everyone goes to digital school through their home computers to keep them safe from bullies, shooters, and other crimes.
Show More
Madeline has lived this way for years, with the last few years being even more isolated because of being “grounded” for something she did that caused her to lose her father’s trust. When she meets Justin at a study group (face to face) he causes her to finally question the life she’d taken for granted. Madeline’s growth is pretty quick and she accepts things easily that I thought should have taken longer, but that could be because she is a “rebellious” teenager. I wish her parents were more fleshed out—I don’t understand why they are still married anymore than she does. Maybe in the next book, we’ll get more of their story. There is definitely more to come; several issues are still unresolved: the upcoming nationwide vote on the digital school, Justin’s distancing himself from Madeline, and which side she will choose when she turns 18. I am interested, and plan to follow the story through. Show Less
LibraryThing member varsha1010
The fact that the title of this book is Awaken is amusing to me because, despite a few instances, the best way to describe this book is Sleepy.
The story has potential to be a great series but this first instalment is just not that great.
The story takes place in the year 2060 and follows the life of
Maddie falls head over heels for this guy and 90% of the story is about how she can't stop thinking about /looking at his lips and his perfectly messy hair... Yet there's an "analog revolution" happening around them and she doesn't really seem to care.
I realize the author probably did this because she intends on making a sequel and the plan is to develop the revolution more in the next book but it just ended up making me dislike Maddie and Justin's relationship and hope that it doesn't work out.
Overall, this is an okay book. The writing is good and has promise for a good sequel but I think I'll hold off on the recommendation until I've read book two because really, nothing has happened yet.
The story has potential to be a great series but this first instalment is just not that great.
The story takes place in the year 2060 and follows the life of
Show More
a eighteen year old girl named Madeline. In this future, computers have taken over our lives; people go to school, hang out with friends and go on dates via Internet connection. After retaliating once against this type of living and getting burned for it, Maddie has stayed within the confines of computer life. Then she meets Justin, a boy who refuses to live his life through a computer screen and her life is turned upside down.Maddie falls head over heels for this guy and 90% of the story is about how she can't stop thinking about /looking at his lips and his perfectly messy hair... Yet there's an "analog revolution" happening around them and she doesn't really seem to care.
I realize the author probably did this because she intends on making a sequel and the plan is to develop the revolution more in the next book but it just ended up making me dislike Maddie and Justin's relationship and hope that it doesn't work out.
Overall, this is an okay book. The writing is good and has promise for a good sequel but I think I'll hold off on the recommendation until I've read book two because really, nothing has happened yet.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sithereandread
AWAKEN, by Katie Kacvinsky, is a chilling look into the future of digital technology and all the 'what ifs' that come along with it. I was extremely impressed with this novel and exploring the implications of humans going totally digital and losing real connection with each other.
Kacvinsky set up
Maddie comes out of her shell and agrees to meet Justin at a face-to-face tutoring session and both of their worlds are altered. I loved the budding relationship between these two. Maddie had the most room and ability to change but overall this relationship changed the both of them. The chemistry between these two was electric and I yearned for them to be together the whole time!
Overall this book was unexpectedly action packed and a rude awakening for the digital era. I was sure to keep my cell and computer far away from me while reading and I think you should put down the technology and read this one too!
Cover note: Quite a literal cover in this instance. I love the flowers trapped in the jar, out of its natural habitat just as humans should not live inside but outside with others. Bravo cover artist!!
Kacvinsky set up
Show More
the book wonderfully. I was able to view Maddie's day-to-day activities and saw how little she interacted face to face with others. Her father was the pioneer of Digital School in which students across the U.S. sat at home all day in simulated classrooms to keep them safe from the violence of real school. I think the idea of DS was really cool and I agree with it in some aspects but in this world it was taken a bit to the extreme.Maddie comes out of her shell and agrees to meet Justin at a face-to-face tutoring session and both of their worlds are altered. I loved the budding relationship between these two. Maddie had the most room and ability to change but overall this relationship changed the both of them. The chemistry between these two was electric and I yearned for them to be together the whole time!
Overall this book was unexpectedly action packed and a rude awakening for the digital era. I was sure to keep my cell and computer far away from me while reading and I think you should put down the technology and read this one too!
Cover note: Quite a literal cover in this instance. I love the flowers trapped in the jar, out of its natural habitat just as humans should not live inside but outside with others. Bravo cover artist!!
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheReaderBee
Seventeen year old Madeline lives in a digital world. She goes to school, meets new friends, and does her shopping all without ever having to leave her home. Why leave your home, when everything is right at your fingertips? Introduce hunky boy Justin, who shows her what life is like outside her
I picked up Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky from Netgalley. I didn't really know what to expect, but I picked it up because it had a different feel than most of the books I've been reading lately. I have to say, it was a great read! The plot was great, and really sucked me into the book. It was fasted paced, and I was finished before I knew it.
I liked the main character, Maddie. I liked seeing her 'awaken', to a life she didn't even know about it. You could tell there was a rebel hidden in there, and she was very likable. Justin was another good character. I felt bad for him. He really wants to care about Maddie, but feels that he has to take care of everyone else as well. I didn't like that he played with her emotions so much, but that's a guy for you. ;)
I really enjoyed the book! The ending left me wanting MORE. I'm hoping it was left that way for a reason, and that there will be another book(s) in the series.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Books and Netgalley for letting me read and review this book!
Show More
digital world, and Maddie feels her life will never be quite the same again.I picked up Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky from Netgalley. I didn't really know what to expect, but I picked it up because it had a different feel than most of the books I've been reading lately. I have to say, it was a great read! The plot was great, and really sucked me into the book. It was fasted paced, and I was finished before I knew it.
I liked the main character, Maddie. I liked seeing her 'awaken', to a life she didn't even know about it. You could tell there was a rebel hidden in there, and she was very likable. Justin was another good character. I felt bad for him. He really wants to care about Maddie, but feels that he has to take care of everyone else as well. I didn't like that he played with her emotions so much, but that's a guy for you. ;)
I really enjoyed the book! The ending left me wanting MORE. I'm hoping it was left that way for a reason, and that there will be another book(s) in the series.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Books and Netgalley for letting me read and review this book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member BrandisBookMusings
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky is set in a futuristic America where everything is done on computers. Walks along the beach, hiking, dates, tutoring, and most importantly school. The outside world is unknown and scary to most...why would you want to be unplugged? Rebellious Madeline's father is the
I really enjoyed Awaken and it really hit home. With the technological advancements of today this type of future isn't that hard to imagine. This book makes you think of all that would be missed and the little things that we take for granted: cars, trees, sports, books, grass, fire, sunsets, salty beach air, being face to face with friends, and the touch of another human. This book was amazing and all who are growing up in this digital age should read this book.
Show More
creator of DS, the digital school that provides safety and equality to all through education. This is Madeline's life, but when she meets face to face with a boy she met on the internet he introduces her to the life that she has been missing. Maybe this new technlogically enhanced world isn't keeping everyone safe, but slowly taking everything away that makes us human. I really enjoyed Awaken and it really hit home. With the technological advancements of today this type of future isn't that hard to imagine. This book makes you think of all that would be missed and the little things that we take for granted: cars, trees, sports, books, grass, fire, sunsets, salty beach air, being face to face with friends, and the touch of another human. This book was amazing and all who are growing up in this digital age should read this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Loyet
Amazing! I love the world that she's created. I love the commentary on the way society is currently and where we're headed. And perhaps it's reflection on my own story, but I loved the love story and Maddie's persistence.
LibraryThing member Liyanna
The future described in this book is very likely to happen, as we depend more and more on computers these days (online shopping, online dating, online social networks ...). It is not hard to imagine that we ourselves will turn into online hermits one day. So I really liked the plot. The characters
The romance, however, was very frustrating to me. Madeline and Justin are in love with each other, but Justin keeps turning her down. And when they finally kiss he distances himself from her once more. Argh! He even suggests that she should date a friend of his. This completely baffled me. When you love someone, surely that thought should kill you. Why not try a long distance relationship for the time being, or even some kind of Bonny and Clyde thing? For this reason I'm disappointed with the book.
Show More
were very likeable as well.The romance, however, was very frustrating to me. Madeline and Justin are in love with each other, but Justin keeps turning her down. And when they finally kiss he distances himself from her once more. Argh! He even suggests that she should date a friend of his. This completely baffled me. When you love someone, surely that thought should kill you. Why not try a long distance relationship for the time being, or even some kind of Bonny and Clyde thing? For this reason I'm disappointed with the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Krista23
I have to admit the picture on this book threw me off. I was expecting the story inside to maybe be a coming of age contemporary novel. But was pleasantly surprised.
This book takes place in the future, where computers (surprise!) rule our lives. The novel focuses on DS or Digital School and how
My Opinion: A concept that can 100% be our future and the near future. As a person who spends 8-10 hours a day on the computer myself, how can I not see this as a possible future. I have to say that although I really liked some ideas in the book, it does make you look in at your own life and realize how much we really do depend on the safety of our own homes and how easy it is to stare at a screen all day, lacking physical activities. Katie's writing is amazing, the romance and action was a perfect fit. The writing flowed perfectly and made me not want to stop reading. I loved every minute of this book and completely fell in love with Justin and Maddie and am hoping that this will not be the end of their story. I want to continue reading about them and love that I was able to be introduced to them. I am going to recommend this to everybody, adult and teen, it's got some awesome messages and in a very fast paced, entertaining way .
This book takes place in the future, where computers (surprise!) rule our lives. The novel focuses on DS or Digital School and how
Show More
taking kids out of normal public shools and putting them into home schooled computer classes (all the way through college) has disrupted what we call "community." The whole concept of even having to leave your house has bencome obsolete.My Opinion: A concept that can 100% be our future and the near future. As a person who spends 8-10 hours a day on the computer myself, how can I not see this as a possible future. I have to say that although I really liked some ideas in the book, it does make you look in at your own life and realize how much we really do depend on the safety of our own homes and how easy it is to stare at a screen all day, lacking physical activities. Katie's writing is amazing, the romance and action was a perfect fit. The writing flowed perfectly and made me not want to stop reading. I loved every minute of this book and completely fell in love with Justin and Maddie and am hoping that this will not be the end of their story. I want to continue reading about them and love that I was able to be introduced to them. I am going to recommend this to everybody, adult and teen, it's got some awesome messages and in a very fast paced, entertaining way .
Show Less
LibraryThing member allureofbooks
This is just going to be a quick shot of some of my initial thoughts of the book, because it won't be released until May 2011. I was planning on writing a full review and just not posting it for a few months...but this isn't the kind of book you can read and just set aside. At least - it wasn't for
I opened this book on my computer via NetGalley (so if you don't want to wait until May 2011, go sign up!)expecting a pretty quick read. I haven't read any dystopian fiction for several weeks, and was looking forward to giving this a shot. Fast forward about three and a half hours...and I'm finished with the book and left crazy for more. Seriously, I would probably promise Katie Kacvinsky my firstborn for a look at the next book (assuming she is writing one, please-oh-please tell me she is).
It is beautifully written, the chemistry between the characters gave me chills, and I was crazy impressed with her dystopian world-building skills.
Engaging plot, dynamic characters, and a future that manages to be both compelling and believable enough to make you wonder. You don't want to pass this one by - books like this are the reason we all love to read.
Show More
me! So, I won't be going into any details about the plot...I just want to rave about it and convince you all to pick it up as soon as you can! You better believe I'll be buying a copy as soon as it is released!I opened this book on my computer via NetGalley (so if you don't want to wait until May 2011, go sign up!)expecting a pretty quick read. I haven't read any dystopian fiction for several weeks, and was looking forward to giving this a shot. Fast forward about three and a half hours...and I'm finished with the book and left crazy for more. Seriously, I would probably promise Katie Kacvinsky my firstborn for a look at the next book (assuming she is writing one, please-oh-please tell me she is).
It is beautifully written, the chemistry between the characters gave me chills, and I was crazy impressed with her dystopian world-building skills.
Engaging plot, dynamic characters, and a future that manages to be both compelling and believable enough to make you wonder. You don't want to pass this one by - books like this are the reason we all love to read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SmashAttack
My Synopsis
The years is 2060. Due to severe violence and bombings of schools, digital life has become the norm and people do not venture outside to socialize. Instead, life is lived via computers. You can go on a coffee date, attend a study group, go dancing, participate in a book club, go on a
Maddie, our brave, likable, young heroine, seemingly enjoys virtual life. Her father is the creator of Digital School, and because of this, Maddie's life is as strict as digital life can be. It doesn't help that Maddie has some treacherous behavior on her record and her father deems her untrustworthy, but I will leave that for you to uncover. In walks Justin, a digital contact that has been urging Maddie to attend a physical study group for weeks. Although face-to-face meetings are abnormal in this day and age, she finally caves. On the way to the study group, the reader discovers a flying bird tattoo on the inside of Maddie's wrist. This bird undoubtedly represents her need to be free, and you are now presented with the idea that Maddie may not be content with being trapped inside a digital world. As you can easily guess, meeting Justin changes her life in a major way.
My Thoughts
Awaken surprised me. It brings a very interesting and possible future to our attention, and I think about it often because so many of us lead very digital lives. Not only is it fun, easy, comfortable and accessible, but it allows the socially awkward people of the world to be someone they wish they could be in real life. It allows for anonymity, for everyone to be equal. And, you are pretty safe sitting behind your computer screen. Aside from the cool technological advances, Maddie's world isn't much different from ours, and I fear our society is headed in the direction of this story. It is quite eerie, actually. When is the last time you picked up the phone to actually speak to someone rather than text them? When is the last time you called or visited your neighbor/friend/family member rather than emailed them? I will be the first to admit that I do these things, but I think youth of today are experiencing this more severely. Technology has many amazing uses, but it is also very detrimental to socialization, which is a much needed piece of being human.
I loved Justin's character, but not at first. He definitely had to prove himself to me. He was extremely dedicated to his cause, and while I admired him for his strength and determination to seek change, he was a bit of a hypocrite. He was quite resistant to welcoming love and affection into his own life, all the while preaching the importance of intimacy and connection to the world. Personally, I think it was a defense mechanism. I think Justin’s inexplicable draw to Maddie freaked him out for a few understandable reasons. Regardless, Justin definitely grew on me. I can't imagine someone so selfless, and boy, does it make him smexy! (Plus, he has dimples. Score!) I love how he challenges Maddie's perception of life, and especially love his determination to change society. We need more people like him in real life to stand up for what they believe in, speak out and make changes, instead of bitching and moaning on the sidelines. As a social worker, this is the most annoying thing a person could do. If you don’t agree with something, then ACT! You don’t have to be all vigilante crazy, but write a damn letter or make a phone call.
I really enjoyed the romantic tension between Justin and Maddie, and especially enjoyed experiencing Justin's attempt to fight his feelings for her. Justin teaches Maddie how to use her senses, since people encased in a digital world never have the chance to explore life this way. That exercise led to an intimate scene between the two, and I thought it was beautifully written.
Maddie's mom wasn't a major character, but she really grabbed my attention. Over the years, she has kept hard copies of books, and preserves them behind glass so the pages don't yellow and wither. Be still, my heart! She also reviewed the books when she was younger, and now passes along her favorites to Maddie. :)Regarding Maddie's parents, I was quite amazed at their relationship. Her dad was so intent on keeping life in the digital realm, while it was obvious her mother yearned to return to paper and pen. Very interesting dynamic.
There were so many great quotes that I can't share because I read an ARC. Some of them expressed the prison-like existence of a digital life, others expressed the spirit and free will of people. Some where spoken or felt between Maddie and Justin. Great stuff. I was a tad disappointed in the ending of the book. Not because it was bad but because I wished for a different ending. However, it did not detract from my love for this book. I also have some questions, such as: How do they expect people to find mates and procreate if they're stuck in a virtual world 24/7? I mean, you meet tons of people all over the world but you never venture out to physically meet them. Doesn't seem like a good equation for making babies, right? Regardless, if you couldn’t tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Awaken and look forward to more!
The years is 2060. Due to severe violence and bombings of schools, digital life has become the norm and people do not venture outside to socialize. Instead, life is lived via computers. You can go on a coffee date, attend a study group, go dancing, participate in a book club, go on a
Show More
chatwalk, stay fit with group exercise - you name it. Digital school is the only option for children to get an education, as face-to-face schools no longer exist because of the threat of violence. When attending classes, you actually have a holograph image of your classmates and teacher in front of you. This life sounds cool, right? Wrong. The technological advances in this world are not used to enhance life, but instead used to control it. You can do nothing without leaving a trace, forever being followed by digital spies.Maddie, our brave, likable, young heroine, seemingly enjoys virtual life. Her father is the creator of Digital School, and because of this, Maddie's life is as strict as digital life can be. It doesn't help that Maddie has some treacherous behavior on her record and her father deems her untrustworthy, but I will leave that for you to uncover. In walks Justin, a digital contact that has been urging Maddie to attend a physical study group for weeks. Although face-to-face meetings are abnormal in this day and age, she finally caves. On the way to the study group, the reader discovers a flying bird tattoo on the inside of Maddie's wrist. This bird undoubtedly represents her need to be free, and you are now presented with the idea that Maddie may not be content with being trapped inside a digital world. As you can easily guess, meeting Justin changes her life in a major way.
My Thoughts
Awaken surprised me. It brings a very interesting and possible future to our attention, and I think about it often because so many of us lead very digital lives. Not only is it fun, easy, comfortable and accessible, but it allows the socially awkward people of the world to be someone they wish they could be in real life. It allows for anonymity, for everyone to be equal. And, you are pretty safe sitting behind your computer screen. Aside from the cool technological advances, Maddie's world isn't much different from ours, and I fear our society is headed in the direction of this story. It is quite eerie, actually. When is the last time you picked up the phone to actually speak to someone rather than text them? When is the last time you called or visited your neighbor/friend/family member rather than emailed them? I will be the first to admit that I do these things, but I think youth of today are experiencing this more severely. Technology has many amazing uses, but it is also very detrimental to socialization, which is a much needed piece of being human.
I loved Justin's character, but not at first. He definitely had to prove himself to me. He was extremely dedicated to his cause, and while I admired him for his strength and determination to seek change, he was a bit of a hypocrite. He was quite resistant to welcoming love and affection into his own life, all the while preaching the importance of intimacy and connection to the world. Personally, I think it was a defense mechanism. I think Justin’s inexplicable draw to Maddie freaked him out for a few understandable reasons. Regardless, Justin definitely grew on me. I can't imagine someone so selfless, and boy, does it make him smexy! (Plus, he has dimples. Score!) I love how he challenges Maddie's perception of life, and especially love his determination to change society. We need more people like him in real life to stand up for what they believe in, speak out and make changes, instead of bitching and moaning on the sidelines. As a social worker, this is the most annoying thing a person could do. If you don’t agree with something, then ACT! You don’t have to be all vigilante crazy, but write a damn letter or make a phone call.
I really enjoyed the romantic tension between Justin and Maddie, and especially enjoyed experiencing Justin's attempt to fight his feelings for her. Justin teaches Maddie how to use her senses, since people encased in a digital world never have the chance to explore life this way. That exercise led to an intimate scene between the two, and I thought it was beautifully written.
Maddie's mom wasn't a major character, but she really grabbed my attention. Over the years, she has kept hard copies of books, and preserves them behind glass so the pages don't yellow and wither. Be still, my heart! She also reviewed the books when she was younger, and now passes along her favorites to Maddie. :)Regarding Maddie's parents, I was quite amazed at their relationship. Her dad was so intent on keeping life in the digital realm, while it was obvious her mother yearned to return to paper and pen. Very interesting dynamic.
There were so many great quotes that I can't share because I read an ARC. Some of them expressed the prison-like existence of a digital life, others expressed the spirit and free will of people. Some where spoken or felt between Maddie and Justin. Great stuff. I was a tad disappointed in the ending of the book. Not because it was bad but because I wished for a different ending. However, it did not detract from my love for this book. I also have some questions, such as: How do they expect people to find mates and procreate if they're stuck in a virtual world 24/7? I mean, you meet tons of people all over the world but you never venture out to physically meet them. Doesn't seem like a good equation for making babies, right? Regardless, if you couldn’t tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Awaken and look forward to more!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Jibar
I started this book in the beginning of June and then kind of got annoyed with it and left to read another book. I decided to finish it a few days ago, and the ending really changed my opinion of the book. For me, the beginning was just drab and not what I expected it to be. In fact, the whole
What I did like was the romance between Madeline and Justin. It felt very real to me and I liked reading about every single doubt they had. And even though Maddie's brother Joe is a very minor character, I found him very likeable, too.
The world is consistently built, I suppose. Everything has a reason of existence, and the characters are well thought out, especially Madeline's parents. I'm still missing an antagonist to like, really. Because I hate Maddie's Dad, but not with an antagonist-passion, if you know what I mean. But since this is the first book of the Awaken Series, there is probably still something to come.
S0 while I was a little disappointed with the world itseld, the plot was well thought out and the action was written very well. If you see it somewhere, you should go pick it up.
Show More
novel wasn't. I was expecting some world in which people where even more invested in computers.What I did like was the romance between Madeline and Justin. It felt very real to me and I liked reading about every single doubt they had. And even though Maddie's brother Joe is a very minor character, I found him very likeable, too.
The world is consistently built, I suppose. Everything has a reason of existence, and the characters are well thought out, especially Madeline's parents. I'm still missing an antagonist to like, really. Because I hate Maddie's Dad, but not with an antagonist-passion, if you know what I mean. But since this is the first book of the Awaken Series, there is probably still something to come.
S0 while I was a little disappointed with the world itseld, the plot was well thought out and the action was written very well. If you see it somewhere, you should go pick it up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member WilowRaven
Dystopian stories are all over the place these days. I for one couldn't be happier. As far as dystopian tales go, Awaken was a pretty good one but at the same time, I had a few issues with it's world.
The youth of Awaken don't attend brick and mortar schools. Everything has done digital. And it's
The issues I had with Awaken have to do with the rules that govern it's society. All schools are digital and most communication is done over computers. Our protagonist Maddie is under a sort of house arrest. She caused some trouble for her father who is the head of the very powerful company that started Digital School. So, there is a second layer of isolation for her. She doesn't have face to face friends and she doesn't get outside much but it seems like she could if she wanted to? It wasn't really clear and in fact she does spend a large amount of time outside her house with really little to no consequences so I was confused.
In one of these out of the house experiences, Maddie meets this guy Justin, who's only interest in her is her connections. Her father is powerful and Maddie could be helpful to Justin's cause. What is his cause? Well, at times if felt like borderline terrorism. His people are fighting Digital School - they feel it's dangerous for people to have no real interaction with each other. They rescue people who have broken the law and 'save them' and help them get off the grid so to speak and live a real life.
Ok..but...well...the problem, for me, was that this digital world didn't actually feel very dangerous. People still could, and did meet in person. There are coffee shops and live music and Maddie herself plays soccer and there is no government saying you can't do that or we'll arrest you. A lot of people don't want to interact face to face and in this society they really don't have to. If very much felt like a choice. Maddie hasn't really had much exposure to 'real' life but she's a special case. Most people it seemed had a choice.
So Digital School is bad and I never really found out why exactly. But people are fighting against it. And Maddie could be the key to it all if she betrays her father again and helps destroy all that is digital but I was never really sure what it was that she could do other then steal from her father. And really, couldn't anyone figure out how to do that? And Justin, this guy, who only wants her for what she could do for his 'cause'? Of course they fall for each other but for me, It was way to unrealistic to be enjoyable.
Final verdict:
As dystopian stories go, I would not rank Awaken among the top. As romance stories go, Awaken is way down on the list of my favorites - or rather, it doesn’t really make the list. Another take on the 'what if's' of our present society but without the believability or the actual danger everyone seems so afraid of. I would be hard pressed to recommend Awaken to fans of dystopian YA but as always, I encourage you to make your own decision.
The youth of Awaken don't attend brick and mortar schools. Everything has done digital. And it's
Show More
not just the kids, daily day to day life has progressed to the point where less and less people interact with each other face to face. It's actually a pretty believable future. Digital is cheaper and in the case of Awaken, it could be safer.The issues I had with Awaken have to do with the rules that govern it's society. All schools are digital and most communication is done over computers. Our protagonist Maddie is under a sort of house arrest. She caused some trouble for her father who is the head of the very powerful company that started Digital School. So, there is a second layer of isolation for her. She doesn't have face to face friends and she doesn't get outside much but it seems like she could if she wanted to? It wasn't really clear and in fact she does spend a large amount of time outside her house with really little to no consequences so I was confused.
In one of these out of the house experiences, Maddie meets this guy Justin, who's only interest in her is her connections. Her father is powerful and Maddie could be helpful to Justin's cause. What is his cause? Well, at times if felt like borderline terrorism. His people are fighting Digital School - they feel it's dangerous for people to have no real interaction with each other. They rescue people who have broken the law and 'save them' and help them get off the grid so to speak and live a real life.
Ok..but...well...the problem, for me, was that this digital world didn't actually feel very dangerous. People still could, and did meet in person. There are coffee shops and live music and Maddie herself plays soccer and there is no government saying you can't do that or we'll arrest you. A lot of people don't want to interact face to face and in this society they really don't have to. If very much felt like a choice. Maddie hasn't really had much exposure to 'real' life but she's a special case. Most people it seemed had a choice.
So Digital School is bad and I never really found out why exactly. But people are fighting against it. And Maddie could be the key to it all if she betrays her father again and helps destroy all that is digital but I was never really sure what it was that she could do other then steal from her father. And really, couldn't anyone figure out how to do that? And Justin, this guy, who only wants her for what she could do for his 'cause'? Of course they fall for each other but for me, It was way to unrealistic to be enjoyable.
Final verdict:
As dystopian stories go, I would not rank Awaken among the top. As romance stories go, Awaken is way down on the list of my favorites - or rather, it doesn’t really make the list. Another take on the 'what if's' of our present society but without the believability or the actual danger everyone seems so afraid of. I would be hard pressed to recommend Awaken to fans of dystopian YA but as always, I encourage you to make your own decision.
Show Less
Awards
Young Adult Favorites Award (2012)
Original publication date
2012-04-17
Physical description
320 p.; 8.57 inches
ISBN
0547371489 / 9780547371481
Similar in this library
XVI by Julia Karr