Publication
Balzer Bray (2010), Edition: First Edition first Printing, 304 pages
Description
In a futuristic alternative school set in a shopping mall where video game-playing students are observed and used by corporate sponsors for market research, Katey "Kid" Dade struggles to figure out where she fits in and whether she even wants to.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BookRatMisty
I first heard about this book on Presenting Lenore where it caught my attention for two reasons: 1) it's a ya dystopia about consumerism (win!) and 2) the cover (for the ARC, at least) reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, which meant they needed to be in a Face Off. (The cover has since
As I said, The Unidentified is about consumerism gone mad, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bigger picture here is really personal freedoms. Kid lives in a very programmed world that is maybe a hairsbreadth away from our own. This is no far-distant dystopia that gives you shivers but makes you secretly glad our world isn't like this. Kid's world is very current, very of the moment, and incredibly relevant to the lives we live now. It reminded me of a mix of MT Anderson's Feed and Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, though it's not as hard-hitting as either of those. And I don't mean that in a bad way. The Unidentified is, I think, more easily accessible to general audiences, and girls in particular, as the book centers around a very relatable girl. I loved reading through Kid's journey as she became stronger and more analytical.
There's a good balance of typical YA fare (friend drama, boy drama, who-am-I drama) blended seamlessly with the tech and dystopian elements, and it all works together to make this a light-but-compelling read for die-hard dystopianites, as well as a good introduction to the genre for those who don't normally read such things. Mariz is great at that gray area that exists in dystopias -- those questions and impressions you get that make 1/2 of you say "Well, this totally makes sense. Kinda cool, actually" and the other 1/2 say "This is wrong; this is bad." I think it's great for discussion, about and beyond the book, but even if you're not going to run out and discuss this with someone, it's still completely unputdownable. So pick it up. ;p
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changed to the one you see up there ^, but the ARC cover -- which is what I have -- can be found below.) I had a feeling this was something I needed to read, so I requested a copy from Balzer and Bray (an imprint of Harper Collins). I never heard anything back (which is not unusual, whether a review copy is coming or not), and so I figured I'd just have to wait the long, tortuous months until it came out -- except that when I got back from ALA, there it was, waiting impatiently for me to read it. And man, am I glad I did.As I said, The Unidentified is about consumerism gone mad, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bigger picture here is really personal freedoms. Kid lives in a very programmed world that is maybe a hairsbreadth away from our own. This is no far-distant dystopia that gives you shivers but makes you secretly glad our world isn't like this. Kid's world is very current, very of the moment, and incredibly relevant to the lives we live now. It reminded me of a mix of MT Anderson's Feed and Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, though it's not as hard-hitting as either of those. And I don't mean that in a bad way. The Unidentified is, I think, more easily accessible to general audiences, and girls in particular, as the book centers around a very relatable girl. I loved reading through Kid's journey as she became stronger and more analytical.
There's a good balance of typical YA fare (friend drama, boy drama, who-am-I drama) blended seamlessly with the tech and dystopian elements, and it all works together to make this a light-but-compelling read for die-hard dystopianites, as well as a good introduction to the genre for those who don't normally read such things. Mariz is great at that gray area that exists in dystopias -- those questions and impressions you get that make 1/2 of you say "Well, this totally makes sense. Kinda cool, actually" and the other 1/2 say "This is wrong; this is bad." I think it's great for discussion, about and beyond the book, but even if you're not going to run out and discuss this with someone, it's still completely unputdownable. So pick it up. ;p
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LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
I truly loved this book. I found it to be very unique. Ms. Mariz creates a not-too-distant future that seems very credible. I loved how the kids had their own way of talking and awesome gadgetry. Although at first glance it appeared to be a story full of high school drama set within a futuristic
Imagine a world where standing out only leads to creating a trend. Sponsors entice the students to create cliques. If you're unique or trendy, this only means that some corporation will sponsor you (you'll be "branded") and therefore market you and your style out so that other kids can replicate it. You're cool if you're branded and if you can't afford to make your own fashion statement, you're a nobody. Kid is a nobody. She hangs out with her friends, gets good grades and does what she must to avoid game over (expulsion). But when a prank in school by a group calling themselves "The Unidentified" catches her attention, she finds that her investigative skills are put to the test.
This book is the extreme of what would happen if we let consumerism and materialism rule our lives. It also makes you think back on how much we rely on social networks, the internet, computers and even our phones. I love how Ms. Mariz expertly blended typical YA topics (BFF's, cute boys, and even self-discovery) with technology and dystopian elements. This really made for interesting reading. Kid's voice drew me in from the start. She had this loner aspect to her that I really looked up to - especially since she lives in a world where being a loner is not a good thing.
The Unidentified was unputdownable. I loved the dystopian-ness of it and the unique storyline. For fans of futuristic YA, dystopian goodness and a stay up late because you-can't-stop-until-you-finish-it read - this is one you'll want to pick up.
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setting, it instead ended up being a story with a much more deeper meaning. Imagine a world where standing out only leads to creating a trend. Sponsors entice the students to create cliques. If you're unique or trendy, this only means that some corporation will sponsor you (you'll be "branded") and therefore market you and your style out so that other kids can replicate it. You're cool if you're branded and if you can't afford to make your own fashion statement, you're a nobody. Kid is a nobody. She hangs out with her friends, gets good grades and does what she must to avoid game over (expulsion). But when a prank in school by a group calling themselves "The Unidentified" catches her attention, she finds that her investigative skills are put to the test.
This book is the extreme of what would happen if we let consumerism and materialism rule our lives. It also makes you think back on how much we rely on social networks, the internet, computers and even our phones. I love how Ms. Mariz expertly blended typical YA topics (BFF's, cute boys, and even self-discovery) with technology and dystopian elements. This really made for interesting reading. Kid's voice drew me in from the start. She had this loner aspect to her that I really looked up to - especially since she lives in a world where being a loner is not a good thing.
The Unidentified was unputdownable. I loved the dystopian-ness of it and the unique storyline. For fans of futuristic YA, dystopian goodness and a stay up late because you-can't-stop-until-you-finish-it read - this is one you'll want to pick up.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
An engaging, thought-provoking read about a future America that seems increasingly probable. Corporate America has taken over education and renamed schools as Game sites, largely using them as marketing test sites. Privacy is nonexistent as hand-held devices are used for communicating, networking,
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and locating everyone. Kid is fascinated by a prank by an underground group called the Unidentified. As she starts to investigate, she is noticed by sponsors and other students, forcing her to fight for what she values. Show Less
LibraryThing member kulmona
I won this book in a FirstReads giveaway on Goodreads. I chose this book because the premise intrigued me. At first glance, the plot and setting seemed futuristic and sci-fi. But in today's technological environment where many educational options are available, it didn't seem so far-fetched. With
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the advent of DVR's and TiVo, consumers are now able to skip ads while watching their favorite TV shows so corporations and the parties they contract to market and promote their products have to come up with ingenious and innovative ways to increase exposure and sales revenue. Product placement is one option. In this novel, nationwide, corporations have taken on the responsibility of education for their own self-serving ends. In the Game, the students themselves become potential brand ambassadors. Being branded has its pros and cons. Branded students are the elite and, in addition to free merchandise, gain access to VIP privileges and social events. But they are constantly monitored and find it increasingly difficult to trust anyone. I am reminded of George Orwell's 1984 and, at the same time, there are familiar elements that readers, especially YA's. will identify with such as: . cliques and outcasts . popularity . gossip . jealousy/back-biting . cyber-bullying that will always be present. The book got off to a slow start, picked up somewhat in the middle, only to come to a rushed and inconclusive end. I practically had to force myself to finish it. Show Less
LibraryThing member elissajanine
Rae is a friend and crit partner of mine, so my review is definitely biased, but I was waiting anxiously for the release of this book, and I wasn't disappointed. It's working perfectly as a discussion starter for my eighth grade students who are studying the ethics of marketing to teens and looking
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critically at advertising, and the book jump-started a group project on designing the perfect school as well. Kid is a character who is easy to relate to, and even in the near-future setting, her experience is very close to that of today's teens. There are a lot of big concepts and questions to work with here, and I can see this book working well in literature circles, too! A fun read but with a lot of depth. Show Less
LibraryThing member waxlight
Cute, Young Adult, Jennifer Government-type book. IE, 'When Corporations Rule the World!'. Entertaining, thought provoking even if it has been done better in other books - it's nice to see dystopian/post-apoc fiction becoming more and more of a presence in the YA genre.
LibraryThing member bibliophile.brouhaha
Do you ever get creeped out at how much access Google has to information on you? Forget it, because it Unidentified, that’s just a fact of life. In fact, ‘Google’ is so accepted as an all-knowing entity that it has replaced ‘God’ in common phrases, i.e. “For the love of God,” is now,
This is the world that Katey, aka ‘Kid’, is growing up in. It takes place at an undefined point in the future U.S. She is educated by corporate companies who monitor and analyze her decisions every time she swipes her student card at school, aka the 'Game'. The kids get ‘cliqued’ into groups like the Fashion Fascists or the Crafters. Instead of grades, there are game levels. Almost every student at the Game hopes to be ‘branded’ by one of the corporate sponsors who fund and run Kid’s school. Being branded means being put on the fast track to success, complete with access to VIP lounges and oodles of freebies. Branded kids have ‘stream groupies’ who follow them on the Game’s network. All they had to do is sign away rights to their personal identities, their talents, and the fruits of those talents. All students are a part of one big marketing study that is always in progress. Everything is very carefully planned. Then, one day someone throws a dummy over the railing at the Game with a sign attached: “UNIDENTIFIED. CHOOSE YOUR SUICIDE.”
Kid thinks it’s the most authentic act she ever has seen in her carefully orchestrated world. She also doesn’t get it – she initially thinks it’s a failed publicity stunt since there is no clear message. Then she sinks into the mystery and doesn’t let go.
First off, I like Kid, and I love her nickname – ‘Kid’ as in she can be ‘any’ kid. It felt that way to me, too. She wasn’t a poseur. She was into what she liked for the simple fact that it brought her pleasure. She wasn’t out to be branded. She felt accessible, but on a ‘real’ level, not on a virtual one. Once she latched onto the mystery of who threw the dummy over the railing and why, I was hooked.
However, before that, I had trouble getting into the book. It failed to capture my interest initially, but I think that was because the author was trying to convey the sense of boredom Kid feels in her own life. By the time the book did capture my interest, it still fell within the ‘under 50 pages or it’s out’ rule. Okay, maybe that’s my rule, but it works. Once I was, I was all in, and the majority of the rest of the book flew by for me. The ending wasn’t the best – it felt rushed, and truly, I ‘get’ what the author was trying to do, but it felt like the easy way out.
Let me say this may not be a book for everybody, but it could be. Frankly, it probably should be. I found the vast majority of it fascinating, with minor disappointments at the beginning and end. Despite it dealing with very real and weighty issues such as online privacy, unknowingly participating in a hegemony, corporate bullying and rebellion, Kid goes through the regular motions of being a teenager: crushes, jealousy, feelings of not belonging, etc. However, to truly enjoy it and 'get' what the author is saying, you need to have an understanding or interest in a few different things:
***Social networking: if you don't understand social networking, i.e. what it is, how to use it, its advantages and its controversies, you may feel a bit lost.
***PR and marketing: If you are not in the least bit interested in how companies gather their information for publicity and sales campaigns, particularly in the online world, then you may have trouble getting into this book. That being said, once you read this book, you may find yourself very interested.
***Corporate involvement in education: remember the controversy over credit card companies pushing their cards on college campuses? Did that alarm you? If it did, and you have any insight and knowledge into how corporate sponsorships are playing into education, you might like this book.
***If you like 1984 and Matrix-type things, you probably will like this book.
Despite the beginning going slow and the very end being a little flat, I really liked the rest of the book. I would definitely pick up another offering from this author.
Overall: B
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“For the love of Google.”This is the world that Katey, aka ‘Kid’, is growing up in. It takes place at an undefined point in the future U.S. She is educated by corporate companies who monitor and analyze her decisions every time she swipes her student card at school, aka the 'Game'. The kids get ‘cliqued’ into groups like the Fashion Fascists or the Crafters. Instead of grades, there are game levels. Almost every student at the Game hopes to be ‘branded’ by one of the corporate sponsors who fund and run Kid’s school. Being branded means being put on the fast track to success, complete with access to VIP lounges and oodles of freebies. Branded kids have ‘stream groupies’ who follow them on the Game’s network. All they had to do is sign away rights to their personal identities, their talents, and the fruits of those talents. All students are a part of one big marketing study that is always in progress. Everything is very carefully planned. Then, one day someone throws a dummy over the railing at the Game with a sign attached: “UNIDENTIFIED. CHOOSE YOUR SUICIDE.”
Kid thinks it’s the most authentic act she ever has seen in her carefully orchestrated world. She also doesn’t get it – she initially thinks it’s a failed publicity stunt since there is no clear message. Then she sinks into the mystery and doesn’t let go.
First off, I like Kid, and I love her nickname – ‘Kid’ as in she can be ‘any’ kid. It felt that way to me, too. She wasn’t a poseur. She was into what she liked for the simple fact that it brought her pleasure. She wasn’t out to be branded. She felt accessible, but on a ‘real’ level, not on a virtual one. Once she latched onto the mystery of who threw the dummy over the railing and why, I was hooked.
However, before that, I had trouble getting into the book. It failed to capture my interest initially, but I think that was because the author was trying to convey the sense of boredom Kid feels in her own life. By the time the book did capture my interest, it still fell within the ‘under 50 pages or it’s out’ rule. Okay, maybe that’s my rule, but it works. Once I was, I was all in, and the majority of the rest of the book flew by for me. The ending wasn’t the best – it felt rushed, and truly, I ‘get’ what the author was trying to do, but it felt like the easy way out.
Let me say this may not be a book for everybody, but it could be. Frankly, it probably should be. I found the vast majority of it fascinating, with minor disappointments at the beginning and end. Despite it dealing with very real and weighty issues such as online privacy, unknowingly participating in a hegemony, corporate bullying and rebellion, Kid goes through the regular motions of being a teenager: crushes, jealousy, feelings of not belonging, etc. However, to truly enjoy it and 'get' what the author is saying, you need to have an understanding or interest in a few different things:
***Social networking: if you don't understand social networking, i.e. what it is, how to use it, its advantages and its controversies, you may feel a bit lost.
***PR and marketing: If you are not in the least bit interested in how companies gather their information for publicity and sales campaigns, particularly in the online world, then you may have trouble getting into this book. That being said, once you read this book, you may find yourself very interested.
***Corporate involvement in education: remember the controversy over credit card companies pushing their cards on college campuses? Did that alarm you? If it did, and you have any insight and knowledge into how corporate sponsorships are playing into education, you might like this book.
***If you like 1984 and Matrix-type things, you probably will like this book.
Despite the beginning going slow and the very end being a little flat, I really liked the rest of the book. I would definitely pick up another offering from this author.
Overall: B
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LibraryThing member dasuzuki
This book definitely crept up on me. I started off thinking it wasn't going to grab me and next thing you know I could not put it down. It's not an action packed story but it is so fitting in the society we live in today and honestly it would not really surprise me if at some point we live life
For many of the teens they strive to become "branded" which means that some company chooses to sponsor them and provide a lot of perks in exchange for those kids advertising their product. Some being better than others like advertising the latest clothing style while others are advertising tampons. I could relate to Kid because she is not totally comfortable with the idea of being branded and the attention it brings to her. She much rather stay in the shadows. So when she finds out about the Unidentified she can relate to them but there is a twist that I did not see coming with the purpose behind the Unidentifieds leader's plans.
Like I said it's not an action packed book and I feel like I just cannot do justice to why I enjoyed this book so much but Kid just drew me into her world.
I will have to say though there are some holes and questions left unanswered but I don't think they really took much away from the story. For instance, this was supposed to be a new way of schooling but honestly other than a few games that had some math work tossed in there did not seem to be much schooling going on. I also did not understand why the teenagers were pretty much on lockdown once they leave the Game. It would have been nice to have a little bit more explanation about the world outside of the Game.
It would have also been nice to get more background on Kid and her best friend, Aria's history with each other. The story starts off at a point where Aria is consumed with getting branded where as Kid could not care less so it's hard to see from their behaviors why they were best friends to begin with. Fortunately her relationship with her other best friend, Mikey, seems much more plausible and I loved watch ng the two of them interact.
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like this. The teens in the Game are so hooked into social networking that it's used for schooling purposes, socializing and advertising. All the students who participate in the Game are given an intouch which is a device that is basically like being on Twitter all the time. The sponsors of the Game post about promotions, friends can text one another and parents can even use the built in GPS to keep an eye on where their teenagers are at all times.For many of the teens they strive to become "branded" which means that some company chooses to sponsor them and provide a lot of perks in exchange for those kids advertising their product. Some being better than others like advertising the latest clothing style while others are advertising tampons. I could relate to Kid because she is not totally comfortable with the idea of being branded and the attention it brings to her. She much rather stay in the shadows. So when she finds out about the Unidentified she can relate to them but there is a twist that I did not see coming with the purpose behind the Unidentifieds leader's plans.
Like I said it's not an action packed book and I feel like I just cannot do justice to why I enjoyed this book so much but Kid just drew me into her world.
I will have to say though there are some holes and questions left unanswered but I don't think they really took much away from the story. For instance, this was supposed to be a new way of schooling but honestly other than a few games that had some math work tossed in there did not seem to be much schooling going on. I also did not understand why the teenagers were pretty much on lockdown once they leave the Game. It would have been nice to have a little bit more explanation about the world outside of the Game.
It would have also been nice to get more background on Kid and her best friend, Aria's history with each other. The story starts off at a point where Aria is consumed with getting branded where as Kid could not care less so it's hard to see from their behaviors why they were best friends to begin with. Fortunately her relationship with her other best friend, Mikey, seems much more plausible and I loved watch ng the two of them interact.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
Katey “Kid” Dade feels out of place in the Game, the futuristic school run by Corporations that observe everyone for market research. While her best friend embraces the hectic, consumerist, public lifestyle, Kid isn’t as concerned that she doesn’t have a large number of people subscribing
Then Kid witnesses an unauthorized act of rebellion by a mysterious group called the Unidentified and gets pulled into a type of game of its own. What does this group want from the Corporations? Will Kid get played by these groups, or will she and her friends find a way to overthrow the organizations that have an eye, ear, and hand on them at all times?
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that has impressed me, and so when I picked up and got instantly sucked into THE UNIDENTIFIED’s riveting and eerily familiar world, I was beside myself with happiness. THE UNIDENTIFIED is smart, well-written, and suspenseful, the perfect example of what dystopian literature should be: a fully realized and recognizable world without forgoing characterization and plot.
Rae Mariz impressively introduces us to a shocking and complex futuristic world, one in which privacy has no meaning thanks to the constant flow of information and technological interconnection. With Facebook’s recent introduction of the disconcertingly stalker-like “See Friendship” button, the issues regarding privacy that THE UNIDENTIFIED explores in such an entertaining and intelligent fashion are so much more immediately relevant. Rae Mariz succeeds in crafting for us a scarily plausible world that is possibly an inevitable extrapolation of the already network-filled world of Facebook and Twitter that we live in.
THE UNIDENTIFIED is smart, but it’s also hardly boring. Kid’s voice is fresh, with just the right amount of quippy attitude. She’s the perfect balance of the observant outsider with the propensity to create change, and the gullible market to which the Corporations are pandering. And Kid’s not the only interesting and well-developed characters. Her two best friends, Ari and Mikey, light up the page with their very different personalities whenever they appear in a scene. Even more minor characters are fully realized with their limited “on-page” time. The characterization is really an incredible accomplishment for a 300-something page book, which most might even consider short for modern dystopian novel standards.
I really wish I had the capacity to speak more about THE UNIDENTIFIED’s marvelous critique of the infiltration of networking websites in our lives. But I’ll leave that to the academics, and just let you know that this book does it, along with providing us a highly unputdownable adventure. I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. READ IT if you’re looking for smart and snappy dystopian literature.
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to her stream, or that she is absolutely mediocre by Game standards.Then Kid witnesses an unauthorized act of rebellion by a mysterious group called the Unidentified and gets pulled into a type of game of its own. What does this group want from the Corporations? Will Kid get played by these groups, or will she and her friends find a way to overthrow the organizations that have an eye, ear, and hand on them at all times?
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that has impressed me, and so when I picked up and got instantly sucked into THE UNIDENTIFIED’s riveting and eerily familiar world, I was beside myself with happiness. THE UNIDENTIFIED is smart, well-written, and suspenseful, the perfect example of what dystopian literature should be: a fully realized and recognizable world without forgoing characterization and plot.
Rae Mariz impressively introduces us to a shocking and complex futuristic world, one in which privacy has no meaning thanks to the constant flow of information and technological interconnection. With Facebook’s recent introduction of the disconcertingly stalker-like “See Friendship” button, the issues regarding privacy that THE UNIDENTIFIED explores in such an entertaining and intelligent fashion are so much more immediately relevant. Rae Mariz succeeds in crafting for us a scarily plausible world that is possibly an inevitable extrapolation of the already network-filled world of Facebook and Twitter that we live in.
THE UNIDENTIFIED is smart, but it’s also hardly boring. Kid’s voice is fresh, with just the right amount of quippy attitude. She’s the perfect balance of the observant outsider with the propensity to create change, and the gullible market to which the Corporations are pandering. And Kid’s not the only interesting and well-developed characters. Her two best friends, Ari and Mikey, light up the page with their very different personalities whenever they appear in a scene. Even more minor characters are fully realized with their limited “on-page” time. The characterization is really an incredible accomplishment for a 300-something page book, which most might even consider short for modern dystopian novel standards.
I really wish I had the capacity to speak more about THE UNIDENTIFIED’s marvelous critique of the infiltration of networking websites in our lives. But I’ll leave that to the academics, and just let you know that this book does it, along with providing us a highly unputdownable adventure. I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. READ IT if you’re looking for smart and snappy dystopian literature.
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LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
Katey (aka Kis) lives in a world where you're nothing if you're not in the Game, and the goal is to attract a corporate sponsor. Kid has never been all that interested in the things the game promotes, so she's surprised when she's targeted for sponsorship. Turns out she was singled out for her
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response to a fake suicide stunt pulled by a group calling themselves The Unidentified. Is she a pawn for the sposnors or the rogue group? Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
I would recommend this book because it seems realistic. I could see this happening to us in the future. It keeps you on your feet the entire time. The ending kind of leaves you hanging, so I hope there's a second one.
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Awesome!
This book is best suited for middle and
It was selected due to cover art and the summary on the back.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(DS-AHS-NC)
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Awesome!
This book is best suited for middle and
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highschoolers.It was selected due to cover art and the summary on the back.
Grade (of reviewer): 9th
(DS-AHS-NC)
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
I wasn't sure what to expect, and sadly I was worried this book would be a travesty like I Am Number Four. But instead I was pleasantly surprised. I'm a big fan of the cyberpunk kind of SF, whether it's YA or adult. While Mariz's novel isn't quite cyberpunk, it straddles the line enough for me. I
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hope she writes a follow up. The novel was fun and engaging. At first I found the texting/twitter conversations a bit annoying, but they actually played an important role as the novel went on. I think they turned out to be an assent instead of the distraction I expected. Show Less
LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: good writing, fast paced, nifty concept, true to life high school atmosphere
Cons: takes a while to understand the school/game setting, plot twists were often obvious
For Parents: there's a little swearing, minor violence, no sex
In a future where corporate sponsors run school as a game, a group
Katey Dade (@kidzero) is in the pit when the Unidentified pull off their first publicity stunt. Her interest in the act propels her into the limelight, where she has no desire to be, and forces her to make important decisions regarding her future.
A refreshing change from the weightier, more violent YA books I've read recently (The Hunger Games, Chaos Walking), this is a quick, entertaining book.
Told from Kid's POV, it captures the ups and downs of high school perfectly. I could easily imagine a future where schools are run by corporations sponsoring events and certain 'in' students. And the willingness of the kids to have public lives is something facebook attests to today.
The plot focused on Kid's desire to remain low key despite the advantages (depending on your outlook) of being branded. The language is easy despite a few futuristic curses and expressions (Oh Google). There's minor swearing, a tiny amount of violence and no sexual content for parents to be concerned about.
The game took a while to take shape. Mariz drops you into the story with no preparation. I liked trying to figure out how the game worked but some readers may find it a chore to piece together what's going on.
Ultimately it's a well told story about the importance of choosing friends wisely, of privacy and the freedom to be yourself.
Cons: takes a while to understand the school/game setting, plot twists were often obvious
For Parents: there's a little swearing, minor violence, no sex
In a future where corporate sponsors run school as a game, a group
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of kids wants to reclaim their privacy as the Unidentified.Katey Dade (@kidzero) is in the pit when the Unidentified pull off their first publicity stunt. Her interest in the act propels her into the limelight, where she has no desire to be, and forces her to make important decisions regarding her future.
A refreshing change from the weightier, more violent YA books I've read recently (The Hunger Games, Chaos Walking), this is a quick, entertaining book.
Told from Kid's POV, it captures the ups and downs of high school perfectly. I could easily imagine a future where schools are run by corporations sponsoring events and certain 'in' students. And the willingness of the kids to have public lives is something facebook attests to today.
The plot focused on Kid's desire to remain low key despite the advantages (depending on your outlook) of being branded. The language is easy despite a few futuristic curses and expressions (Oh Google). There's minor swearing, a tiny amount of violence and no sexual content for parents to be concerned about.
The game took a while to take shape. Mariz drops you into the story with no preparation. I liked trying to figure out how the game worked but some readers may find it a chore to piece together what's going on.
Ultimately it's a well told story about the importance of choosing friends wisely, of privacy and the freedom to be yourself.
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LibraryThing member SamuelW
The Unidentified cuts deep because it’s sharply observed. It’s subtle. It’s convincing. It’s the scariest kind of dystopian novel – one that seems like a plausible projection of how our world works today. If you were asked to sum up the exact problem with Mariz’s school of the future,
The language hits you in the face from the first chapter; an absorbing representation of what it’s like to be continuously bombarded and overstimulated. The characters are real – I’ve met them, and you probably have too. The dialogue is convincing – cool, quick, flippant – communication that isn’t really communication. Mariz captures an essential teenage paradox: these kids share everything with each other, and yet they share hardly anything. Technology can make us feel so close to our friends, and yet so distant. The leader of the Unidentified – the rebel group that Kid becomes involved with – asks the burning question: ‘Who are you when you’re alone? When no one is watching? What’s left then?’ It’s not until you’re fully immersed in this novel that you realise just how much Mariz has bitten off. The Unidentified isn’t just about the Internet revolution. It gets right to the heart of the enduring issues of adolescence – identity, choice, boundaries, safety, responsibility – as well as tackling themes such as consumerism and privacy.
It isn’t perfect; the ending comes across a bit corny, and there are moments when the authenticity slips. Then there’s the irony of Mariz writing about a world where sponsors and businesspeople spend all their time trying to decode kids, to figure out how they interact, what they’ll go for, how to get them interested – when that’s precisely what she aims to do in her novel. Occasionally, we can feel how hard she’s trying. But as whole, The Unidentified is a success – engrossing, incisive and stimulating. It’s guaranteed to make you think, and sure to spark plenty of discussion.
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you’d struggle. After all, what could be wrong with freedom of choice, instantaneous communication, expressing individuality, listening to young people and motivating them to learn on their own terms? And yet, the feeling of wrongness is unshakeable. Mariz’s novel is a deft exploration of the implications of being constantly connected, hooked up, linked in. Every ‘Generation Triple-A’ student has an intouch® – a handheld device that enables them to write and subscribe to twitter-like streams – and the rules of intouch® etiquette seem to go without saying. It is OK to read updates while talking with someone else, but rude to butt in on a friend’s ‘private’ conversation. It never appears to strike our narrator, Kid, that all the conversations take place in a public forum; a great reflection of Generation Y’s attitude to privacy.The language hits you in the face from the first chapter; an absorbing representation of what it’s like to be continuously bombarded and overstimulated. The characters are real – I’ve met them, and you probably have too. The dialogue is convincing – cool, quick, flippant – communication that isn’t really communication. Mariz captures an essential teenage paradox: these kids share everything with each other, and yet they share hardly anything. Technology can make us feel so close to our friends, and yet so distant. The leader of the Unidentified – the rebel group that Kid becomes involved with – asks the burning question: ‘Who are you when you’re alone? When no one is watching? What’s left then?’ It’s not until you’re fully immersed in this novel that you realise just how much Mariz has bitten off. The Unidentified isn’t just about the Internet revolution. It gets right to the heart of the enduring issues of adolescence – identity, choice, boundaries, safety, responsibility – as well as tackling themes such as consumerism and privacy.
It isn’t perfect; the ending comes across a bit corny, and there are moments when the authenticity slips. Then there’s the irony of Mariz writing about a world where sponsors and businesspeople spend all their time trying to decode kids, to figure out how they interact, what they’ll go for, how to get them interested – when that’s precisely what she aims to do in her novel. Occasionally, we can feel how hard she’s trying. But as whole, The Unidentified is a success – engrossing, incisive and stimulating. It’s guaranteed to make you think, and sure to spark plenty of discussion.
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LibraryThing member kendra-m
I had no initial expectations of this book, as I hadn't even read the blurb. However as the story progressed, it really drew me in. When describing it to others, I would say imagine it as a modern 1984 (not saying it is as good as or equal to this classic) - set in a kind of Fifth Element style
The main character, Kid, reminded me of a character in a Sofia Coppola film - quiet, thoughtful & observant, an outsider. That being said, other reviewers have said they didn't connect to Kid, found her boring. I really liked her, especially that she wasn't prone to dramatics or moaning. It might have also been because I detested Ari and co. so much! In comparison to them, Kid was really quite relatable to me.
One criticism would be that it beats you over the head a little, trying to get you to accept the techno-slang and so on. This felt a bit clunky in the beginning, but over time it became more natural. But I would rather a little clunkiness at the start and have original ideas throughout than a perfectly flowing text that's about something that's been done to death (vampires, anybody?).
Speaking of original ideas, I really liked the themes of this book. Of course, anything taking place in a high school (sorry, 'Game') is likely to involve old friends growing apart, boy troubles and bitchiness. But in addition to the usual, it took relevant issues of today, such as privacy issues, consumer culture, isolation vs.connectivity and led them somewhere really interesting. I wonder if young people reading this would "get" it. Or maybe the kind of teenagers who would be drawn to read it are already switched on.
The twist at the end was not a total shocker, but I still liked the ending anyway. -MINOR SPOILER-, don't look down if you hate any hint of what might happen in an ending.
I liked how there wasn't this huge system changing revolution, but just people taking a stand. I think that's how it would be in real life, and because of that the ending resonated more for me. Overall, very enjoyable!
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world. The main character, Kid, reminded me of a character in a Sofia Coppola film - quiet, thoughtful & observant, an outsider. That being said, other reviewers have said they didn't connect to Kid, found her boring. I really liked her, especially that she wasn't prone to dramatics or moaning. It might have also been because I detested Ari and co. so much! In comparison to them, Kid was really quite relatable to me.
One criticism would be that it beats you over the head a little, trying to get you to accept the techno-slang and so on. This felt a bit clunky in the beginning, but over time it became more natural. But I would rather a little clunkiness at the start and have original ideas throughout than a perfectly flowing text that's about something that's been done to death (vampires, anybody?).
Speaking of original ideas, I really liked the themes of this book. Of course, anything taking place in a high school (sorry, 'Game') is likely to involve old friends growing apart, boy troubles and bitchiness. But in addition to the usual, it took relevant issues of today, such as privacy issues, consumer culture, isolation vs.connectivity and led them somewhere really interesting. I wonder if young people reading this would "get" it. Or maybe the kind of teenagers who would be drawn to read it are already switched on.
The twist at the end was not a total shocker, but I still liked the ending anyway. -MINOR SPOILER-, don't look down if you hate any hint of what might happen in an ending.
I liked how there wasn't this huge system changing revolution, but just people taking a stand. I think that's how it would be in real life, and because of that the ending resonated more for me. Overall, very enjoyable!
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LibraryThing member readingdate
This dystopian book tackles privacy, social networking and consumerism. It has a fast pace and is set in a recognizable world in the future where corporate sponsors run school in abandoned shopping malls. The students rack up points and friends with the goal of becoming “branded” by a sponsor.
The Game is attractive to parents because it is a safe place for students to go to avoid the dangers of the outside world. The students are monitored with tracking devices that the parents can follow. The video game like school makes learning fun as the students develop their own educational plan based on their interests. The sponsors compete for the students’ interest with their own modules such as math tests on a flight simulator.
The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Katey (aka Kid) is not playing the Game to her full potential. She has few friends on her intouch device and is not a conformist. She does not have the resources to follow the latest fashion trends that would get her noticed by a sponsor. Her best friend Ari has bought into the Game whole-heartedly and would do anything to get sponsored. Kid starts to question her role in the Game when she witnesses a rebellious act by a group called The Unidentified, and gains some sponsor attention. Kid learns that the popularity and gifts afforded by the sponsors comes with strings attached.
In this world there is no privacy and all the students “perform” in school as if they are being watched on camera at all times, which they are. School popularity and cliques are taken to a whole new level with the students trying to stay on top of the trends in order to get free clothes from the sponsors. They follow the rules unquestioningly to avoid the dreaded “Game Over”. It is hard to find someone to trust and a true friend in this society where gossip and backstabbing are the norm. Even rebellion can be trendy.
I enjoyed this book and following Kid on her journey in the Game. It is a unique observation of identity, privacy and consumerism. This is Rae Mariz’s debut novel and it is a stand-alone book. Recommended if you enjoyed other YA Sci-fi dystopians such as Across The Universe.
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This is a smart dystopian book with punchy dialogue written with original slang that is a relevant commentary on privacy and consumer issues faced today. With so many vacancies in shopping malls and budget cuts plaguing schools today it makes me wonder if this type of society could occur.The Game is attractive to parents because it is a safe place for students to go to avoid the dangers of the outside world. The students are monitored with tracking devices that the parents can follow. The video game like school makes learning fun as the students develop their own educational plan based on their interests. The sponsors compete for the students’ interest with their own modules such as math tests on a flight simulator.
The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Katey (aka Kid) is not playing the Game to her full potential. She has few friends on her intouch device and is not a conformist. She does not have the resources to follow the latest fashion trends that would get her noticed by a sponsor. Her best friend Ari has bought into the Game whole-heartedly and would do anything to get sponsored. Kid starts to question her role in the Game when she witnesses a rebellious act by a group called The Unidentified, and gains some sponsor attention. Kid learns that the popularity and gifts afforded by the sponsors comes with strings attached.
In this world there is no privacy and all the students “perform” in school as if they are being watched on camera at all times, which they are. School popularity and cliques are taken to a whole new level with the students trying to stay on top of the trends in order to get free clothes from the sponsors. They follow the rules unquestioningly to avoid the dreaded “Game Over”. It is hard to find someone to trust and a true friend in this society where gossip and backstabbing are the norm. Even rebellion can be trendy.
I enjoyed this book and following Kid on her journey in the Game. It is a unique observation of identity, privacy and consumerism. This is Rae Mariz’s debut novel and it is a stand-alone book. Recommended if you enjoyed other YA Sci-fi dystopians such as Across The Universe.
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LibraryThing member RefPenny
Katey (or KidZero as she is known to her friends) doesn’t quite fit in. She doesn’t have lots of friends and she prefers doing real things rather than spending hours in front of a screen. This is a bit of a problem in the future world she inhabits, where schools have been taken over by
This book proposes an interesting future that seems all too possible and it keeps you guessing to the very end. Suitable for readers aged 13 and up.
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corporations and education takes place by way of participating in ‘The Game’. A fake suicide she witnesses leads her to make contact with a protest group called ‘The Unidentified’.This book proposes an interesting future that seems all too possible and it keeps you guessing to the very end. Suitable for readers aged 13 and up.
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LibraryThing member tbert204
Honestly, I don't believe this is really a 3-star book. It just wasn't for me.
Mariz has created an exaggerative world for the Y-generation where school is a game that is tech driven by advertising sponsors where every action is evaluated, every decision watched, every movement monitored, every
Problem is, the book dwells on the details of the world and language. And while the plot was intriguing, it moved too slowly. I'd gotten more than halfway through the book, hoping the plot would start unfolding a little quicker. Perhaps it would've had I hung in there, but I was tired of waiting. I closed the book when Kid spent three pages shopping with Ari, details that seemed inconsequential. Perhaps something in that scene would prove to be plot-driven, but it was just lost in the details.
Nevertheless, a talented writer.
Mariz has created an exaggerative world for the Y-generation where school is a game that is tech driven by advertising sponsors where every action is evaluated, every decision watched, every movement monitored, every
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desire motivated by product placement. She's created a whole new language of slang that's fresh and authentic, rivaling YA tech author Cory Doctorow. Problem is, the book dwells on the details of the world and language. And while the plot was intriguing, it moved too slowly. I'd gotten more than halfway through the book, hoping the plot would start unfolding a little quicker. Perhaps it would've had I hung in there, but I was tired of waiting. I closed the book when Kid spent three pages shopping with Ari, details that seemed inconsequential. Perhaps something in that scene would prove to be plot-driven, but it was just lost in the details.
Nevertheless, a talented writer.
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LibraryThing member Suzanne520
My husband won this book through a goodreads giveaway, and since he knew I was excited for it, he let me read it too!This book would have earned five stars from me because it really was amazing. I found myself thinking about it when I put it down, and I was anxious to get back into it. The only
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reason it lost a star is because there were a few unanswered questions that I would have liked to see resolved. I'm not sure if there is a sequel or not, but I would like to read one. This book was really brilliant. It stood out for me in a world of clone books as an original story. The writing style was great, and the main character, "Kid" was so interesting. I loved the undertone of friendship throughout the book and was glad to see that Kid is so loyal. So I really do not have any complaints about this book other than I wanted more of it, which I guess it a good thing! I would definitely recommend you give it a chance. It's so eerie when you read about an extreme of life and realize that we aren't that far off from it! Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsSewell
I thought the premise of this story was really interesting but I felt it didn't meet my expectations.
LibraryThing member FionaCat
Katey “Kid” Dade lives in the near future. She goes to school in the Game — an old mall that has been turned into a corporate sponsored school. Students earn points for playing games, answering trivia questions and watching videos. As they learn, they are also working for the corporations:
One day, a dummy is thrown from one of the upper levels of the Game with a note attached: UNIDENTIFIED. CHOOSE YOUR SUICIDE. No one seems curious about the prank except Kid and when she begins to investigate she suddenly finds herself not only in touch with the Unidentified but “branded” by two corporate sponsors. Now she is part of the It Crowd but she’s not comfortable. Who are the Unidentified and what do they want? Can they help Kid and her friends break free of the 24/7 surveillance all teens have to endure? Or is there something else behind their cryptic messages?
This book tells a story that could all too easily be true, of a future where education is paid for (and works for) corporations, where only those who are “branded” stand a chance of making it in the world.
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all those games and questions are market research for new products. One day, a dummy is thrown from one of the upper levels of the Game with a note attached: UNIDENTIFIED. CHOOSE YOUR SUICIDE. No one seems curious about the prank except Kid and when she begins to investigate she suddenly finds herself not only in touch with the Unidentified but “branded” by two corporate sponsors. Now she is part of the It Crowd but she’s not comfortable. Who are the Unidentified and what do they want? Can they help Kid and her friends break free of the 24/7 surveillance all teens have to endure? Or is there something else behind their cryptic messages?
This book tells a story that could all too easily be true, of a future where education is paid for (and works for) corporations, where only those who are “branded” stand a chance of making it in the world.
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LibraryThing member Jellyn
Really interesting! I'd call it one of the must-reads of 2011 if you read a lot of YA or science fiction.It reminded me of Westerfeld's So Yesterday crossed with Extras, with a dash of Doctorow's Little Brother.The main character goes to a school run by corporations (the government gave up paying
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for schools) and run as a game. Everyone's connected with what you might call a localized version of Twitter. And one way to easily win the game and have a successful future is to get a sponsor, but of course there's strings attached to that.But of course something unusual has intruded into this world. And the main character gets wrapped up in it.As a bonus, the main character is a girl.What kept it from being 5 stars for me is the rather traditional gender roles (the girls are in the fashion cliques, etc) and the only passing reference to the idea that some people are gay. Show Less
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
The dystopian vision of The Unidentified is restricted primarily to education and the impulse to materialism. While some aspects of the Game are hard for me to imagine as a realistic path a society might take, they are made more convincing by their interweaving with current technologies.
Every
I found Katey to be a very likable a and realistic character. She is mostly a loner, preferring the company of a select few to popularity. Still, she can be led astray and make bad choices. Even so, I forgave her for her errors and transgressions, because they are so high school. I can remember feeling the way she does in the book, feeling like maybe it would be worth sacrificing some parts of yourself to be popular. Just because she falls into that trap does not make her any less clever, it just makes her human.
I really loved this book. It manages to make a dystopian society that really isn't terrifying or violent. It's mass consumerism, popularity contests, and connection without closeness. Very well done. I hope to see more from Rae Mariz!
Every
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student in the Game carries an intouch®, on which they update their network. The network page has the functionality of Facebook: chat, information about interests and friendships. In addition to the importance of this, there are also the streams, based upon Twitter. Everyone communicates via these modes of communication and a whole culture has developed around following people's streams; for example, it is rude to comment on a conversation not directed your way and it is a big deal to be @ed by a branded person.I found Katey to be a very likable a and realistic character. She is mostly a loner, preferring the company of a select few to popularity. Still, she can be led astray and make bad choices. Even so, I forgave her for her errors and transgressions, because they are so high school. I can remember feeling the way she does in the book, feeling like maybe it would be worth sacrificing some parts of yourself to be popular. Just because she falls into that trap does not make her any less clever, it just makes her human.
I really loved this book. It manages to make a dystopian society that really isn't terrifying or violent. It's mass consumerism, popularity contests, and connection without closeness. Very well done. I hope to see more from Rae Mariz!
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LibraryThing member librarybrandy
As budgets shrink, educational quality shrinks, too. That is, until the corporations volunteer to take over, turning abandoned shopping malls into Game Centers that feed students educational content through video games and challenges. Social networking is a fact of life, and getting branded (a game
This really focuses more on the corporate takeover and loss of freedoms and privacy than on the game settings, which was the part I was more interested in. For a book ostensibly about video gaming as both marketing and education, this was slow-paced and (frankly) a little dull. The first-person narration is peppered with reasonably-authentic "like"s and "I lol'd." What gets irritating is the inability for anyone to just say anything: in one short conversation, the participants mumbled, answered, shrugged, called, asked, snarked, and frowned, but never said.
Readalikes: So Yesterday (Scott Westerfeld) and Pattern Recognition (William Gibson) for cool-hunting and corporate subterfuge; Feed (MT Anderson) for corporate invasion into everyday life.
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sponsor taking an interest in you personally, using your every move as PR for their company) is the best thing that can happen to a student. Katey--Kid--is vaguely uncomfortable with the surveillance, but it's the way things are. The students in her Game Center have pretty free reign to pursue whatever interests them, and one morning she witnesses that freedom taking the form of an anti-corporate prank. Who are the Unidentified who committed it? What kind of marketing are they trying to accomplish? Kid's questions get her noticed by the high-tech security firm Protecht, and their branding of her gives her far more social capital than she could have expected. But it also gives her more incentive to uncover the Unidentified--and not in the way her sponsors hope.This really focuses more on the corporate takeover and loss of freedoms and privacy than on the game settings, which was the part I was more interested in. For a book ostensibly about video gaming as both marketing and education, this was slow-paced and (frankly) a little dull. The first-person narration is peppered with reasonably-authentic "like"s and "I lol'd." What gets irritating is the inability for anyone to just say anything: in one short conversation, the participants mumbled, answered, shrugged, called, asked, snarked, and frowned, but never said.
Readalikes: So Yesterday (Scott Westerfeld) and Pattern Recognition (William Gibson) for cool-hunting and corporate subterfuge; Feed (MT Anderson) for corporate invasion into everyday life.
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LibraryThing member LibrarianJen
Very good story about a student whose attempts to be invisible in her dystopian commercialized high school Game backfire in a public way.
ISBN
9780061802089