LITTLE BROTHER
Marcus, aka "w1n5t0n," is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works--and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school's intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.
His whole world changes when, having skipped school, he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they are mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated as a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.
Can one teenage hacker fight back against a government out of control? Maybe, but only if he's really careful. . .and very, very smart.
Good review.This is a concise plot outline that entices the reader to choose this book.
ReplyDeleteUpon my first impression of the blog, I find it both organized and attractive. I love the background design and it reflects Emma's creativity. One suggestion is that the design can do more in serving as a reflection on the largely oppressive atmosphere of the novel. For instance, it can involve images of programming scripts and/or terrorist attacks. Also, the colours used could be less evocative of a somewhat vibrant and cheerful environment (e.g. bright orange, light yellow, pink, etc.). This aspect of the blog is not as important as the content, but nonetheless it can significantly alter the mood that defines the viewer's experience. I love the cover design; it resembles a watercolour painting, and the somewhat eerie background sets the tone of the story. I am also moved by her response, “it depicts him as a prisoner...and being a prisoner changed his life forever". It aims to give the audience a first impression of one of the main idea of the story. My suggestion is that it helps to not give away too much information at first in the form of words, so that the viewer is left with the opportunity to interpret the cover in his/her perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe book review is engaging, and it greatly captivates the reader's attention. It tries to convince that there is no better book than Little Brother when it comes to suggesting topics revolving around social justice. One suggestion for the 'summary' is not to simply retell the story in one's perspective, but to also reflect on the societal problems identified in the novel, and how it applies to the real world. Moreover, it can encourage and inspire the viewer/reader to reflect on his/her own experiences. It can also tie in with the book review, where Emma could explain why Little Brother is a 'lovely fast-paced novel...a must read for young adults'. The pictures fit in with the novel perfectly. Unlike pictures in some of the other blogs, those in Emma's blog hint at events and ideas that could truly be happening in the context of the novel. Emma takes the map to an even higher level than mine and that of Mark. Along with Marcus' home, she also indicates the location of the prison in which Marcus and his friends are detained. It is extremely helpful to identify the relationships of each setting of the story to one another.
DeleteThe four quotes that Emma chose all brought out significant, and powerful, messages. I am especially convinced by the first one, "I knew I wasn't going to run, though. I knew I couldn't outrun fate". It suggests the idea that whatever precautionary actions are taken in catastrophic events, sometimes we naturally get outdone by bad luck. The four journal entries all reflect a high degree of creativity and thought. It was very wise to include the 'severe haircut lady' as the writer of one of the entries. Somehow, she serves as a better representation of an 'alternate' or 'opposite' perspective in relation to that of Marcus, than the Turkish immigrant, or even Mr. Benson, whom I have chosen to write about. By including a journal entry, and therefore perspective, of someone who is part of an organization or group that Marcus strongly dislikes, we are able to get a complete '360-degree' view of the scenario. Overall, I find Emma's blog very attractive, and it reveals a great amount of emotion and thought.
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