Review: Feed by M.T. Anderson

Feed by M.T. Anderson

299 pages, Young Adult

Candlewick (February 23, 2004)

$7.99 (Amazon, paperback)

Procurement

I received this as a gift for Christmas from the Hubby.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Passion: 5

Overall: 30/30 = 100% = A+

Cover/Title Bonus: 5

Summary (Goodreads)

In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

First Line

We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck. – page 1, Feed by M.T. Anderson

Plot

Wow. The plot to this book is insane. Computer chips installed in human brains. Instant access to everything on the internet in YOUR BRAIN! Pop up ads galore, instant purchasing, access to everything. EVERYTHING.

But at what cost?

Setting

This story begins on the moon. The MOON! How cool is that? The settings in this book are amazingly cool. The details and the concepts of the future are in abundance. The cars are called upcars, meaning that they FLY! Houses are in pods, or something. It’s just an awe experience. This book would make an awesome movie.

Writing

ZOMG! The writing is insanely weird but incredibly unique and amazing. The jargon and slang used are out of this world: mal, unit, meg. Those are a few of the made up words. It takes a while to catch on to their meaning but once you get it, you get it.

There are a lot of “like” with Titus narrating, which is annoying yet true to character.

I also love the formatting of the chapters. Most are small and the chapters titles are pretty interesting.

I think what M.T. did with this book in out of this world. Seriously.

Originality

If you haven’t figured it out, this book is out of this world. It’s set in the future where humans have installed chips in their brains upon birth. I can’t say much more on the originality because I really don’t want to spoil all that there is to the originality.

Characters

Titus is the main character and the narrator. He’s roughly 16 or 17 I believe. He and his friends go to the moon for spring break, where he meets Violet. Titus and Violet make friends while there. Then there’s a tragic accident that leaves Violet, Titus and his friends all in the hospital for a while.

Violet is different from the others. She got her feed later in life. She and Titus date. She is smart, has a quirky father, and has a different outlook on life than Titus and his friends.

Titus’s friends really got on my nerves. I couldn’t stand the girls and the boys where ass hats. The characters made the book interesting but the future meek and unwanting.

Passion

Titus and Violet’s relationship is sincere, cute, and relatable. The end of the book just tears you apart but it’s an important ending and I commend M.T. on writing it.

Overall

A must read by anyone who owns a computer or is remotely involved in the technology of today, especially teens who are addicted to texting or video games.

It’s an eye opener to how we are connected to our technology and where it could possibly be one day in the future. It is a disgusting look on a very sad world we could one day live in. It will make you think and reevaluate your use of technology and the resources of the Earth or at least make you think of how far you’re willing to let it go.

It’s also a beautiful love story.

Cover/Title Bonus

I love the cover and the title. The cover also looks like the moon to me and not just a bald dudes head.

In closing, I must ask that you read this book and then share it with everyone you know. It’s not the absolute best book in the world but it has a pure and enlightening message that should reach as many people as possible.

Have you already read this? What did you think? Let me know in comments! Please don’t post any spoilery content!

Disclosure:
Amazon.com Associate. If you click on my links and purchase anything a very small percentage of the purchase price will be awarded to Book Reviews by Jess.