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Sep 23, 2015JCLChrisK rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This is an exciting, high-tech mystery-thriller in which orphaned activists go after the corporations that have contributed to the deaths of their families. This is a character development story that puts us inside the head of a teen girl having her worldview completely subverted by a series of eye-opening epiphanies. This is a book with an agenda that takes on some very serious, thought-worthy issues. The first two, unfortunately, suffer some because of the last. The writing is preachy and repetitive at times as Bacigalupi works over and over to make his point in the hopes it sinks in. And, while Alix's growth is interesting, her actions and reactions didn't always feel realistic to me, but instead molded by the needs of the plot. And I write this as someone on board with the issues and rooting for her changes. Nevertheless, it was an engaging, gripping read. 3.5 stars.