Alexandra Villasante

n an alternate California, 17-year-old Sebastian Ascencio moves to a new town that was built in the wake of devastating forest fires.

New Gault houses TECH, the company that created the all-encompassing software that tracks the town’s students’ word use, imposing a monthly limit. Any “word infractions” lead to a reduction in their word-data banks—all in the name of preventing hate speech and bullying. The town is also home to Sebas’ estranged mom, whose cancer diagnosis was the show more impetus for him to leave his Mexican American dad in San Marcos and move in to help her. Classmate Lu Hernandez, who describes themself as “Latinx with the added bonus of being comfortingly white-presenting,” loves TECH and the safety it represents. Life in New Gault comes with free access to food, healthcare, and advanced technology—all for the low price of total compliance. Sebas, who’s unwilling to sacrifice his privacy and freedom, clashes with his mom and Lu over these expectations. Villasante creatively illustrates the opposing viewpoints, presenting a relevant ethical quandary. But the characters’ shifting relationships comprise the true heart of the book: Her portrayal of Sebas’ emotional challenges as he navigates friendships, romance, and family crises is deft and sensitive. If the promising speculative premise of TECH is left behind along the way—the dark underbelly of such an authoritative system is lightly developed—readers will still be amply rewarded by the poignant conclusion.

A tender, intelligent love story. (Romance. 13-18)

-Kirkus Review show less

Listened to the audio, which was a gorgeous performance. This was more contemporary with a touch of magical realism than a touch of sci-fi, and the little touch created a premise against which the characters and their stories could really shine. I felt like there were pieces that got glossed over a little, but the story came back to some aspects and created backstory in a really smart way. Adored this on many levels.

This is one of the most beautiful, painful, joyful books I have ever read in my life... and I say that with all the gravity such a statement deserves. The story of a young immigrant faced with an impossible decision, which she has to try to grapple with through the veil of a ESL barrier. This novel dives into so many big themes and theories that the reader is left shredded. There is a slow horror in this thing that is so subtle and so real that I, as the reader, felt trapped right alongside show more Marisol. Gorgeous, simple prose that cuts to the heart. Characters everyone can relate to, despite our own otherness. A lesson that needs to be heard and felt today, more than ever. I will be processing this for a long while yet.

Not only should you read this book, but you should share the link and tell all your friends so it spreads roots out there into the wider world. show less

2.75 stars. i probably shouldn't label this science fiction because it's "science fiction light" at the most. which is right up my alley, so i'm not complaining.

i love this idea and the concept. the poignancy of what's happening here, the sacrifice of certain people in our culture/society for the benefit of others rings so true. the writing is often quite excellent. it's probably one of best written incorporation of spanish words in a book, while keeping it totally understandable to show more non-spanish speakers that i've read. the unfolding of marisol's and rey's stories - and that of their brothers' deaths - was well done and well paced. making this about a science experiment and tying that to asylum seekers, using their need to do something to stay in this country, is far more plausible than i wish it was. and is a strong statement in and of itself.

but i never believed any connection at all between marisol and rey. i never bought into any friendship or mutual understanding there, and this relationship is crucial to making the story work. i also wanted a larger exploration, early on, of what it means for marisol to take this grief from someone. i understand that marisol had to agree either way, and so wouldn't be inclined to ask before "consenting," but i do think she'd ask for her own well-being's sake. does she keep the grief that is transferred to her? for how long? if this person is suicidal, will she then become suicidal? how can she protect herself during this process? but really the main issue for me in this book is that i didn't believe the thing i needed to believe. it started out promisingly between them, with the watching of the tv show and an ease that that can bring. but that's it. i didn't believe in any progression from then on. otherwise this would be rated much higher. and the quality of the writing is still quite good, regardless of this rather large misstep. show less