Unison Spark

Review

Common Sense Media says

Sci-fi thriller puts a futuristic spin on social networking.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fast-paced sicence fiction adventure explores the future of social networking and raises questions about the wealth and tech gap between the upper and lower classes.

  • Educational value3
    Although mainly a fast-paced advenure, Unison Spark raises intriguing questions about the future of social networking and the widening gap between the haves and have-nots.
  • Positive messages4
    Misteltoe and Ambrose both learn to see beyond their own prejudices and work together to thwart a plot that will affect millions. They gradually learn that real-life connections are more important than online friendships.
  • Positive role models4
    Both Ambrose and Mistletoe are brave, loyal and empathic. Although they seem to be from different worlds, they kind a way to work together as they search for the ultimate truth about their upbringings.
  • Violence4
    An important supporting character is killed with a "disruptor," a kind of energy weapon. Another is blown up in an explosion. There are a handful of physical scuffles, plus some alarming online hallucinations. In general, however, the violence and its aftermath are not dwelt upon.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language1
    "Friend" and its various verb and adjectival forms are used as expletives, for reasons that are not particularly clear nor convincing.
  • Consumerism3
    Unison, the social network at the center of the novel's plot,  is all about spending money to enhance the online experience. The ultimate message of the book, however, is that it is real-life connections that are important.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
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What's the story?

Fifteen-year-old Mistletoe has lived her entire beneath the canopy that separates the rich from the poor in Eastern Seaboard City. After she rescues Ambrose Truax, heir to the Unison empire and its massively popular social network, she finds herself thrust into a conspiracy that dates back before her birth and that connects her with the impending Unison 3.0 upgrade. She and Ambrose have to stay one step ahead of opponents who seem to have unlimited powers online and on the streets.

Is it any good?

 

Unison Spark presents a intriguing vision of the future, at a time when social networks have become massively popular and almost more compelling than real life. Marino crafts the chase sequences and online adventures with flair, but he is less successful in orchestrating the ending, which might confuse some readers not used to these kinds of science fiction tales.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how social network might evolve in the future. If it became more like virtual reality, would you want to spend more time online?

  • In Unison Spark, there are two distinct societies: one above the Eastern Seaboard canopy for the wealthy and one below it for the poor. Are there places today where such a wide gap exists between the rich and the impoverished?

  • One character undergoes an operation that will terminate his need to sleep. What advantages might there be to being awake 24/7? What might some drawbacks be?

This review was written by Michael Berry

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This review was written by Michael Berry
Author:Andy Marino
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Science Fiction
Publisher:Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Publication date:November 8, 2011
Number of pages:240
Hardcover price:$16.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):12
This review was written by Michael Berry
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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