Anderson, M. T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Plot Summary:
In the not-so-distant future, the world has changed. Not only has the government been overrun, and taken over, by the Feed Corporation, society has evolved into an even more shallow, materialistic, society that has ever walked the Earth. When a child is born, he, or she, has a "feed" implanted into their brains that not only plug them into the highly advanced technological world, but use them as a means to "feed" the Feed Corporation. In this tale, a teen named Titus, who is a product of his world, is partying on the moon with his buddies. When all seemed fine, a techno terrorist uploads a virus into the feeds of the party goers and Titus loses controls of all his senses. The next day, he wakes up in the hospital completely unaware of what happened and there, at the hospital, he meets a girl named Violet. Unlike most of his friends, Violet is different. Not only is she unfashionable, she is intelligent, opinionated, and a free spirit. Moreover, unlike Titus, she does NOT have a feed implanted into her brain. Violet gives Titus a chance to see the world differently and how technology, albeit convenient, can be cumbersome and desensitizing. Titus does not know the power of free will and every moment he spends with Violet, the more he begins to realize that his feed is more of a burden than he thought. However, the relationship he develops with violet has consequences where his so-called best friends criticize him for talking to someone like Violet. Moreover, their vicious and thoughtless actions toward Titus causes Violet to make a decision that will come at a great cost just to protect the guy she loves.
Critical Evaluation:
M.T. Anderson provides teens with a thought-provoking story that stir great conversation and force readers to think about society and it's dependence on corporations and how consumerism influences our decisions and life style.Anyone who works with teenagers know that they are the key audience marketing companies appeal to; teens are the largest group of consumers that rake in profit. Not only does the "Feed" provide teens of the future with ESP-like capabilities (teens can close their eyes and talk to their cousins in Paris using brain waves) and they can also stake out the best deals anywhere with the help of the Feed. For example, a teen is looking for a pair of Seven Jeans. She walks into a store, thinking she will get a steal until an ad pops up in front of her face telling her where she can get better or different deal. Teens are not only bombarded with marketing material on a daily basis, their entire existence relies on having the best clothes to wear, the best toys to play with, and listening to the best music ever. In this world, individuality is frowned upon and commercialism and consumerism are the new Gods.
Reader's Annotation:
During a spring break party, on the moon, Titus in and his friends fall prey to a terrorist attack where a virus had been uploaded to the "Feed" in the brains. The next day, in the hospital, Titus meets Violet who doesn't have a feed and is different than anyone else he has ever met. The two become very close until their differences threaten to destroy their relationship.
Information about the Author:
M.T. Anderson is a critically acclaimed young adult and children's author who has written a variety of stories including Burgerwuss, Thirsty, and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. According to his website, Anderson, just like his repertoire, has lived an exciting life. His family moved around a lot (his father was in the military) and he had lived in Italy and England (where he went college at Cambridge University). Anderson has also held quite a few different jobs such as working in retail, an editorial assistant, and a classical music reviewer. Anderson also says that ever since he was a teenager, he always wanted to be a writer and threw himself into his novels and comic books.
After graduating from college, and variety of jobs, Anderson went back to school and received an MFA in Creative Writing at Syracuse University. A few years letter, he started teaching "Writing for Children and Young Adults" at Vermont College, which played a huge role in the creation of his works. Between graduating and teaching, Anderson started writing stories for adults and children, which eventually gave birth to his first novel Feed. Not only did he manage to wow audiences all of the country, his books won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Genre:
Science Fiction
Curriculum Tie-In's:
N/A
Booktalking Ideas:
Given the topic of this book, a small debate about the pros and cons of technology would work out wonderfully. For example, the Librarian can ask their audience to give their opinion about the conveniences and the hassles of technology. Moreover, they can even expand this topic by asking them about the devices they use on a daily basis and how it effects them mentally, physically, and emotionally. Once all of the opinions have been heard, the Librarian can introduce the book by providing the hypothetical question: what if technology took over the world giving us limitless access to information and goods.
Reading/Interest Level:
Grades 9 & up
Books Similar to Feed:
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Godless by Pete Hautman
- Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Challenge Issues:
The one aspect of this book that could bring about challenges is the language. The language is quite colorful, especially the ever popular f*** and it is riddled with incomprehensible phrases and jargon that can make it difficult to read. However, the language is used as a literary tool to convey to readers that society has allowed young people to develop these language patterns; therefore, it has become a norm. As a Librarian, I would like to make it very clear that despite the language, it is used in a manner that enhances the experience and the message of the book. Furthermore, this book received critical acclaim for it's content, characters, and originality, which makes it worthy of being on the shelves and in the hands of teens, especially reluctant and sophisticated readers.
Why Did I Pick this Book?
I picked this book because the message it delivers is incredibly relevant to the youth of today. Teens are constantly plugged into some sort of device where they develop habits that could send them into fleeting panic if they lost their gadget. Moreover, in a world where everything is available on the internet via computer, phone, or other electronic device, teens need to know that simple joys in life are just as important as checking Facebook or texting.
Awards/Recognition:
- LA Times Book Prize Winner
- National Book Award Finalist
References:
M.T. Anderson. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2010, from http://mt-anderson.com/
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