Twinmaker

By Author / Illustrator

Sean Williams

Genre

Adventure

Publisher

Egmont UK Ltd

ISBN

9781405264334

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-11-2013

Synopsis

You are special. You are unique. And you have been selected.The method is simple. Improvement is certain. You can change anything.A near-future thriller from New York Times bestselling author Sean Williams, that fans of the GONE series and Doctor Who will love.If you were given the chance to change something about yourself, would you? Should you? Clair is pretty sure the offer in the `Improvement' meme is just another viral spam, though Libby is determined to give it a try. But what starts as Libby's dream turns into Clair's nightmare when her friend vanishes.In her search for answers, Clair seeks out Jesse - a boy whose alternative lifestyle might help to uncover the truth. What they don't anticipate is intervention from the mysterious contact known only as Q, and being caught up in a conspiracy that will change everything.This is an edge of your seat story about technology, identity and friendship. Perfect for fans of Scott Westerfield's Uglies, and Ally Condie's Matched.Sean Williams is a number one New York Times best-selling and award-winning author who has written for adults, teens and younger children, and is well-respected as a sci fi / fantasy author. He has also collaborated with Garth Nix and written for the Star Wars universe.As a native and resident of South Australia, Sean has often dreamed of stepping into a booth and instantly being somewhere else, instantly. This has led to a fascination with the social, psychological and moral implications of such technology, on which he has written a thesis. And he also loves chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Reviews

Ever wondered how the transporters on Star Trek worked? This is the book to tell you how. After the Great Water Wars, the world is everyone's oyster with d-mat. You can be transported around the world in an instant; live in Sweden, go to school in California, have a boyfriend in Shanghai. Nothing is grown or bought; everyday a new set of clothes arrives from the 'fabber', and is recycled at the end of the day. Every meal comes at the touch of a button; there is no poverty, no hunger and the world is perfect. But there is always room for improvement and a chain letter promises insecure teenagers perfection by following simple but secret instructions. Thus the adventure begins. Clair and Libby are like any other teenagers, they want to be happy and have a good time and the bond of friendship is the strongest they can imagine. Once Libby decides to improve her beautiful but marked face, the problems begin; the situation isn't helped by Clair kissing her boyfriend at the party of the year. Twinmaker starts out as a futuristic teen pot boiler, friends falling out, boys getting in the way, secrets from adults and then Boom! It becomes a full on conspiracy adventure. Explosions, guns, terrorists a race against time and an airship! This book had me turning pages, waiting to find out what happens next (twice I didn't realise the bus had come to the terminus). I won't reveal the ending but if you like things neatly tied up, you'll need to find a sequel. 518 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Caroline Downie, librarian