Cybertricks

by Goldie Alexander

In a far flung future Pya, Zumi, Jafet and Trist, live in tiny Cells cared for by tutor-holos, and only communicate through their avatars. Pya narrates how the giant computer ComCen sends them back to 2043AD where they meet Rio and Charlie. But to survive in an increasingly dangerous world, six quarrelsome youngsters must come together as a team.

193 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Goldie's parents had migrated from Poland and when she was small, she hardly spoke any English.

Her first four Young Adult books were 'Dolly Fiction' novels published under the pseudonym of Gerri Lapin. Her first book under her own name, "Mavis Road Medley" is a time travel fiction exploring the world of Princes Hill and her parents' struggles to survive the Depression. Since then Goldie has written more than 90 books, and many prize winning short stories and articles.

These days Goldie is known for her historical, science fiction and mystery novels, plus her short stories and non fiction such as Mentoring Your Memoir.

'My Australian Story: Surviving Sydney Cove' is now in its 10th edition. 'Mavis Road Medley' (Margaret Hamilton Books 1991) was chosen by the Victorian Australian Centre for Youth Literature as one of their 150 'treasures'.

Some of her latest books include 3 collections of short stories for young readers, Killer Virus, Horrible Cousins, and Space Footy. Her crime stories for children is the series A~PI: Hedgeburners and Car-Crimes. Her latest historical fiction for young readers is 'The Youngest Camelleer' 'Gallipoli Medals' and 'Cybertricks;

Just out are the YA 'Dessi's Romance' and 'That Stranger Next Door.
For middle grade readers: "eSIde, a Journey into Cyberspace", "Neptunia" and for Junior readers "Gallipoli Medals"
For adults a paranormal romance "Penelope's Ghost" and 'Emily's Romance'
Latest YA verse novel is 'In Hades' and the middle grade 'My Holocaust Story: Hanna"
'For YA 'The Shakespeare Tiilogy' and 'Cruel Cove'

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

The details of this world were intriguing and the plot of this book has potential, but unfortunately I found it difficult to finish. It's length would increase it's appeal to people who are looking for a quick read, but the book was dense which made it a slow read.

Diversity: No noticeable LGBTQIA+ or POC representation

Content Warning (CW)
Nudity/Sexual content: Two of the students kiss but there are no implications that it has/will go further.
Swearing: ‘Jay-sus’ is repeated multiple times. There is a detailed description of the differences between men and women’s bodies.

[Julie]

Four cloned 13-year-old children named Pya, Zamia, Jafet and Trist live in the year 20,043. These “hatchlings” live solitary lives in tiny, sterile cells. Their days are dictated by a computer, CommCen, and they are taught by tutor-holos, so the closest thing to having a human interaction is in their Virtual Reality lessons. But even then they are represented by avatars.
When one such session sends them to the beginning of the Great Disaster in 2043AD - when the Earth’s population is starting to become infected with plague - the hatchlings befriend Rio and Charlie, who are also thirteen. As the division between Virtual Reality and Reality blurs, the hatchlings inexplicably find themselves in their real bodies and unable to return to the safety of their cells. They must quickly develop the skills they need to survive, as they are faced with numerous perils, including the extremes of nature, attacks from violent gangs, and terrifying monsters. The six children must overcome their fears and individual differences to work as a team, for they are quickly learning that it is only through cooperation that their impossible goal of survival can become possible.
In this imaginative science fiction novel for children, Goldie Alexander deftly weaves an environmental theme into an exciting adventure story for young independent readers. Despite alluding to the perils facing our own time, such as disease and climate change, the story does not descend into doom and gloom. Rather, there is a pervasive and positive message that if we can all learn to work together, it is possible that we can avert disaster to achieve a fresh start.

[Hazel Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 'Cybertricks' cover is really clever because the characters could be any age and anywhere. But the design draws your eye in, and then you realise there's something behind each of them. I read the novel as a satire which presented different viewpoints on our current world, even though the part setting is in 2043AD. At first it was difficult to distinguish the unusual names and their avatars relationship, but then it settled into a teenage adventure which read really well. The story will not date because their problem of learning to get along in difficult circumstances is universal. Details are credible.
Definitely recommend