The Uncontrolled: Hiding Can't Save You From Robotic Smiles

by Zachary Astrowsky

The robotic way people smile is John’s first inclination that things are not quite as they seem in Grand Siles. Attending his last year of middle school, the boy’s parents are forced to tell him about a plot so abominable that it upends John’s world. At the age of fourteen, everyone is brainwashed with a tracking device by a society called Tracker for Globe “T.F.G.” John, and his friends, Chase and Hazel, become aware of this hidden society tracking and controlling people when it is their turn to be implanted with the device. Over time plot twists come into play as John starts seeing visions of the future and a second secret group, the Renegades, work with John to fight the T.F.G. While hope of winning the war is right within their grasp, John realizes he might not be the only with special abilities. With a creative use of holograms and plotting, John and his friends, along with the Renegades, take on the T.F.G. in an exciting and unexpected battle.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2020

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through Voracious Readers. The summary of this book was intriguing, a d story about mind controlled populations that can only be saved by the uncontrolled. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! The characters were great and the story was action packed and exciting.

[Ye Pyae · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting teen novel. But some of the scenes are so much movie alike, I mean, the main characters running around the bullets and without being hit. Well, I must admit that I am impressed though, especially when I learned that the author Zachary Astrowsky was only 14 years old when he wrote this book !

[Oana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about 3 teenagers who find out there is more behind the vaccine serum that everyone gets when they turn 14. The main character is John, a sarcastic but funny guy who must finish what his parents started. Chase and Hazel, his friends, are trying to help as much as they can but things take a wrong turn when the TFG leader, Crofar turns up to cause trouble.
The book doesn't have lots of characters but I felt that the resistance should have played a bigger role.
One of the points that I found interesting is that John can see a version of the near future. I would have loved to see more of those and less of the akward relationship between John and Hazel.
At the end the book it's pretty nice and it makes you wonder about some aspects of the world.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I were kind of fighting over who would get to read this first. He's stronger than I am but he was a sweetie and let me win. We both loved this book. What an impressive author. Keep writing!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Adventure, mystery... my 14 yo son really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the sequel