In a futuristic world ruled by the authorities, tracker chips are a mandatory connection all humans share. Implanted at birth, these mini computers interface directly with a human brain, creating a digital display superimposed on daily life. However, for people like Kaya who practice Judaism, being constantly connected to technology is not ideal. Instead of being able to unplug and respect the weekly Shabbat, she must stay connected to the Network all the time.
A fringe operative group referred to as the Ghosts are working diligently to disrupt the nefarious plans of the authorities and free humans from the omnipresent tracker technology. Though at first a regular, teenage girl, Kaya finds herself thrust into an underground world with new friends and responsibilities the day her tracker mysteriously malfunctions. Once the veil is lifted, Kaya must learn to recognize the world as it truly is along with her place in it. Only then can she and her new friends stand a chance at protecting the world from the authorities’ efforts.
Written in the first person, Kaya’s story is the central feature of Tracker220. As a teenager, Kaya is balancing many interests and emotions, including a steady boyfriend, classes at school, and a brother who has stopped communicating with her unexpectedly. An additional component of this story is her Jewish faith, especially juxtaposed against a society that revolves around implanted technology. A #ownvoices debut novel, Tracker220 tells a side to the dystopian story that most books do not.
Disappointingly, much of the interrelational character development is minimized in favor of focusing on the plot. It is not until the end of the story that several loose ends are tied up, causing the reader to occasionally question the importance or depth of certain interactions. Despite that, the story flows smoothly and the reveals later in the book are compelling. Moderate romantic scenes appear throughout the story as does a handful of harsh words. Confident young adult readers with an interest in dystopian or sci-fi stories will enjoy this book.
I received a copy of this book from the author and chose to leave this review.