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Box
Derik is on the run. Not from the deadly epidemics on the rise in New Zealand but from the ruling government and its efforts to wipe out disease. The authorities have begun a nation-wide drive to implant a device in every citizen, to regulate body chemistry and control emotions. It's a social experiment the whole world is watching. But Derik wants to think - and feel - for himself. Trying to find shelter, stay hidden, and keep himself alive, he soon discovers he?s not the only one to have turned fugitive. Box tells a story of massive teenage rebellion against the denial of freedoms. In her latest, riveting novel, Penelope Todd creates a world that could just be days away from our own.
- GenresDystopia
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
22 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Todd
25 books12 followersTodd, Penelope (1958- ) spent her first thirty years in Christchurch, and now lives in Dunedin. She works freelance as a manuscript consultant and editor.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2014
Derek’s freedom and that of his friends hangs on the edge of a precipice and the only way to avoid “Endorsement,” is to go into hiding, but how long can they survive without food or money?
“Endorsement” – ‘the biggest social experiment in history’ – means body chemistry will be in perfect harmony, disease will be a thing of the past, but so will personal freedom.
The first stage of ‘endorsement’ entails the implanting of a minute fibre, or wand, into the forearm of all citizens over the age of thirteen. In the second stage, chemicals within the wand are released. The chemicals will regulate the health of the citizens as well as moderating their behavior.
New Zealand, because of its size and isolation, is the perfect guinea pig for endorsement and all other countries – especially those in Europe – are closely watching the experiment. Will it work? How will it be enforced?
The New Zealand government thinks it has one very big ace up its sleeve. Only those who submit to endorsement will be issued with an updated “Scope-Card”. Anyone without the new Scope-Card will be unable to access their bank accounts, which in turn means no food, travel or any other day-to-day activities.
Only non-New Zealand citizens will be exempt (for the time being), and it is these non-citizens who develop a supply network to feed the teenagers and a few adults who have refused to submit.
Working on high and low tides as a code for when food will be available, the three friends must decide whom they can and cannot trust. Anyone could be a spy – even one of them.
Will Derek’s parents who are both scientists, and currently overseas be able to have the experiment declared illegal? Will they get back home in time to save Derek and his friends before they are rounded up and forcibly ‘endorsed’?
Box is a brilliant story for anyone who likes a good adventure and has just a touch of rebel in them.
“Endorsement” – ‘the biggest social experiment in history’ – means body chemistry will be in perfect harmony, disease will be a thing of the past, but so will personal freedom.
The first stage of ‘endorsement’ entails the implanting of a minute fibre, or wand, into the forearm of all citizens over the age of thirteen. In the second stage, chemicals within the wand are released. The chemicals will regulate the health of the citizens as well as moderating their behavior.
New Zealand, because of its size and isolation, is the perfect guinea pig for endorsement and all other countries – especially those in Europe – are closely watching the experiment. Will it work? How will it be enforced?
The New Zealand government thinks it has one very big ace up its sleeve. Only those who submit to endorsement will be issued with an updated “Scope-Card”. Anyone without the new Scope-Card will be unable to access their bank accounts, which in turn means no food, travel or any other day-to-day activities.
Only non-New Zealand citizens will be exempt (for the time being), and it is these non-citizens who develop a supply network to feed the teenagers and a few adults who have refused to submit.
Working on high and low tides as a code for when food will be available, the three friends must decide whom they can and cannot trust. Anyone could be a spy – even one of them.
Will Derek’s parents who are both scientists, and currently overseas be able to have the experiment declared illegal? Will they get back home in time to save Derek and his friends before they are rounded up and forcibly ‘endorsed’?
Box is a brilliant story for anyone who likes a good adventure and has just a touch of rebel in them.
November 17, 2015
Simply brilliant.
A new government has come to power in New Zealand, with the strong political patronage of a pharmaceutical giant. A revolutionary and innovative social experiment is envisaged: it's called Endorsement and involves offering an enhanced lifestyle to everyone in the country. Perhaps 'offering' is not the right word. That suggests it's voluntary.
Just a small insertion of a 'wand' under the skin of the forearm and - well, you'll be healthy and balanced and normal for the rest of your life. A longer life, so it's claimed.
The teenagers of Dunedin are caught in a diabolical trap: many, like Derik, don't want to be endorsed. Others find themselves on the run when they freak out and flee as the wand is inserted.
All Derik wants is his parents to come home. They've gone to Europe to challenge what the NZ government has done at the World Court and to draw the attention of common people around the globe to the plight of a population forced to comply with government regulations. Food, banking, jobs - everything is cut off for those who rebel against the system.
As Derik makes friends and learns how to get food from an underground system of sympathisers his parents helped set up before they left, he goes through a range of challenges. The biggest one is when those he comes to trust are betrayed by those in authority.
A new government has come to power in New Zealand, with the strong political patronage of a pharmaceutical giant. A revolutionary and innovative social experiment is envisaged: it's called Endorsement and involves offering an enhanced lifestyle to everyone in the country. Perhaps 'offering' is not the right word. That suggests it's voluntary.
Just a small insertion of a 'wand' under the skin of the forearm and - well, you'll be healthy and balanced and normal for the rest of your life. A longer life, so it's claimed.
The teenagers of Dunedin are caught in a diabolical trap: many, like Derik, don't want to be endorsed. Others find themselves on the run when they freak out and flee as the wand is inserted.
All Derik wants is his parents to come home. They've gone to Europe to challenge what the NZ government has done at the World Court and to draw the attention of common people around the globe to the plight of a population forced to comply with government regulations. Food, banking, jobs - everything is cut off for those who rebel against the system.
As Derik makes friends and learns how to get food from an underground system of sympathisers his parents helped set up before they left, he goes through a range of challenges. The biggest one is when those he comes to trust are betrayed by those in authority.
September 7, 2023
An interesting middle-grade dystopia set in New Zealand and focused on the idea of 'common good' versus individual freedom and choice.
November 6, 2022
There is a chapter in this book dedicated to one of the characters witnessing another having their period.
Which it's fine! If this was a book about growing up... but its not. It's about the government regulating people's emotions and whether that's okay if it means everyone is healthy. I wish that was explored more, rather than effort going into... the period chapter. Was it for representation? Okay, cool I guess...
But I found that 90% of the book was just floundering around before they actually got to the main point. And the period chapter just added onto that 90%.
"period chapter" I've coined that now. I've added that to the urban dictionary that term is mine now
Which it's fine! If this was a book about growing up... but its not. It's about the government regulating people's emotions and whether that's okay if it means everyone is healthy. I wish that was explored more, rather than effort going into... the period chapter. Was it for representation? Okay, cool I guess...
But I found that 90% of the book was just floundering around before they actually got to the main point. And the period chapter just added onto that 90%.
"period chapter" I've coined that now. I've added that to the urban dictionary that term is mine now
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews