Little Brother

Reason Book Chosen

This book was required reading for a class. It is already a bestseller and is projected to be a cult classic, by some.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Cory Doctorow

Publisher: Tor Books

ISBN: 0765319853

Copyright Date: 2008

Genre

Fiction, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Speculative, Dystopia

About the Author

Cory Doctorow is a Canadian journalist, blogger and author. He writes fiction and nonfiction. Doctorow is coeditor of Boing Boing and the former European director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He writes columns for Make, Information Week, The Guardian online and Locus. He has also contributed to Wired magazine, the Boston Globe, and others. He is a copyright law activist, whom is giving away his book, Little Brother for free.

Reader’s Annotation

Watch out big brother. There is power in numbers (and l3tt3rs).

Plot Summary

In a not too distant future, security measures have become even more advanced, and privacy even more stripped. Technologies tracking where people go, among other things, exist and are in use. Marcus, a smart, technically savvy high school student and hacker (who goes by M1k3Y), is at the wrong place at the wrong time when a terrorist attack occurs in San Francisco. Marcus and a couple of his friends are brought to a secret, nearby, Homeland Security Center and are questioned and abused before being turned loose with a threat that they are being watched. Marcus’s best friend, Jolu, is not let loose and is considered missing, although Marcus is sure the government has him detained somewhere. San Francisco quickly starts looking like a police state. Although Marcus and his friends had nothing to do with this attack, Jolu’s dissapearance and their treatment at what they later call “Gitmo by the Bay” prompts them to start an underground network using Xboxes to communicate and start a revolt against Homeland Security. Parents and school officials are not on their side or in the know, and few adults are their allies. Marcus, whom is still an average kid doing average things like falling in love, takes on the challenge anyhow. Marcus, his new girlfriend, a few close and trustworthy friends, as well as some newfound digital friends, stir things up by going off the grid, and confusing some of the technologies in place. Privacy and Freedom, as well as Marcus and Jolu’s safety (and the safety of many others), are at stake. A few people help them along the way, and a few just get in the way.

Critical Analysis

This book does feel very much like a modern 1984. The plot is interesting, as is Marcus’s character. Moral dilemmas, and a variety of topics such as privacy vs. freedom and safety are explored. The idea that one should stay true to his or her beliefs, is another important theme that teens can relate to. The time period in which this is set - not present day, but theoretically not too far off - is intriguing. This book is great for teens because it explores ideas such as anarchy and questioning authority, ideas teens are drawn to. It also makes activism a cool and powerful thing to get involved in and reinvents the image of the techno geek.

Themes/Issues/Tags

Privacy, Censorship, Terrorism, Technology, Surveillance, Government, San Francisco, Near Future, Homeland Security, First Love, Cyber Warfare, Techno-geek, Authority, Dystopia, Hacking, Civil Rights, Question Authority

Challenging Subject Matters

Rebelling against the government

Pro Terrorism/Anti-Safety/Anti-Patriotism

Curriculum Ties

History- American Government-Homeland Security

History- Civil Rights and Liberties

History- Protests/ Youth Revolt- Vietnam

Reading Level

13+

Interest level

13-17