Parents' Guide to A.D.D. (Adolescent Demo Division)

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Common Sense Media Review

Michael Berry By Michael Berry , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Sharp critique of gamer culture told as sci-fi story.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Sometime in the near future, Lionel and the other members of the Adolescent Demo Division have been raised to excel at playing video games. They live in luxury and have hordes of fans, but what happens when it's time for them to graduate, enter the real world, and be reunited with their families? Able to see beyond the screens he looks into, Lionel begins to suspect that Nexgen, the company that raised him, doesn't have his best interests in mind.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

A.D.D. (ADOLESCENT DEMO DIVISION) raises some interesting questions about pop entertainment, mass media, game culture, and corporate greed. Readers will be intrigued by how the author extrapolates from current trends to create a dystopian future. But the language Rushkoff invents for this futuristic setting sometimes sounds needlessly clunky and opaque.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about positive and negative aspects of gaming. What is a healthy amount of time each day to spend with digital devices?

  • Why do audiences enjoy reality TV programs so much? Why do television networks produce so many of them?

  • How are teen stars used by the entertainment industry today? What is it about young performers that make them useful to corporations?

Book Details

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