 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Feed
- By M.T. Anderson
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Satire with a nice bite -- for mature teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the author makes a sometimes heavy-handed statement about our tech-driven consumer culture and where it's leading us: There's lots to think about and discuss. He uses humor and satire to make his points and will certainly get kids thinking about where we might be headed.
What's the story?
Titus is a teenager in a future world in which almost everyone has an implanted computer chip, the feed, which links their brains to the web, with its instant messaging, online ordering, entertainment programming, and a constant barrage of advertising tailored to his or her personal tastes, momentary desires, and current locations. But even if this is your idea of utopia, not everything is rosy: Mysterious lesions are appearing in everyone's skin, hackers can get into your feed, and America isn't getting along so well with the rest of the world. None of this matters much to Titus and his friends until he meets a girl named Violet, who has been homeschooled -- as opposed to going to School(tm) -- and got her feed late. Now she's making Titus uncomfortably aware of what's going on outside his own circle ... and what's going wrong with her malfunctioning feed.
Is it any good?
In this viciously satiric novel, M.T. Anderson has imagined today's trends extended into the future. Among the many pleasures in FEED is the slang the author invents for his characters -- different, but understandable, with obvious connections to present-day teen-speak. "Like" has, alas, remained, but "unit" has replaced "dude," a pretty girl is "youch" (if she's really pretty, she's "meg youch"), and so on.
Like many authors of this type of novel, Anderson trowels his point on a bit thickly at the end. But, then, no one ever accused Huxley or Orwell of being subtle, either. And in the meantime, it's a fun ride that will get teens thinking. The satire has a nice bite, and it's all just a bit too plausible for comfort.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how corporations and the media influence us. Do you think that we allow ourselves to be marketed to too much? What can we do to fight it?
What other media have you see/read/played that deals with the future? Are the stories always dark like this one? Why is it important to read books set in the future?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Unquie Writing style
If your complaining about the writing and the use of "like", then you have missed the point of the book. Its written from a teenage perspective. Name a teenagers journal that is thought provoking and well written. You can't can you. the story good, interesting concept, well executed. It has a bitter sweet ending the way I like it. The writing gets better toward the end of the book to symbolize the characters changing to a thoughtful human. And the laugage is hash but remember they're teenagers, I use the f word too, so I'm fine reading it.
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AGE
Not Appropriate for Kids
This book is not for kids 12 and under. While I was reading it, I noticed there were many mentions of sex, drinking, and the characters were none too smart. I don't recommend this book for anyone looking for a good read.
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AGE
If you don't like it - you're too close or too far away from the subject.
Loved the book. Teens who don't like it either relate too much or too little to the subject matter. Using words in new ways - they do it all the time; no need to sugar coat the truth unless that isn't kewl.
The author turned a short story into a novel about the dangers of 1. the internet 2. traveling to other planets without parents 3. being hacked by the resistance 4. the dangers of conformity 5. marketing and advertising danger 6. ultimately Capitalism, if left unchecked, will some day lead to a scenario similar to this. Parents need to teach kids moderation and appreciation.
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AGE
Innapropriate for any school reading program
I hated it. No positive message and fowl language throughout the book which is not needed to get the message across.
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AGE
Feed is NOT Quality Food for Young Minds
If your child is interested in reading this book, I advise you to read at least a few pages yourself first and imagine listening to your child read it aloud with you. My twin thirteen year old twins were assigned Feed by MT Anderson as part of a reading circle for 8th grade language arts. They immediatly informed me of the inappropriate sexual content, the profusity of swear words, and their general disapointment in the pourly-written and weakly-executed storyline. Feed had been compared to other futuristic works such as 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and Ender's Game and has been awarded many honors. Feed does not merit such recognition. The value contained in the under-developed description of consumerism and technology of the future was hidden behind the mindboggling amount of bad words and crude references. Why is it that ever increasing numbers of teen book writers and publishers believe that our children and teens can't relate to a story unless it is filled with vulgarity? Our children and teens not only need but deserve literature that containes and models descriptive language that inspires civility, politeness, tolerence, understanding, and collaboration now and for their future. Let's be proactive and steer our kids to books that feed their minds and broaden their vocabulary in more meaningful ways.
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AGE
It's more then swears and sexual references
Being a teenager and reading some of the parents reviews I must say that I am disappointed in the parents for not knowing their kids better. Almost all kids my age and younger you the words that are used in the book and make references as they do in the book, so yes it is appropriate for children. Also I can see that some of them are just short little things complaining about the sexual references and profanity. They don't talk about the themes and symbolism. So parents, give this book a chance, it will get your kids thinking and there is a reason it was on their school book list.
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AGE
I have to say that its not meant for anyone under 14, but parents.,, no it doesnt have ANY positive messages, but its not meant to. It's a fairly negative book. The characters are realistic and not the perfect people in your average story. Truth be told its a wonderful book, and you kid uses all the four letter words in the book and talks about sex without you kowing it anyway. Nothing will be new to them. Buy them this book, its amazing and sad and eye opening in some ways. Hell once your kid is finished you should read it too. I can not praise this book enough.
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AGE
To young
Why would a parent let their 14 year old read a book like this? It refrences to getting high or "in mal" which I personally dont want my teen being introduced to in such a manner as if it is good. also this novel contains swear words, and uses the lords name in vain. the age rating should be much higher like 16, and the book was not a good time consumer of my weekend
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AGE
Maybe for the older ones.
This book was assigned to my highschool as summer reading. The language and drug use is not appropriate for school use. Many of the freshman do not understand the concept of the book and only see people that mock teenagers by using slang and the word "like" too much. I think if you look past the language of the book you see that it is trying to explain the decline of knowlage due to technology. Not many people get this and are confused on why this was assigned as a school book. I also do not like how the main charater does not develop and it really leaves a grim mood on the book. I think this book would be okay for the senoirs or junoirs to read but defenately not all four grades.
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| Author: | M.T. Anderson |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | September 23, 2002 |
| Number of pages: | 236 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Paperback price: | $7.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
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