Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tense hacker adventure tackles government spying on public.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
A few years after the events in Little Brother, former teen "hacktivist" Marcus Yallow finds himself unemployed and unable to continue his education under the burden of student loans. While at the Burning Man festival, he's given a thumb drive by two ex-compatriots, who are later kidnapped by one of their most implacable nemeses. Back in San Francisco, Marcus starts working for an idealistic state senate candidate. But he can't ignore the devastating documents he has received. Can he find a way to distribute them without imperiling his boss' campaign?
Is It Any Good?
HOMELAND is an engaging, thoughtful, and impassioned exploration of the ways in which technology fosters and inhibits communication and security. Though it may not have the immediacy and novelty of its predecessor, Little Brother, it still vividly addresses issues that should concern anyone who values his or her privacy.
Marcus and his rough-and-tumble hacker compatriots are an intriguing bunch, and they're pitted against some ruthless and equally resourceful villains. Author Cory Doctorow knows how to keep raising the stakes, delivering plenty of suspense without resorting to cheap plot tricks. The narration sometimes descends into jargon, but Doctorow does his best to explicate clearly the science and engineering behind the high-tech gadgetry. This is a book likely to inspire readers, to shake them up, make them mad and point them in new directions to channel that energy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how much leeway the government should be given to spy on citizens in the event of a catastrophic emergency. Is it OK if officials have critical knowledge about the situation?
How would you feel if the police were able to download the contents of your smartphone without a warrant?
How has social media changed the ways in which modern political campaigns are run?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Arts , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Tor Books
- Publication date : February 5, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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