Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Insignia
By Kate Pavao,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Complex, thrilling start to thoughtful dystopian trilogy.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Well written, but...
Amazing
What's the Story?
Set in a future in which large corporations -- not governments -- truly run the world, Tom, the son of compulsive gambler, provides for himself and his down-on-his luck dad by scamming virtual reality gamers in casinos. But when his crafty moves catch the attention of a general in charge of a new, bloodless kind of warfare that resembles gaming, he recruits Tom to join an elite group of Indo-American teens in training. But Tom soon learns there's a price to pay for wanting "to be important," including giving up control of his own brain.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot of plotting here, and it will take a mature reader to both follow all the various story lines and understand the often-chilling subtext. This kickoff to a trilogy will certainly give teens plenty to think about, from the pros and cons of technology's growing role in our lives (and our bodies) -- to how much power corporations should have over global politics. Of course, there's plenty of fun stuff, too: Sci-fi fans will enjoy engaging virtual gaming sequences as Tom trains with his unit to learn tactics and teamwork -- sometimes appearing as wolves or characters from Camelot. Also, a programming assignment has the teens infecting one another with viruses that make them do silly things, such as bleat like sheep.
Readers who stick with Tom's story will understand his ego-driven decision to become a trainee and appreciate his growing sense of community with the other misfits in his class as he rises in rank. Even so, they'll suspect that future volumes of this fun, thrilling series will see him dismantle the same military that has turned him into a powerful weapon. A stellar start.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Insignia's dystopian world, where corporations have power over the food and water supply and have committed genocide to protect their interests. Do you think corporations could be that powerful and ruthless in real life?
How does Insignia compare with other futuristic science-fiction you've read or watched? Does this story seem more or less realistic?
What do you think about Tom having a computer implanted in his brain? Would you get an implant like that if it allowed you to speak many languages and download your homework at night -- or do you think it's too risky to surrender control of your brain?
Book Details
- Author: S.J. Kincaid
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Robots , Science and Nature , Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: July 10, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 464
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate