Little brother by Cory Doctorow

Bibliographic Information:
Doctorow, C. (2008). Little brother. New York, NY: Tor. ISBN# 9780765319852

Plot Summary:
Marcus and his friends ditch school, evading their schools’ security systems, to play Harajuku Fun Madness. While hot on the trail during the game, the four teens are caught up in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the Bay Bridge. All is in chaos with people hurrying to the BART tunnels. Some people are trampled. Marcus and his friends decide to get out in the open to regroup. Once out in the open they notice that Darryl has been stabbed and is bleeding profusely. The group tries to stop a vehicle to get help. A hummer pulls over, men get out. But instead of helping, these DHS officers arrest Marcus and his friends. Marcus gets separated. He is interrogated, beaten, and eventually allowed to leave. The government enacts the Patriot Act II severely limiting citizen’s rights in the guise of national security. Using their technological knowledge Marcus, his friends and his girlfriend Ange, fight back against the government. In addition, Marcus tries to find Darryl, who was never released by the DHS.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a remarkable cautionary tale. Similar to George Orwell’s 1984 and the 1983 movie Enemy of the State, the government has the populace under constant surveillance. Most teens are much more technologically advanced, at least compared to us slightly older folk. Because of this, teens will be able to relate to Marcus’s clever ways of avoiding detection when ditching school as well as his methods for disrupting the DHS’s surveillance and security systems. The book brings up many questions involving privacy and national security. Students can have discussions around the purposes of a government and how far it can go in the protection of its populace. This story can be related to the internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II as well as compared to how the public and the government acted right after 9/11. This book will get teens thinking.

Reader's Annotation:
Seventeen-year old Marcus, a techno-genius, and his friends are caught near the site of a terrorist attack in San Francisco by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and tortured. Marcus, along with his girlfriend Ange, leads others in fighting against the government who has taken security measures to extremes, severely limiting people’s freedom, in trying to “keep the nation safe.”

Information about the author:
Doctorow has written six books and is working on two others which should be published in early 2010. His books have received multiple awards. He considers himself to be a “science fiction novelist, blogger and technology activist.” Doctorow’s books are simultaneously release online via the “Internet under Creative Commons licenses” and he encourages everyone to re-use and share his work. “He co-founded the open source peer-to-peer software company Open Cola … and serves on the boards and advisory boards of” many organizations involving technology. On a personal note, Doctorow has a daughter, Poesy Emmeline Fibonacci Nautilus Taylor Doctorow who will be three on February 3, 2010.
http://craphound.com/bio.php

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts; Political Science; Social Studies

Booktalking Ideas:
• Why doesn’t Marcus want to give his login and passwords?
• Have you ever used technology similar to what Marcus uses? Explain.
• Explain the differences between how Marcus’s parents feel toward the government’s reaction to the terrorist attack.
• Which parent’s opinion most closely resembles yours? Why?
• How does this story fit into the history of the United States?
o Japanese American internment during 9/11
o 9/11
• Could this happen now? Why? Why not?
• What is more important: Privacy or national security? Explain why you feel this way.

Reading Level/Interest Level: The widest age range, according to the reviews, is 13 – young adult.

Challenge Issues:
Torture; government conspiracy; sex; language; violence

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process: The book was required reading.

Nine positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on 13 Best Books Lists
• Appears on six state/provincial reading lists
• Has received five awards

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~p3DSZ3:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.