Content levels
Trigger warnings
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
A thrillingly paced, timely novel about identity and our digital lives from the award-winning author of Refugee 87 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Book—2024-2025 for Grades 6-8 Imagine a world where your only friends are virtual, and big tech companies control access to food, healthcare and leisure. This is Jess's world. But when she turns fourteen, Jess can go to school with other children for the first time. Most of them hate the 'real' world, but Jess begins to question whether the digital world is 'perfect' after all. Back home, her sister Chloe's life-saving medication is getting ever more expensive. Determined to help, Jess risks everything by using skills forbidden in the cyber-world, only to stumble on something explosive. Something that will turn her whole world upside down. It's up to Jess to figure out exactly what is real, and what is fake – Chloe's survival depends on it.
Tags
Is Fake: A thrillingly paced, timely novel about identity and our digital lives appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 11 and up.
This middle-grade sci-fi thriller explores digital identity and corporate control in an age-appropriate way. Tension comes from the protagonist's risky choices and her sister's medical crisis, but violence is mild and there's no inappropriate content.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include chronic illness, class struggle, and manipulation.
Who'll love this
Readers will root for Jess as she uncovers shocking truths about her digital world and fights to save her sister.