Twinmaker

September 30, 2013
Australian author Williams (coauthor of the Troubletwisters series) begins a science fiction trilogy set in a future where “d-mat” technology, which allows for cheap teleportation and item replication, has created a seeming utopia of plenty. Seventeen-year-old Clair, like her friends, is always in search of something new and exciting. Then she and her friend Libby run across rumors of the Improvement process, which uses d-mat to illegally improve one’s body. When Libby changes in surprising and terrifying ways, Clair is plunged into an ever-deepening web of conspiracy and danger and forced to go off the grid, guided by the entity only known as “Q.” Eventually, she discovers the secret at the heart of her world, and what she does next could save society or destroy it. Williams spins a sprawling and complex tale, built on an impressively well-constructed premise and held together with intrigue and tension. While some of the story beats are predictable, Williams’s exploration of technology and its implications fuels a fascinating story. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

September 1, 2013
It's a compelling idea: simply write down what you want to change about yourself, go through an instant-transportation device, and see it enacted. Libby is game for Improvement, but her best friend (and our main character) Clair is much more cautious, even while she is usually happy about whatever new technology comes along. In this case, however, her concern is justified: as Libby becomes erratic and perhaps suicidal, it grows clear that a significant amount of illegal tampering with genetic code is going on, and a massive world-restructuring may be imminent. The author handily juggles ethical debates, swift action, and a well-developed setting, while also carefully following each story thread. The resulting novel is rich, with the only weak link being Clair herself, who lacks the verve to make her memorable; though perhaps this is intentional, as readers will easily slot themselves into her spot as they consider how to cope with a world on the verge of simultaneous technological brilliance and meltdown. april spisak

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2014
In this world, you write down what you want to change about yourself, go through an instant-transportation device, and see it enacted. Libby is game for Improvement, but her best friend (and our main character) Clair is more cautious; turns out her concern is justified. The author handily juggles ethical debates, swift action, and a well-developed setting throughout each story thread.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 15, 2013
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Best-selling sf author Williams borrows elements of the world he created for his adult novel The Resurrected Man (2005) in his YA debut. Thanks to D-mat technology, teen Clair can jump around the globe in a matter of minutes simply by entering a booth. Along with her best friend Libby's boyfriend, with whom she shares an attraction, Clair is trying to join an elite party crew by using D-mat's Lucky Jump feature. They initially dismiss Improvement, a way to transform yourself through a series of jumps, but then Libby uses Improvement to remove her prominent birthmark, and as the disturbing consequences roll out, Clair digs for answers, along with a cult that believes D-mat steals soulsand much more. Williams is adept at weaving together the disparate story strands: the sociopolitical implications of a giant corporation that has access to the very code to your being, and the frantic lives of teens caught in the middle of a devastating conspiracy. In the masterful hands of Williams, the technology, which has eerie parallels to contemporary life, provides a solid platform for great storytelling, and teens will revel in the drama, Clair's tenacity, and the memorable characters who discover that their utopia isn't all it's cracked up to be. Readers looking for another strong Katniss-type character to follow through a treacherous near-future will hope for a sequel. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: New York Times best-selling author Williams' plunge into YA is big news, and a full-scale, multiplatform marketing campaign is ensuring that the word gets out.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
To save her best friend, Clair must uncover a terrible conspiracy in this futuristic thriller. A viral message offers Improvement, changing a person's looks, intelligence or anything else by modifying their "patterns" when they use the teleportation technology called d-mat. Few believe it can work, as it circumvents d-mat safeguards. The d-mat technology solved the energy crisis, allows people to replicate material items and provides instant teleportation anywhere--it helps to maintain world peace. But Clair's best friend, Libby, tries Improvement anyway--and claims it works. But she's struck with terrible headaches, mood swings and erratic behavior. Worried, Clair turns to the school freak, a boy whose family abstains from technology, to see if their movement knows anything about Improvement. Before learning that the Improved end up brain damaged and committing suicide a week afterward--a fate Clair must save Libby from--Clair attempts it. Her only noticeable change is gaining a mysterious hacker/digital stalker who claims to want to help Clair, even as shady people try to kill Clair. Clair comes into her own as she strategizes to survive. A tedious love triangle resolves mercifully quickly, but the later romantic storyline is predictable and obligatory. The dangers, casualties and well-written action scenes keep tensions high. Williams marries accessibly explored moral ramifications of future technologies--a hallmark of mature science fiction--with a strong, capable teen heroine and heart-pounding action (just flip past the romance). (author's note) (Science fiction. 12 & up)

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December 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-Clair and Libby, both 17, are best friends, but they couldn't be more different. Libby is impulsive and easily bored, while Clair likes to finish what she starts. The futuristic society in which they live relies heavily on dematerialization technology, machines that allow people to teleport themselves and fabricate material goods. When Libby uses "d-mat" to improve her looks, Clair starts to worry that something has gone terribly wrong. This leads Clair to uncover layers of corruption at high levels of government. Given the dystopian genre, it's not surprising that the plot contains a love triangle, lots of adventure, and an abrupt conclusion that makes a sequel seem inevitable. The science-fiction elements are complex and confusing when juxtaposed with the action-heavy plot. While the book does touch upon self-image issues, the concept of "Improvement" is tangential to the meat of the story. The title functions as a spoiler for a plot development that doesn't occur until a third of the way through the book. In spite of these issues, this novel will appeal to dystopian fiction fans who want an accessible new read. Give this one to teens who enjoy action-packed books such as Veronica Roth's "Divergent" trilogy (HarperCollins).-Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.