For the third instalment of our Big City Reads reviews - part of a campaign run by Nottingham City of Literature to provide free books for local young people - Mia gives us her thoughts on Electric Life by Rachel Delahaye. A gripping science-fiction tale, the book according to Mia well and truly allows the reader to escape into another world.
The world is in the midst of a technological boom, hurtling towards a future with total automation. What would have been considered science fiction fifty years ago is now everyday life, and this is what Delahaye explores in her young adult fiction novel ‘Electric Life’.
Alara is a teenager in the perfect world, Estrella, where entertainment is only a click away and a 'Sensii' is a birth right. These are implants which allow residents of Estrella to experience gaming on a wholly new level, causing the wearer to feel sensations such as wind or pain, and Alara is a gaming pro! Competing for a title that would grant her a level of status that is literally floors above her own, the Questa tournament is well underway, only what happens when Alara catches the attention of high-ranking eyes? In Estrella, being different is dangerous, and it’s Alara’s illegal boredom that sets her apart from the rest. Now, she must face a quest surpassing those in her games, topped with a rocking hairstyle and the danger of what lurks in the uninhabitable Void.
Science fiction had never really been my thing, but I absolutely inhaled this book, Alara’s story raising some truly poignant issues in such an immersive and entertaining way. The lesson Delahaye teaches through this book is one all young people should hear, as she crafts a world where nature is a novelty, and true connections are rare. I not only urge you to read this book, but to check your screen time every so often and make sure you stay connected to the world around you.
The story is full of trials and tribulations, heart racing moments and jaw dropping twists. Be prepared to reflect on the life you lead, Delahaye clearly drawing attention to the danger of technology as it consumes our lives. Just make sure you don’t get reported to Medico in the process!
You can read more about Big City Reads here, or go straight to the Big City Reads website for more info on how to get hold of the books.
We've teamed up with Big City Reads to offer a unique prize in celebration of the campaign. Enter our competition here to win an original Vern: Custodian of the Universe illustration by author and illustrator Tyrell Waiters.
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