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The loop
2020
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Publishers Weekly Review
After spending two years imprisoned in the Loop, Luka Kane, 16, is desperate for any change of routine or sign of hope. Though he can stay his execution by opting to participate in dangerous experiments that benefit the elite, he fully expects to die in prison, another victim of his dystopian society, which favors the privileged, technology-enhanced Alts (the Altered) over the so-called Regulars. Everything changes after Luka and his fellow convicts are subjected to a mysterious treatment that kills some and drives others mad. The survivors must now somehow escape the Loop, but outside, the weather spirals out of control, and people, now feral, slaughter one another. To survive, Luka and his dwindling band of allies must evade capture and confront those behind the recent happenings. In this harrowing debut, Oliver deftly conjures an unsettling surveillance state hallmarked by class warfare and a nightmarish penal system that harvests its victims' energy as punishment. Events take on an ambiguous tone as the story progresses, making it difficult to tell what is real, but an emphasis on the importance of human connection strengthens this cinematic series opener. Ages 14--up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (Apr.)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Incredibly well written and briskly paced, this book will engage and enthrall even the most reluctant of readers with sophisticated dystopian world-building and events. On his 16th birthday, Luka Kane celebrates, (if it can be called that), inside the Loop, a prison where everyone serves a death sentence regardless of their age or background. Sentences can be postponed if an inmate agrees to subject themselves to scientific experimentation that is ostensibly benefiting those on the outside. Soon, however, rumors of a war outside the prison begin circulating among the inmates. Inexplicably, the government turns the rain off, and in a somewhat peculiar twist, the guards inside the prison vanish. Even more disturbing are the rumors of a virus ravaging the outside population, one that turns normal people into violent killers. As he tries to escape the Loop, Luka is faced with very real dangers within and outside the walls. This gripping tale moves right along, pulling readers into the world of the Loop. Luka is a realistic teenager being pushed to the edge; the faint-hearted may find themselves wishing for an escape, but will keep turning pages. VERDICT With plenty of appeal for fans of a good dystopian tale, this book won't spend much time on the shelf.--Wayne R. Cherry Jr., St. Pius X High School, Houston
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