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avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Addiction
Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Ableism
lex_y's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Classism, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Bullying
Minor: Blood
marae216's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, and Medical trauma
Minor: War
anxiousnachos's review
3.5
Another stand out was the rep: the disability rep!! Two main characters have disabilities, one has epilepsy, one has a sensory processing disorder. Two of the main characters are sapphic and there’s a trans side character too. Wonderful to see all of this, I was particularly impressed with the way disability was explored as the central idea within the novel, how the brain tech affects the main characters, either by causing their disability in the case of David, or by resulting in the social exclusion of Sophie because she can’t get the tech due to her epilepsy. It was very interesting, and felt like a more family-driven Black Mirror but finishing it, and writing this review several days after I finish, I already kind of feel like I’ve forgotten it?
Content warnings: epilepsy, ableism, ableist slurs, war, military, sensory processing disorder, bullying, drug use, addiction, amputation
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, War, and Medical trauma
fatalisticshrug's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Great book, but also hard for me to read at times because the description of the malfunctioning device sounds so similar to how my migraine brain works sometimes.
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
kristenelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Medical trauma
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Drug use
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
Job terminationrorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The story centers on a family of four in the near future as a technology that unlocks the brain's potential is becoming more and more powerful. Val is a teacher and Julie works for a politician. Their son David decides that he wants a Pilot, a brain implant that unlocks the brain's ability to function. But David's sister Sophie, who suffers from seizures, will never be able to have a Pilot. When Julie decides to get a Pilot because of her job, the family begins to feel the influence that the technology has on their family. As David and Sophie grow up and their lives move in different directions, the influence of the Pilot on the world and their family continues to increase.
Pinsker has created a family drama that taps into much larger questions about new technologies and their impact on society. By boiling this down to a single family's tale, she is able to create moving characters that feel like real people and project the reality of technology's toll. So often new tech is lauded and people don't consider its consequences, especially for those that can never utilize these advancements.
I think the strongest part of this story is the characters. They are the heart of what is happening and as the reader comes to care for them, they begin to investigate the greater questions that Pinsker is asking. I think this would be a great book club novel because there are so many different aspects to discuss and apply to our current world. This is the first book of Pinsker's that I have read but I will definitely be picking up more in the future.
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
girlonbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
When Val and Julie’s son David comes home from school asking for a Pilot, a new brain implant that improves brain function, they reluctantly agree. The doctors all assure them it’s safe and, with the new technology becoming commonplace, more kids at David’s school have them than do not. But with the many benefits of the Pilot come downsides as well. What of Sophie, David’s younger sister who has epilepsy and whose brain can not support the technology? What of Val who simply isn’t interested in getting one? Who is really behind the almost overnight success of this life changing science? And how do you fight back against something once it’s everywhere?
“We know Pilots don’t make anybody smarter. They don’t teach good study skills. They aren’t a replacement for teachers or books. If a kid is in tenth grade and reading on a third-grade level, he’s not going to magically start comprehending quantum physics or To the Lighthouse just because he has a Pilot . It’s a superficial fix. A bandage for a paper cut on a finger when there’s a sucking chest wound, too.”
This is my first Sarah Pinsker novel and it exceeded all of my expectations! The story is one part speculative sci-fi, one part family drama, and one part conspiracy! But what I really, really loved about this novel was how quickly it moved. Everything I knew about the story going into it literally occurs within the first 10 pages! The book just takes off and sustains this fast, engrossing pace throughout. I loved that especially considering the technical nature of the subject matter which could have become very easily bogged down.
The arcs of the four main characters were really lovely to read. I appreciate the way this family is illustrated for us and loved getting to see them grow and change. I want to say that Sophie was my favorite character, but when I think about it I don’t know that I could choose between them. They each make mistakes, but we are gifted so much insight into why they all chose to do what they do. And I really enjoyed that.
✨ Rep in this book: Queer MC’s, Neurodivergent MC
✨ Content warnings for this book: thoughts of suicide, drug use, addiction, mentions of war and battle, PTSD, medical stuff, gas-lighting
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Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Violence