Bubble World

Gr 7–10—Although Bubble World seems like the perfect place for a teenage girl to find true happiness, the virtual-reality environment has its faults. As cracks in the cyber design start to show and Freesia begins to learn more about this seemingly flawless paradise, she must grapple with issues of reality versus perfection. Should she live in a place where everything is delightfully "de-vicious" or face the tough but beautiful experience of real life? Themes of privacy, beauty, free speech, and education are explored in a subtle, effective way. The quick pacing will propel readers forward, and a few nicely placed plot twists will keep them satisfied. Readers who enjoyed Libba Bray's Beauty Queens (Scholastic, 2011) will relish Snow's sarcastic wit, and fans of Neal Shusterman's "Unwind Dystology" series (S & S) will recognize an alternate world in which parents have exclusive rights over the lives of their children. Teens will enjoy following Freesia in this humorous sci-fi novel.—Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ