Swipe by Evan Angler

Brief Summary:

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?

Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship.

The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.

When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.

Positive Content:

I loved this book! It was excellently paced with action and mystery.  It had a simple, easy to follow plot that nevertheless kept readers intrigued.  I read it in a single day. The characters were excellent and honorable, yet still flawed in a realistically way.  They made mistakes, but they learned from them.  None of the mistakes were glorified.

Possible Objectionable Content:

Characters steal and lie to their parents.  However, they learn from this in the end.

Conclusion:

This was an excellent read.  It is geared towards middle-grade readers, but I'm a teenager and I still enjoyed it.  It did set you up well for book 2, which I will definitely be getting when it comes out.  Most of the loose ends were tied up, though I feel the ending could have been a bit more explained.  I suppose it leaves more mystery for the next book.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended age: 10+
Genre: Christian/Dystopian
Part of a series?: Swipe series, book one