Wired

Wired by Caytlyn Brooke takes place in high-tech future. Phones are replaced with watches called iJewels. Calls are replaced with holographic messages. The iJewel can also be used to make payments as a credit card might. My favorite feature of the iJewel is a holographic cat that tells the weather.

But a new tech gadget has just come out that can do all that and more. The Vertix H2 connects via the neck to the spinal cord. It can make you see, taste, hear, and smell anything you would like.

Maggie, the main character, has acquired one of these. At first, it's a pleasant calm in the midst of her stressful life. Then, it becomes sickening to live without. What follows is a very real look at addiction and the pain for everyone involved.

This is a very powerful read. It gives you a very raw look at addiction, not sugar coating it. For this reason, it may be a trigger for some. Read with caution. It also proposes the possibility that technology could become an addiction as strong as drugs. This book will make you think.

This book is very well-written. Besides being well-edited, the plot is also very well thought out. At first, I found myself wishing I could connect to Vertix H2 and escape for awhile. Then, after reading the affects of disconnecting I wonder if I too would become addicted -- or wired. This is why I give the book 5 out of 5 stars. I suggest this to anyone who won't be fazed by the addiction mentioned in this book who is looking for their next favorite science-fiction read.

I really loved this book and the concept of technology being an immersive addiction that can take over some individuals' lives if not used responsibly. In my opinion, it really hit the nail on the head as this book dived into the sort of technology that is around us in today's society. It was definitely a page-turning book that made me look at my own use of technology and what I might be missing out on while scrolling through my phone or playing a game on it.

The ONLY reason I would not recommend this book to my students is there is some not-age-appropriate content for middle schoolers in my opinion when it discusses one of the dating apps.

The YA speculative fiction novel about virtual reality technology that becomes addictive like a drug is crazy intense! The craziest part is how actually realistic and possible this could be. Since I have a background in neurology and educational technology, I can confirm that our brains can treat stimulants from technology in the same way as drugs, gambling and other addictions. Who hasn’t experienced this with our current smartphones and Kindles (which are in antique stores in the book)? It is not many steps removed from the technology featured in the book. The novel is very engaging and I would recommend it to teens and adults.

Thanks to NetGalley, BHC Press, and the author Catylyn Brooke for an electronic review copy.

With our dependence and obsession with all things technology I could see some form of this actually happening. Games are already a cause for concern among some groups because of the addiction aspect and taking yourself out of your word when things are tough and going into VR would be something everyone could relate too at least once or twice in their lives. This was a well written and imaginative book that keep me flipping pages as fast as I possibly could. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

An exhilarating read that had hooked from page 1. It was frightening how the main character descended into technology addiction. The author's vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the middle of the action. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more titles by this author!