Thank you Allen and Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:
When Jordan Bishop set himself on fire at Haver High school as a result of internet bullying, it triggered a nationwide crackdown. New laws empower teachers to become cyber snoops in case of abuse on social media.
For teen hacker, Eli Bennett, the laws put fundamental freedoms at risk. And he’s not alone in thinking this. Approached by two mysterious hackers, Eli is recruited into a group that wants justice for Jordan the way Jordan would’ve wanted it.
But what starts as a bit of fun to rile the cyber snoops soon spirals out of control. Revenge on Jordan’s bullies could be classed as bullying itself…
At best, Eli’s school career is in jeopardy, at worst, once more lives are at risk.
Review:
Finally a YA book that not only draws attention to the power of social media but how the characters are attached to technology, whether it be their phones of their computers, which is fantastic. I’m sorry but if you are writing a YA book based around teenagers in this time line, you need to have them glued to their phones or at least have their interaction with technology more often. I am over YA books that are based in high school or around young adults that don’t spend any time on their phones… really authors, have you stepped outside? Teenagers and their phones are inseparable and in the Chaos of Now you see their need for it and how parents removing it from the house is literally the world’s worst punishment so bravo Lange!
Technology aside (Yeah sorry I got excited about it) The Chaos of Now is a book filled with tough topics such as bullying, suicide, cyber monitoring and cyber bullying and to be frank with you all. It was bloody brilliant.
Not only is the power of social media real but at times it can be scary. Personally for me I am a massive anti-bully advocate and if you follow my on Instagram you know I have no qualms with naming and shaming bullies and putting them back in their place. So when the main character Eli, gets drawn into an online revenge website I instantly became hooked with the story. Realistically I am all for karma getting the bullies back and getting it them where it hurts. And people wonder why I’m not a people person??
Jordan, a geeky computer wiz takes his own life and lights himself on fire and the Chaos of Now is the after effects of that suicide. You have those close to Jordan fill with sorrow and vengeance and those that think nothing of it. Eli Bennett, a brilliant hacker gets caught in the middle of a scheme to pay tribute to Jordan but things get a little out of hand with a creation of a website that names and shames bullies. Their actions begin to raise questions that Eli gets caught up in. Are they doing the right thing? Are they now the bullies? Do bullies deserve punishement?
Going over some of the reviews that people have written about this book I had to disagree with some of their points. Many said that Chaos of Now lacked good character and plot depth which to be honest it really didn’t, there was enough detail about the characters for you to get to know then and relate. And has for the plot depth… umm what? How much more deeper into the aftermath of suicide did you want to get? The plot was fantastic and wasn’t overbearing and drowned out by character feelings.
Another point that other reviewers have noted is that there is a passing comment made by one of the characters that Jordan’s suicide was ‘selfish.’ People took this as the author not sympathising with people with mental issues and blah blah blah. Sorry but did everyone forget this is a book? And to be honest, I have seen a lot of suicides in my life, from friends to family members and though this questions was never raised in my mind it has been said by other close to me. And I can understand where they are coming from by saying that. It isn’t degrading to the victim it’s more a passing note of why didn’t he think of the effects of his family than his own need. It isn’t a narrowing comment but a statement that MANY people can say and feel so don’t turn it around and make the author the bad guy… that’s just disappointing on your behalf. Again this isn’t the authors view on suicide but a comment a character said.
Overall this book was gripping and I had to smash it out to find out if the bullies were getting punished for their actions and let me tell you the end result with a twist of the story is highly satisfying. I think Lange nailed this book!
Rating: 4.5/5
ISBN: 9780571317479
Publisher: Faber Faber