Swipe by Evan Angler is a taunt and tense dystopian novel perfect for tweens and teens. The author does a first rate job of creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and paranoia, never quite showing his hand until the end when he pulls it all together. (Well, as together as can be expected in a book that is first in a series.)
Logan is a protagonist that grows immensely throughout the book. His relationship with Erin, the new girl in town, is a believable one. They don’t always see eye-to-eye on major issues, which is refreshingly authentic; however, in spite of this, they develop a deep sense of loyalty to each other as the story progresses.
Swipe was a gripping read and the pages positively flew by.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Character falls on face and bloodies nose; explained bruises on a child’s face; character is kidnapped; several discussions/reports of a family member that was killed, non-detailed; a couple of frightening scene in which a character is being watched/followed; general recollection of a past war with bombs, bodies in the street, etc.; report that someone killed someone; report of stalking & kidnapping; character play games that involve punching each other, knocking another in the leg with a bat, etc.; report of someone being tied up; fight involving punching and throwing character into shelving; girl knocks boys on the head; confrontation/ between tweens/teens involving hitting on head with rock, tasers, etc. 1-2 pages; kidnapping; confrontation between teenagers/tweens and authorities involving force, hitting with cooking pot; authorities clear out a section of town beating individuals, rounding up, and one man is seen dead, dragged from building; characters struggle, punch; character is taken hostage and verbal threats are made; destruction of property, no casualties.
Sex/Nudity: Characters like each other; characters hug (platonic); character realizes that another boy likes a girl; characters pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend.
Mature Subject Matter:
Kidnapping, homelessness, economic disparity, stealing/theft, stalking, conspiracy, dystopian society, family crisis, marital problems.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Chloroform is used to render an individual unconscious; a character is drugged for a procedure.
