Awaken by Katie Kacninsky
Publication date: May 23rd, 2011
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.
Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.
In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.
Awaken is an amazing dystopian YA novel which will make you think a lot about the way you live your life and how it can very easily lead to deprivation and isolation.
Kacvinsky's writing drew me in right from the start, from the prologue,which I have to say it is one of the best book-openings I have ever read!Not that the rest of the book is any different.Kacvinsky describes a world where everything is determined by technology, from food and clothes right to education, personal relationships and even nature.Because of several outbreaks in schools in 2040, in 2060 there is a new educational system called Digital School.DS has brought killings, teenage pregnancies to a minimum because all students are safely tucked away in their homes studying and attending classes through a computer screen.So forget classmates, dances and any action that leads to socializing of any kind.Maddie, daughter of DS's inventor,along with Justin, the love interest, are trying to fight the system from the inside hoping against all hope that they can lift people's blindfolds and that they will start enjoying life once again.
Kacvinsky's writing is fantastic!The world she's created is not very different from ours which is unbelievably scary!To think that we could easily turn into these zombie-like people, going through our whole life having experienced nothing that makes this short life worth living, is devastating.A walk on the beach, a movie, a dinner, a kiss.There is a scene in the book where Justin invites Maddie out for coffee.She just stands there, stunned at the notion saying "Why?I can make coffee at my house". I am terribly embarrassed to admit that I have said this phrase on numerous occasions and reading it on a book hit me pretty hard.That's my life from now on?Wake up, sit in front of a computer, eat, sit in front of the computer, sleep?And I can't even begin to grasp the innumerable technological advances that will take place in the years to come, which will eventually prevent me doing even that!
As for the characters, I liked them all.Maddie and Justin are the protagonists and the obvious couple.Maddie-the hesitant, introverted beautiful girl who after all the brainwashing by the system, still has has some fire in her that Justin-the drop-dead-gorgeous boy, wants to reignite.Granted, their story and relationship may seem a bit cliched at first, but give them a chance.They might surprise you!
Overall, Awaken is a fantastic debut novel by Kacvnisky.It hits a little too close to home, but it's an eye opener, nonetheless. Absolutely recommended to anyone who still believes that there definitely has to be more to life than this!
This book has been given to me by NetGalley, free of charge. 
This book sounds scary, in a "it could happen/is happening sort of way". It also sounds fascinating. Great review, thanks for sharing it!
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