In Wire Wings, Handman creates a fun, fast-paced YA novel that immerses the reader in a futuristic world. It introduces to readers important real-world concepts such as morality, ethics, identity, and love. The advanced society Handman creates comes alive through vivid description, dialogue, and detail, leaving a reader feeling as though they themselves have Dived in the Waves.
In the story, technology dominates many social and curricular activities, from homework assignments to music concerts. A shared virtual space called the Waves allows users to communicate, collaborate, and congregate through avatars. It seems like everyone has a Line, or a way to access the Waves, and they all have Graciela's father and his partner to thank. The scientists created the Waves, and the world has never been the same since.
However, a scientist's work is never complete, and with the Waves in full swing, they begin to focus of a new experiment, a new type of life in the form of artificial intelligence, or AI. Graciela's father and his partner, Paul, test the waters by introducing into the Waves an AI they name Charlie. However, no one believes he's real—that is, except Graciela, who's seen him, spoken to him, and become his friend. She's renamed him Thomas, and the two have become inseparable, unbeknownst to anyone. In many ways, Thomas begins to fill an ache in Graciela's heart, left by someone she loved beyond words.
In time, Thomas's identity is confirmed, and a sudden change in him forces Graciela to reconsider her feelings. However, danger forces them back together, and a fight for Thomas's survival and that of the bond Graciela and Thomas share begins. All of this leads to a surprising conclusion, one that I would love to see explored in a future book or other story, if possible.
If you're looking for a new tech-based YA with a captivating story, memorable characters, and a little bit of heartbreak, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to The Parliament House publishing company for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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