This is the story of a poor teenager selected for a reality show that continually throws her into strange or dangerous simulated experiences. The rest of the world watches the scenario and votes on how she probably responded. As the show ratings start to dip, the simulations get scarier.

Kress is known for her ability to create near futures that are frightening, exciting, and plausible. Her attention to the social and economic consequences of technological progress sets her work apart. Unfortunately, I don't think she quite hit her mark in this book. I just don't buy the way the reality show worked. Additionally, there are a number of plot hooks (like Amy having "phantom" visions of the truth of situations, whether Rafe or Violet is involved with the rioters, and what Amy's sister Kaylie is up to) that get dropped in favor of a quick wrap up. That said, I found the first half of this compulsively readable. ( )

Reality TV fans and aspiring stars will relish this dystopian take on the genre. Amy is hired on to the cast of a new reality show and she accepts, primarily because her family needs the money and her ailing grandmother needs health care. But what is the reality if the contestants are reacting to special effects and manipulation? Show producer Myra is hellbent on creating a success in order to erase a past professional failure, but at what cost? The plot pushes relentlessly forward with plenty of action and suspense that teens will love. Amy's realization that nobody truly knows all sides of anyone else seemed an unsatisfyingly easy conclusion. ( )

This book felt like the first book someone wrote and thought was a good idea. This means it wasn't HORRIBLE but it wasn't exactly movie magic material either. I at least finished it, which is a good sign. But I could read two chapters, put it down, and go to sleep with no issues. That says something right there.

The story was too scattered. We had too many ideas, too many plot points, too many concepts, not enough of any one story. The whole bit of the main character's mental glitches with "phantoms" was a plot point in and of itself, not just a character quirk as the author tried to use it. The game show could have been great, but it was too scattered with other problems. I think I counted five primary plots of which three get resolved. Maybe.

As someone who wrote how to books about writing, you'd think Nancy Kress would know how to keep things tight. This book didn't feel like it.

If you want to learn things from her, read this book. ( )

A YA book that was very predictable in spots. Felt like a cross between Big Brother and Survivor set a future that still has Twitter, YouTube & Facebook. A 'nice' ending where everybody lives happily ever after... ( )

Predictable and inconsistent. A lot of loose ends. The whole book felt sloppily written. A much tighter, more compelling story could have been written in half the pages. ( )