Brain Jack

Reader: Luke M
Age: 16
Title: Brain Jack
Author: Brian Falkner
Publisher: Random House
Pub Date: 09/28/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I enjoyed the idea of the neuro headsets becoming sentient and trying to "fix" the world. The chaos and conflict this created was realistic. I enjoyed the setting of a collapsing nation besieged by threats. Las Vegas and game addicts were good additions. Ursula was too easy to defeat. Let her win and portray a world of everyone happy even if it is horrible in the epilogue as this would be a shocker.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I was annoyed at the poor attempt at romance. The book didn't need it and it seemed forced. Also, although the hacking done in the book seemed unbelievable and spouting what could be random computer terms for all I know didn't help. The perceived geekiness associated with these terms also could be a turn off for some terms. I also found Fargas's hospitalization and death confusing and had to read it several times to get a sense of what happened. Finally, the Tacticals where portrayed as great soldiers but performed poorly in any combat seen in the book.
Cover: The cover was fine but didn't stand out as anything new or unique. It did reflect the contents.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal