YA Science Fiction Review: Feed by M.T. Anderson

Anderson, M. T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Reading Level: 770L

Interest Level: Grades 9 – 12 

This award-winning cyberpunk dystopian novel sarcastically deconstructs the manic-pixie-dream girl trope while also challenging our need for constant entertainment and the “next big thing.” Anderson exaggerates current trends to create a believably vacuous youth culture: lesions are “totally meg” and even the adults drift in and out of face to face conversations to engage in “mchats.” Privileged Titus meets Violet, a weird but intriguing girl from the bottom layer of the suburbs. As their romance progresses, SPOILERS AHEAD Titus learns her feed is malfunctioning. Violet’s feed, installed in late childhood, needs expensive repair; however, corporations won’t sponsor the work because she’s not a good investment. Horrified at her deterioration, Titus pulls away and eventually abandons Violet. I was pleased that Titus and Violet’s relationship failed, because it was a much more authentic ending. In a classroom setting, the students could explore how the use of first person narrative affects the reader’s experience, or whether/why the society depicted is possible. As a writing prompt, students could come up with their own bizarre trends or continue the story with a sequel.