Naomi's Reading Palace: Review: Swipe by Evan Angler

Author: Evan Angler

Title: Swipe
Series: Swipe #1
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: May 01, 2012
Format: eBook – NetGalley Preview Exclusive

Summary from Goodreads

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?

Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship.

The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.

When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.

I was a bit unsure about starting this book as it is a middle-grade novel and the main characters are 12/13 years old, but once I started reading I was stuck! It was a fantastic read and I was glued to the book right until the last page! I want to dive into the second book, Sneak, straight away, but I wanted to share my thoughts about Swipe first.

Evan Angler has created a fabulous world set in the future where life as we know it no longer exists. If you want to do anything in this new world you must swipe your tattoo, which you don’t get until your 13^th birthday.

But the whole operation behind the tattoo and the organisation may not be as foolproof as it’s made out to be. Logan is very nervous about the whole process and is starting to question all that he has been taught. Especially since the new girl, Erin moved to town and she believes all his theories. Together they set out on an adventure to discover the truth while keeping an eye on their backs as they feel as though they are being watched.

We meet a number of characters in Swipe. Logan is a shy character and doesn’t have many friends. He is quite withdrawn and very suspicious of everything. His best friend Dane is the more outgoing type and he tries to put more confidence into Logan and encourages him to approach Erin. Erin is the new girl and she is a confident person. She has had to grow up a lot earlier than most teenage girls as her parents are very focused on their work.

There are other characters too, but I don’t want to share too much as it may spoil the plot too much. To watch all these characters come together and see how the story unfolds is just amazing! I love what Evan Angler has done with this novel and the characters. It was a captivating read and I’m keen to jump into Sneak!!

Oh, and the Sneak Book Tour is stopping by here on Monday, so please come back and check out my Review!!