Debugging Tori Redding [NOOK Book]

Unique YA with a great heroine

Debugging Tori Redding opens with an English classroom discussion of Catcher in the Rye. Tori's talking about how Holden wanted to preserve innocence, but nowadays Tori thinks there's no innocence to preserve--it's sullied before kids even get to high school. Her harsh rant gets her kicked out of class, so she's a sort of rebel. Tori's not the kind of girl who can do things by half measures--she sees a major issue among other teenagers and wants to correct the problem with a sledgehammer She founds the "Not So Fast" Club for kids who'd rather not dive headlong into inappropriately adult behavior, but her problems only intensify after the club takes action against rule-breakers. She's beset by issues with school, family, friends--just about everything you could imagine is going haywire for Tori, but she's determined to make some sense out of her world and introduce a little order.


At 15, Tori's a pretty tough chick, but there's a reason for her harshness. Her mom recently died of cancer and she's being raised by a dad who loves her, but who is a much better parent to her brothers because he actually understands them. Tori has no one to show her any image of femininity that isn't sleazy, ditsy or both, and she doesn't fit in anywhere; she respects intelligence but doesn't bother to bring home high grades, she lives in a athletic family but doesn't play sports, and she's a strong girl who doesn't ever mix with other girls. She plays violent video games for hours on end and chugs energy drinks, a nice-girl vice which shows that while she's not looking to drown her sorrows or lower her inhibitions, it's still in her nature to find some kind of excess. This gal needs an outlet. Badly.


So far, the story's a contemporary YA, but then it gets a hit of speculative fiction when there's a power surge while Tori's getting a tooth filled. The electric shock basically gives her incredible math abilities and photographic memory. I didn't like this plot development very much, but I'm not sure how Tori could get these necessary mental skills any other way. After her brain boost, Tori finds out that a dangerous predator is on the loose, and the darker plot really adds to the story.


Regarding Tori's mission to make everyone less lustful, it's worth noting that Tori's own hormones haven't kicked in yet. All the hyper-sexy stuff around her doesn't have any appeal, so there's nothing unsavory that she's having to actively resist. Metaphorically, she's a naturally thin person who doesn't understand why anyone would feel the need to binge on chocolate. The book itself is romance-free, so if you're looking for a cool younger heroine who isn't involved in a love triangle or a long running star-crossed love, this book is an excellent pick. This is about Tori coming to terms with her own issues--we don't need to see her dating, we need to see her whole.


Debugging Tori Redding has a unique voice and there's a lot to appreciate, here. The family scenes are dead-on, the grief and denial issues are just right, and humor's always cropping up. Tori doesn't even realize how hilarious her intensity can be--part of it come s from her own natural stubbornness, and part of it comes from being raised in a house full of dudes. But Tori's aggressive side is one of the best things about her, and once she finds some balance, she's just about right.

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A Fine Presentation

With all the mass media's constant commoditization of sex and relationships, Mr. Ancona's work stands as a great anti-thesis to the sappy romance type formula that features in many commercial genres (from rom-coms in books/films, to the love triangles in many "YA paranormal romance" books, etc).

I think the honest and realistic voice of DEBUGGING TORI REDDING is one of the book's biggest strengths. We hear about Tori's internal conflicts without the expression being put across in a preachy/overly-moralizing and/or whiny manner. A touch of science fiction adds a further unique touch to this contemporary YA novel, and I like how it enhances the plot [without compromising on the relatability of the family scenes portrayed, and Tori's background of growing up surrounded by guys (without the presence of a strong feminine/female role model)].

Mr. Ancona has done a fine presentation of certain themes and issues which are on every self-respecting person's mind (I will mention here that "sexual/social liberation" is quite, quite different from "promiscuity" -- though that's a discussion for another time!), and a real gem amidst a pop culture world that seems to constantly laud mindless entertainment (Jersey Shore, etc.).

Take Charge Tori Redding

I'd be stupid to pass up a chance to read anything by Jason Ancona. I read Covert Youth Agency (C.Y.A) by Jason Ancona a little while back and since I loved that one I could never pass up Debugging Tori Redding.

Jason is the master with conversational banter. I normally don't laugh out loud while reading books but I just couldn't help it. He really has an honest way with conversations. I think that's what separates his from the rest. I also could relate to every character. Let's be real here and admit a lot of times the smaller characters get swallowed by the plot and are forgotten by time the next chapter rolls around. That is not the case with Debugging Tori Redding.

Tori was badass. It was incredible the way she just blasted and laid it out to people. People who were her peers and she didn't even so much as blink a eye. With Tori's loss of her mother she was in a sea of confusion and anger. With no one to throw her a life vest Tori was on her own mission to save those who wanted to have a chance to keep their innocence and realize there is plenty of time to grow up there shouldn't be a rush. Tori was self destructive but it was more of a cry for attention.

There was a lot going on in Debugging Tori Redding. It was adventurous, real and mind consuming. I can see how Debugging Tori Redding would appeal to guys as well. The sensation of a more abrupt ending left me with a ton of questions. Ok, I need to reword this. It's not that it didn't have a closed ending but it didn't end smoothly. It left some gaps in the story which I needed to have better closure. I do recommend Debugging Tori Redding. I'm still a fan and loving Jason Ancona's writing style.

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