The Chaos of Now

by Erin Jade Lange

Overview

From the author of Butter comes an emotional coming-of-age novel about teen coder who gets roped into a dangerous hack, perfect for fans of John Corey Whaley and Adam Silvera.

Eli is coasting through high school, spending most of his time writing code. Each day is as boring as the next—until he receives a cryptic message in binary code, leading him to Seth and Mouse. They're seeking a third member for a prestigious hacking competition, after their teammate and friend Jordan committed suicide last year. Intrigued by the challenge, Eli agrees.

But soon it becomes clear that Seth and Mouse are after more than winning a competition—they're seeking revenge for the abuse that caused Jordan's suicide. Eli is in way over his head, but he's also hiding a dangerous secret that could lead to even more trouble if he isn't careful. In a story about the shift of power from those who rule at school to those who rule online, the difference between bully and victim is blurred and Eli—whose coding skilled have taught him to make order out of chaos—will find the real world is much harder to control.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619635029
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	10/02/2018
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	663,188
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Erin Jade Lange is the author of Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah; Dead Ends; and Butter, an ABA New Voices selection. As a journalist, she is inspired by current events and real-world issues and uses her writing to explore how those issues impact teenagers. Erin lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
www.butterslastmeal.com
@erinjadelange

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—A year after Jordan Bishop's suicide in the cafeteria, Haver High School is still affected. Sophomore Eli Bennett, a coding whiz with little interest in college, observes a memorial for a kid he barely knew. Two of Jordan's friends recruit Eli for a prestigious coding competition, using the project portion of the event to create an anonymous website meant to punish the kids who tormented Jordan. But the lines between right and wrong, revenge and anger become blurred when Eli begins to see the ramifications that their hacked videos of classmates have on people he used to see as simple bullies. Lange finds a fresh perspective on bullying by focusing on all those left behind in the aftermath of the violence that ensues—the bullies and the bystanders. Two subplots, one romantic and the other familial, work to balance Eli's negative qualities. The story is strongest as an exploration of cyberbullying, building tension and momentum and is a fine addition to the crowded field of similar fiction. VERDICT A general purchase for larger library collections.—Hillary St. George, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2018-07-17
A teen hacker is recruited for an anti-bully, pro-free speech vigilante project.During freshman year, Jordan Bishop committed suicide by self-immolation in the cafeteria. With online bullying blamed, the fallout for everyone else includes strict monitoring of internet activities. Eli ends up on the radar of Mouse and Seth, two other coders at his school who were friends of Jordan's, and they bring him on as the third member of their team in an annual hacking contest with big prizes. They must find flaws in the student cybermonitoring system—but instead of hacking the monitors, they plan to bring the monitors to them with a site that offers secure anonymity to teens, enabling them to air secrets about bullies like those who targeted Jordan with classist, homophobic, and other taunts. Eli's reluctant—his previous just-to-see-if-he-could hacks caused major damage, and this could land him in huge trouble if he's discovered—but he is tempted by the challenge. Those targeted by the site face public humiliation and consequences for their misdeeds, but the line between justice and vengeance thins, especially when a mean-girl bully targets Eli's Mexican-American (in a primarily white community) crush with racist nastiness. The morally complex story avoids simple answers and is taut with tension as readers wonder if Eli will go too far or get caught—only for a third-act twist to complicate things further.Provocative, timely, and intense. (Fiction. 13-adult)

Kirkus Reviews

The morally complex story avoids simple answers and is taut with tension . . . Provocative, timely, and intense.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Lange finds a fresh perspective on bullying by focusing on all those left behind in the aftermath of the violence that ensues—the bullies and the bystanders.” —SLJ

“Lange's tightly plotted, fast-moving mystery shows great understanding of the power dynamics of social cliques. . . . Young coders will be thrilled to see themselves portrayed in a strong and positive light beyond the usual stereotypes.” —Booklist

“Shows a different perspective on cyber bullying than most stories portray.” —School Library Connection

“A new contemporary thriller that's part Breakfast Club, part Breaking Bad . . . Lange's story is gripping . . . Well paced, with twists and turns that will take readers by surprise.” —Booklist on REBEL, BULLY, GEEK, PARIAH

“Give this to readers who enjoy action-packed crime dramas spiced with a little danger and a healthy dash of heart.” —BCCB on REBEL, BULLY, GEEK, PARIAH

“Lange keeps tension high as the situation quickly escalates from bad to worse . . . a fast-paced read with a gripping blend of suspense and emotion.” —Publishers Weekly on REBEL, BULLY, GEEK, PARIAH

“Lange keeps the plot twisting . . . As in her debut novel, Lange deftly blends big issues (bullying, special needs, abuse) into a story of two imperfect, memorable characters.” —Booklist on DEAD ENDS

“Lange weaves a beautiful and believable tale of friendship for readers of any age who can appreciate the challenges of everyday life.” —Library Media Connection on DEAD ENDS

“Using current, hot-button topics—cyberbullying, obesity, and teen suicide—the author weaves a compelling tale sure to draw teens in.” —SLJ, starred review, on BUTTER

From the Publisher