review by Jacob Chon, age 14
Want by Cindy Pon
Summary: Jason Zhou survives in a divided society where the elite use their wealth to buy longer lives. The rich wear special suits that protect them from the pollution and viruses that plague the city, while those without suffer illness and early deaths. Frustrated by his city’s corruption and still grieving the loss of his mother, who died as a result of it, Zhou is determined to change things, no matter the cost.With the help of his friends, Zhou infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within. Jin Corp not only manufactures the special suits the rich rely on, but they may also be manufacturing the pollution that makes them necessary.Yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world of excess and wealth, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgment, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp’s CEO. Can Zhou save his city without compromising who he is or destroying his own heart? -Goodreads
Global warming, an issue that we all face today, is present in many pieces of literature, mostly nonfiction. However, in the stack of research articles and informational books, there is a sparkling gem of a novel. Written by Cindy Pon, Want is a sci-fi tale that plays with life and death, greed and selflessness, the haves and have-nots. It tells the story of a young boy named Zhou who must fight for the right to breathe clean air. Zhou, who is a have-not in this tale, must infiltrate the upper societies of the rich who live in specialized suits. He plans on destroying the manufacturer of the suits in order to show how badly off the poor are, but to do so, he must become part of the rich. Along the way, he faces many obstacles, including corrupt politicians, greedy business owners, and a friend whom he has found in the world of the rich. Will Zhou be able to carry out his duty, or will others stop him first?
Want is an incredibly deep novel that leaves many questioning the future of the planet. It portrays a world without regulations against climate change, and that world is bleak and harsh. It also portrays an ever-widening wealth gap between the rich and the poor, something that is happening today. Furthermore, it portrays a world where corporations profit off of both. It is a captivating book, start to finish, that does nothing but leave readers questioning their morality. It discusses greed and human faults, but also humanity’s greatest traits. It is a book that anyone interested in gripping, dark storytelling should read. Want is a novel that is gripping, captivating, and, above all others, frighteningly realistic. 4.5/5 stars.
Find this book in our catalog: Want
Call Number: YA SF PON,C
327 pages
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