Swipe

Dystopias are a rising trend in young adult literature, and Swipe joins the tide. It manages create a believable post-apocalyptic world without extensive info-dumps. The information even proves to be plot relevant, as the main character is studying for his “Pledge” and is concerned about how the united world he lives in came to be. At age 13, most people go in and take the Pledge, receiving the Mark that serves in place of all credit cards, paperwork, and forms. But 12-year old Logan is afraid—five years ago, when his older sister went for her Pledge, she never came back. And since then, he can’t shake the feeling of being watched wherever he goes.

The other main character, Erin, has already taken the Pledge, but is angry at her father for forcing her to move with him from the capitol city of Beacon to the back-water town of Spokie. When she looks at some of his confidential papers, she becomes obsessed with solving a mystery as her ticket back to Beacon. Her path crosses Logan’s, and they investigate together.

The story is fast-paced and appropriate for YA readers, with no sexual content beyond crushes and maybe a kiss, although there are several instances of threatened violence. The language is also fairly clean, with futuristic slurs such as “miser” and “tightwad” used against those who chose not to take the Mark. At the same time, it can also be a light read for older readers.