Description

In the tradition of M. T. Anderson’s Feed and Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, Unplugged is the first in a provocative and compelling new series from acclaimed author Donna Freitas.

Humanity is split into a dying physical world for the poor and an extravagant virtual world for the wealthy. Years ago, Skylar Cruz crossed over to the App World for a chance at a better life, and her family stayed behind in the Real World. Now Skye is a virtual teenager, surrounded by glamorous apps and expensive downloads—yet she’s never felt like she fits in, and all she wants is to see her mother and sister again.

Skye is desperate and ready to risk everything to unplug from the App World. But she soon learns that the only person she can trust—in either world, including friends and family—is herself.


  • YA Dystopian: A high-tech virtual App World for the rich, a dying Real World for the poor, and a border between them that has just been sealed forever.
  • Class Divide: Skye left her family behind for a life of glamorous downloads, but all she wants is to go back to the world she was told wasn't good enough.
  • Strong Female Character: Ready to risk it all to see her family again, Skye must defy the law and find a way to unplug, learning that trust is a luxury she can't afford.
  • Science Fiction Adventure: Perfect for fans of Feed and Uglies, this first book in a compelling new series explores what it means to be human when technology can build a better you.

About the author(s)

Donna Freitas is the author of The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention, and many other novels and nonfiction books for adults, children, and young adults. Her latest YA novel is a rom-com that takes place in her favorite city, Barcelona: Stefi and the Spanish Prince. She has been featured on NPR and the Today show, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, among many other places. Donna currently serves on the faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA program. She also lives half the year in Barcelona, where she loves partaking of its many bakeries and delicious restaurants galore. Learn more about Donna at donnafreitas.com and on Substack: donnafreitas.substack.com.


Reviews

Praise for THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD: “Behold: A rare bloom of a book . . . THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD, while never gloomy or dogmatic, is a literary work of mercy. Let us rejoice and be glad.” - Gregory Maguire, bestselling author of WICKED

Praise for THE SURVIVAL KIT: “As fragile and lovely as a rose.” - Jenny Han, bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series

Praise for THIS GORGEOUS GAME: “A remarkable book that will speak not just to teens, but to women of all ages.” - Sara Zarr, author of National Book Award finalist STORY OF A GIRL

“Chilling and addictive, UNPLUGGED will change the way you look at the world . . .and how you look at yourself.” - Kass Morgan, New York Times bestselling author of The 100

Praise for UNPLUGGED: “Ambitious and thought-provoking.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A fast-paced series opener. An expectations-defying heroine, a world facing drastic change, and an impossible love triangle.” - Publishers Weekly

“A fast-paced, plot-driven dystopian story that explores the interconnectivity between beauty, commercialism, race, and technology. Thought-provoking, relevant, and promising. Pacing is excellent with lots of action, twists, and turns.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“The first book of an exciting dystopian sci-fi series. An intriguing tale with diverse characters. This work will appeal to gamers and to those who enjoyed Dan Wells’s Bluescreen or M.T. Anderson’s Feed.” - School Library Journal

“A mix of political thriller, social commentary, and futuristic popular culture. Try this with M.T. Anderson’s Feed or go retro with William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson’s Logan’s Run while waiting for the sequel.” - ALA Booklist

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