Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Audience:Young Adult

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian

Publication: August 7, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

Rating: 4 out 5

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Synopsis In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they're caught and deactivated, or worse.

Review: A fascinating view of a computerized, futuristic dystopian society. This story takes places years after D-Day, which influenced the creation of the Community after all the toxins and pollution made the Surface unfit for the human race. People were afraid and trusted that going underground and getting these chips implanted in them were the best option for survival. Now, everyone is linked together and they are more walking robots than human. Everyone is wired with the mantra "Community first, Community always and An anomaly observed is an anomaly reported ". Though they are  living, breathing they aren't really alive but existing.

Zoe is an anomaly. She somehow has the ability to free herself, though rather sporadically but these stolen moments open her eyes to the world to her deadened senses. Zoe becomes overwhelmed with emotion over these new sensations. She fears that somehow she will slip up, get caught glitching and then be deactivated. Struggling with the notion that she should turn herself in, she discovers she doesn't want to lose these feelings. One day she comes across a young man, Adrien, that appears to be just like her but she is unsure until he saves her from something (I never really understood what that man was going to do her) and comes to learn of the Resistance and the deception that is the Community. They believe she is the key to saving them from a life that is no longer their own. 

This book reminded me of several things: iRobot, Starters by Lissa Price, Partials by Dan Wells and Unwind by Neal Shusterman because these each have overbearing governments with unethical control over the human population. The author weaves this story in a way that gives great visual detail into the structure and nuisances of this society. This book will appeal to readers interested in action, suspense and romance.