The Swipe Series: Swipe and Sneak

 Evan Angler's new series, beginning with Swipe, and continuing with Sneak is set in America in the not-so-distant future.  At a time when the East and West Coast have been diminished, and middle America is concentrated into rural areas, several large cities, and wasteland in between, children wait anxiously for their thirteenth birthday.  At thirteen, children are interviewed and are allowed to receive the Mark.  The Mark allows them to become citizens who can buy and sell, hold a job, and use transportation systems.

Marking is usually cause for a celebration, but no one talks about the children who go to receive their Mark and never return. However, ever since Logan's sister disappeared on the day she was to receive her Mark, Logan has been worried--paranoid even. He is sure someone is watching him, and he wants to find out who it is.

When a new girl (Erin) arrives at school, and Logan learns her dad is investigating a rash of suspicious disappearances for the Department of Marked Emergencies, he becomes even more convinced something strange is going on. As Logan and Erin try to solve the mystery, they end up further and further over their heads. But, it becomes harder and harder to tell who is on the right side. What is the truth about the Markless, who live on Slog Row? What has really happened to the kidnapped children? Why is DOME investigating?

PLOT SPOILER AHEAD: The series continues with Sneak, and follows Erin and Logan to Beacon, the nation's capitol, to discover the truth about those who fail to receive the Mark, and those who choose to remain unmarked.

What I Like:  This series is perfect for teens who have enjoyed the recent spate of dystopian fiction, such as The Hunger Games and Divergent.  The Christian themes in Swipe  are quite subtle, but will lead to interesting conversations, as families discuss biblical passages concerning the Mark found in the book of Revelations.  As the series continues with Sneak, Logan is given a Bible and begins to learn why some choose to be Markless.

These are fast-paced, gripping books, but without the rampant violence found in some of the mainstream series.  I was so curious about Logan's future, I downloaded the second book on my Kindle immediately after finishing Swipe.  

I especially liked the many twists and turns the plot took, as we followed Logan and his friends at Spokie Middle School. 

 What I Dislike:  Nothing

Overall Rating:  Excellent

Age Appeal:  13 and up

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1836-0; Paperback, 273 pages, $9.99

Buy Swipe Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
Buy Sneak Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
 
OR Buy Swipe at Amazon.com for $9.99.
Buy Sneak at Amazon for $9.99