{Review} Swipe by Evan Angler

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?

Author: Evan Angler
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: May 8,2012
ISBN: 140031836X (ISBN13: 9781400318360)
Goodreads Page: Click Here

Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship.

The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.

When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.

I received this book for review as part of the Blog Tour. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for them. *This review is rather rant filled. You are forewarned.* Swipe is about a 12 year old boy named Logan Langly. On every citizens 13th Birthday boys and girls alike line up to get their marks. These aren't test grades but rather a tattoo that lets the wearer do everything from getting a job to simple pleasures such as buying an ice cream cone. Unlike most kids his age Logan doesn't want the mark. His sister died several years before getting hers and ever since that day Logan has felt like he's been watched. The Mark that once held such joy now seems like a bad omen and it's up to Logan and his new friend Erin to find out the reason why. Sounds like such a great book doesn't it? Maybe it's because the Book is geared to Middle Graders making it harder to connect with but I just didn't find this book enjoyable at all. Not a single character was likeable. Even the background players annoyed me with their behavior. Logan in particular knew something was going on but instead of going with his gut and reporting it he took the advice of a girl named Erin he's known less then 5 seconds. Speaking of Erin I found her character to be a lot like Hermione Granger except if Hermione was self centered, manipulative and living in a Dystopian society. I certainly think Erin has a larger role to play than she is letting on but as to what that is I can only speculate. The buildup of the entire story was for Logan to come to this big revelation that The Mark was bad. I kept waiting for some insight into why The Dust/unmarked felt this way but right at the end when it's finally revealed all they could come up with is we think so. I'm sorry, but would you take the word of someone trying to kidnap you for weeks on end? I know I wouldn't. Even when that person said my sister is alive, I still wouldn't believe them to the point Logan seems to. Now granted this is a child were talking about with an already fragile psyche but after all he's seen I didn't think he could be that stupid. The entire concept of the Dust/Unmarked children really baffled me. Why kidnap these kids saving them from an unknown fate if nobody is going to parent them? Surely some of the unmarked adults could take them under their wings and create a stable-ish environment for them. The Dust/Unmarked children reminded me of the lost boys from Peter Pan just more savage. I guess my biggest gripe with them is I didn't feel bad for their situation. They all had families who loved them and this guy Peck comes along, kidnaps and brainwashes them then doesn't even take care of them properly. Even if marked rejects died it would be a better fate then that these kids are living in. I really could go on and on nitpicking every little thing that bugged me but I will spare you. In the end the only thing I found quasi enjoyable about this book were the cool DOME gadgets that Erin steals. Sadly that isn't enough to give me back the days I wasted reading this book. I will be giving Swipe by Evan Angler ★★.