The Chaos of Now, by Erin Lange
Is it real if it happens online?
Life at Eli's high school hasn't been the same since his classmate Jordan committed suicide after being tirelessly bullied. Schools now have access to students' online activities and students have less privacy than ever. Eli just wants to graduate--so he can get out of town, get away from his father's embarrassingly young fiancée, and get himself a prestigious coding job. But Eli's hacking skills get him roped into a vigilante website that--while subverting the school's cybersnoops-- seeks justice for Jordan and everyone else being bullied.
Suddenly Eli finds himself in way over his head as his
keystrokes start to have devastating consequences in the real world.
“The morally complex story avoids
simple answers and is taut with tension . . . Provocative, timely, and
intense.” ―Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
“Lange finds a fresh perspective on
bullying by focusing on all those left behind in the aftermath of the violence
that ensues--the bullies and the bystanders.” ―School Library Journal
“Lange's tightly plotted, fast-moving
mystery shows great understanding of the power dynamics of social cliques. . .
. Young coders will be thrilled to see themselves portrayed in a strong and
positive light beyond the usual stereotypes.” ―Booklist
“Shows a different perspective on cyber
bullying than most stories portray.” ―School Library Connection
