Review – The Hive by Barry Lyga, Morgan Baden, Jennifer Beals (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopia
Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Release Date: September 3, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1525300608
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: ARC from Amazon Vine
Rating: 3/5 stars

“ Cassie McKinney has always believed in the Hive.

Social media used to be out of control, after all. People were torn apart by trolls and doxxers. Even hackers – like Cassie’s dad – were powerless against it.

But then the Hive came. A better way to sanction people for what they do online. Cause trouble, get too many “condemns,” and a crowd can come after you, teach you a lesson in real life. It’s safer, fairer and perfectly legal.

Entering her senior year of high school, filled with grief over an unexpected loss, Cassie is primed to lash out. Egged on by new friends, she makes an edgy joke online. Cassie doubts anyone will notice.

But the Hive notices everything. And as her viral comment whips an entire country into a frenzy, the Hive demands retribution.

One moment Cassie is anonymous; the next, she’s infamous. And running for her life.

With nowhere to turn, she must learn to rely on herself – and a group of Hive outcasts who may not be reliable – as she slowly uncovers the truth about the machine behind the Hive.”

I got this book through the Amazon Vine program to review. This ended up being a fast-paced, edge of your seat type of read about a girl in a future US where justice is determined by the Hive (an online voting/social media system).

This book is about Cassie, your typical teen trying to fit in at a new school. She believes that Hive justice is the right way until, while showing off to some new friends, the system gets turned on her.

While this was a fairly predictable YA dystopian read, it was fast-paced and engaging as well. It’s well written, easy to read, and the writing flows well.

I thought the way the story wrapped up was a bit goofy and the ending felt really incomplete and rushed to me. I couldn’t find that this is part of a series, so I am assuming you get what you get here.

This probably would have felt more unique to me if I hadn’t already watched a similar episode of Black Mirror. There’s an episode of Black Mirror (season 2 I think?) where people are constantly voting and rating other people and your ranking determines your fate in society. This story seemed very similar to that concept which took a bit of the novelty away for me.

Overall this was okay but not great. It is fast-paced and entertaining. However, I thought it ended abruptly and was way too predictable. I would tentatively recommend to those who are interested in a futuristic dystopia created by abused social media. This is appropriate for young adult and older readers.