Book Review: Debugging Tori Redding

Fed up with her peers and their loose morals, Tori starts a new school program, the Not So Fast club, a group dedicated to keeping teens from doing everything they want to do–drink, have sex, and rush to grow up.

A severe toothache interrupts her plan, sending her to the dentist, where she’s given an emergency root canal. During the surgery, she’s electrocuted and ends up blacking out. When she awakes, her brain has the ability to function like a computer.

Tori uses her new skills and aggressive personality to charge up the club. Hated by the entire school, she discovers that NSF now stands for: Narcs Suck Farts. Game on. Tori memorizes every school rule, issuing tickets for every little infraction.

After a serious crime occurs, Tori must use her talents to save a life, all while trying to free herself from her mind.

–From Goodreads

Cover Inspection:
I LOVE this cover. The circuitry that is written across the girl’s face screams of what is within the book. Big kudos to whoever designed it!

First Thoughts:
Tori is definitely a tough one.

***

My Review:
Debugging Tori Redding is the second book that I’ve read by Jason Ancona. When I was given the opportunity to review it, I was excited at the premise. A girl whose mind works like a computer? How amazing is that? I snuggled down into bed, picked up the book and started to read.

Let me tell you, I was so impressed at the depth behind Tori’s character. She isn’t just a high school student who takes issue with loose morals. She isn’t even just a girl with a computer for a brain. No, Tori is so much more than that. Tori is the lost adolescent trying to find her place in the big scheme of things. She is the girl who has recently lost a parent and is struggling to live in a house fueled with testosterone. Coincidentally she is also that character who still isn’t sure how she stands in the world of relationships. Simply put, she’s all of us.

Story wise, although the book mainly revolves around Tori’s home life and friendships there is a mystery hidden there. Girls have been going missing in her home town, and now it seems that her new found abilities can help solve the case. I admit that the mystery isn’t the prominent focus of the story, but I do think that it added a nice variety to what the issues Tori has to face. It also happens to be part of the introspective process for her.

I’ve seen others write about their frustrations with Tori’s attitude toward everything, because she can be so negative. It’s true, she can be. However after reading carefully I began to realize that it is just Tori’s defense mechanism. She comes from a family where the weak simply are not tolerated. Where testosterone rules and being a girl is difficult. Her father loves her for sure, but he doesn’t know how to interact with the female side of her. What better way to get rid of that awkwardness than to hide the female side of you? I loved Tori for the simple fact that she is human like the rest of us.

Rich with family interactions, packed with snide humor, and filled with undertones on society and teenagers as a whole, Debugging Tori Redding is definitely a book that I enjoyed! I highly recommend you give it, and Tori, a chance. I daresay I look forward to seeing what else Jason Ancona has in store for us!

Book Details
Title: Debugging Tori Redding
Author: Jason Ancona
Publisher: Jason Ancona
Pages: Paperback; 282
Source: Received for promotional tour
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Final Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart