Paige Not Found

Jen Wilde's 'Paige Not Found' is a compelling chapter book that delves into critical themes of consent, privacy, and bodily autonomy through the lens of a neurodivergent protagonist. Paige, an autistic girl, discovers her parents secretly implanted a brain chip to 'help' her, which can track her location, monitor brain activity, and even alter her mood. Feeling utterly betrayed and robbed of her free will, Paige embarks on a high-stakes mission to find other children with similar chips and stop a powerful corporation from merging with a social media giant known for exploiting private data. This adventure explores the ethical dilemmas of technology, parental overreach, and the importance of standing up for oneself. While the publisher lists an age range of 4-11, the complex themes and emotional depth make it most suitable for readers aged 8 and up, offering rich opportunities for discussion.

"An adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online. As much as Paige hates the word normal, it's a pretty good word to describe her life, and the kind of night she was having just before a single email turned her world upside down. In an effort to better understand and communicate with their autistic daughter, Paige's parents enrolled her in a study without her consent. Without her knowledge they had a chip implanted in her brain that keeps track of her location and brain activity. It can boost the chemicals that affect her mood. Suddenly, Paige isn't sure who she can trust. Can she even trust her own mind anymore? Now the company that created her chip is days away from merging with the most popular social network in the world, one that has a reputation for selling people's private information to the highest bidder. Paige feels betrayed and like she's been robbed of her free will. But there is one thing she can do. The email includes the names and addresses of the other kids involved in the study. She can track them down and show them what's been done to them. Maybe altogether they can put a stop to this merger and figure out how to get their chips removed for good."-- goodreads.com