About This Book
This profound debut novel follows Aaron O'Faolain, a 17-year-old grappling with the recent suicide of his grandfather and a desire to escape the pervasive, addictive augmented reality known as FUN. As he attempts to terminate his FUN account, Aaron is drawn into a complex mystery involving his family's past and clues to a buried treasure. The story delves into themes of grief, identity, technology addiction, and the surprising richness of real-world experiences, making it suitable for young adult readers. Parents should be aware of the prominent themes of suicide and mental health, which are handled with sensitivity and depth.
FUN -the latest in augmented reality-is fun (yay!) but it's also frustrating, glitchy and dangerously addictive (boo!). Just when everyone else is getting on, seventeen-year-old Aaron O'Faolain wants off.
Concepts
Character Death
mental_health_themes
addiction
peril_danger
Discussion Prompts
1
How does FUN, the augmented reality, compare to social media or video games in our world? What are the pros and cons?
2
Aaron struggles with his grandfather's suicide. How does the book show the different ways people cope with grief?
3
What does 'the end of fun' mean to Aaron, and what does it mean for the reader?
4
How does Aaron's virtual 'best friend,' Homie, influence his journey? What role does technology play in his emotional life?
5
The book suggests that 'actual reality can sometimes surprise you.' What moments in the story illustrate this for Aaron?
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