"A mysterious representative has come to a small New England town to purchase a highly intelligent and promising 10-year-old boy named Barry Rudd from his parents and take him away for training and use in a special corporate defense project. (The "training" involves not only isolation and reeducation but major surgery.) The uproar has led to violence, battles on the school board, and an investigation by the state legislature. The story is told in the form of transcripts of the investigation, wherein various legislators -- from earnest and intelligent Senator Mansfield to blowsy conservative Senator Skypack and nearly somnolent Senator Voyolko question the principals. The tale is gripping, and surprisingly humorous within the larger, chilling context of the nature of education, child psychology, and economics. Hersey, primarily known as a journalist and "literary" novelist, made one of his occasional forays into science fiction with this 1961 bestseller."
David Loftus, Resident John Hersey Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
Repressive society story
Yes
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations
Yes
Who's a slave/repressed?
- discrim against people with mental powers
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a kid
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- some scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
How much dialogue?
- mostly dialog
