Pirate Cinema

Gr 9 Up—Trent McCauley, 16, is an addict. He's consumed with making movies using illegally downloaded film clips. Yet he believes in the freedom to say what's in your heart, "even if you have to use other people's words to say it." Unfortunately for his family, the government removes their Internet access for a year after the third violation. Ashamed of destroying his family's livelihood—their jobs, health, and education rely heavily on the Internet—Trent flees to the streets of London and meets Jem, who introduces him to a squatter's life. Trent continues to create films and host Sewer Cinema parties for his underground followers until one movie lands in the wrong hands. The underground activists rally to defeat a new bill in Parliament, TIP—Theft of Intellectual Property—that would make the smallest act of piracy a criminal offense. Bruce Mann is solid in his British narration, but offers little variation among characters. Cory Doctorow's novel (Tor Teen 2012), set in near-future London, uniquely paints a squatter's life with free housing in abandoned buildings, a steady supply of drugs, shameless panhandling, and the beauty of a true free lunch—if you don't mind pillaging a garbage can. He also shows the power of a grassroots movement: one small voice can catapult a big change.—Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH