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I Am Currency #1
I Am Currency
Would you turn in your books to a corrupt government, or would you join the Underground Book Movement? When a meteor slams into the earth causing a shift in the planet's magnetic core, the age of technology ends and economies across the globe crash. Years later, knowledge is not only power…it is currency. Bookkeepers are invaluable in this post-apocalyptic world. Nevel can never tell anyone he is a bookkeeper. His photographic memory is his secret. With a dystopian government that keeps all known books under lock and key looming as a constant threat and with parents involved as agents in the U.B.M. (Underground Book Movement) to protect the books that still secretly exist, Nevel is in a dangerous position. Never does this cause an issue until the day a fellow classmate, Quinn, appears at his door and proves to know more than she should.
258 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2013
About the author
Whitney L. Grady
6 books7 followersAuthor of the award-winning "I Am Currency"! This YA trilogy is the book-lover's dream - knowledge is currency! Books in the trilogy include "I Am Currency" , "Pass of the Crow", and "Owners of the Sky" . Grady's writing is also featured in "A Cup of Comfort for Teachers" as well as "Imagining Heaven". Whitney L Grady grew up in Virginia before receiving her B.A. in English from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since, Mrs. Grady has called the Tarheel state home. She has a passion for the classics, but simply loves the power of the written word. Mrs. Grady, a former English teacher, enjoys visiting schools to promote her books and is always happy to encourage reading to children and adults alike. Check out her website www.whitneylgrady.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 5, 2013
Whitney L. Grady has mastered the art of pulling the reader into her story. From the first page, I was drawn into the brilliant concept of a future world without technology. Teachers and librarians will be thrilled with the theme that knowledge is power. It is a wonderful read for all ages. Prepare yourself for a fast-paced adventure filled with rich characters and smart story lines.
October 29, 2013
A meteor has hit the earth in the not too distant future and it brings down all the technology in the world. Some 12 years later, knowledge is more valuable than anything and libraries and books are guarded by the government. People like 16 year old Nevel Walker who have photographic memories are regarded as government resources and if they hide their talents, they are treasonous.
In this era, information is currency and you can trade it for goods and services. Nevel can trade a tip on growing clover to get himself a donut in a bakery, for example. People hoard knowledge like they used to hoard their gold. There is an underground resistance group that protects the books that are left. Nevel's parents belong to that.
Nevel lives in a small town in Australia on the edge of the Outback and is one day chased into the wilds by a fellow classmate, who suspects that he is a Bookeeper, the term for people that have memorized everything they read. He is afraid she's going to turn him in but she only wants information from him. The government is on the lookout for Bookeepers and the absence of the two teens makes them suspects. They team up together to try to escape what could be their death in the end.
The book is well written and the plot moves along quickly and focuses on the hear and now rather than on the global disaster and how it progressed to the point the book picks up. It's a short novel, it focuses on the local settlement rather than the country or globe as a whole but it gives you the idea of how all towns and cities are now isolated with little communication from one to the next, as it would have been in the days before there were phones or telegraphs. It isn't completely "Pony Express" because apparently there are trains, steam trains one would assume, since the only other mode of mechanical transportation is wind powered.
The book is definitely set up for a sequel and possibly a series? I'd definitely read it to find out what happens next and to find out more about this version of the world after an apocalyptic event.
In this era, information is currency and you can trade it for goods and services. Nevel can trade a tip on growing clover to get himself a donut in a bakery, for example. People hoard knowledge like they used to hoard their gold. There is an underground resistance group that protects the books that are left. Nevel's parents belong to that.
Nevel lives in a small town in Australia on the edge of the Outback and is one day chased into the wilds by a fellow classmate, who suspects that he is a Bookeeper, the term for people that have memorized everything they read. He is afraid she's going to turn him in but she only wants information from him. The government is on the lookout for Bookeepers and the absence of the two teens makes them suspects. They team up together to try to escape what could be their death in the end.
The book is well written and the plot moves along quickly and focuses on the hear and now rather than on the global disaster and how it progressed to the point the book picks up. It's a short novel, it focuses on the local settlement rather than the country or globe as a whole but it gives you the idea of how all towns and cities are now isolated with little communication from one to the next, as it would have been in the days before there were phones or telegraphs. It isn't completely "Pony Express" because apparently there are trains, steam trains one would assume, since the only other mode of mechanical transportation is wind powered.
The book is definitely set up for a sequel and possibly a series? I'd definitely read it to find out what happens next and to find out more about this version of the world after an apocalyptic event.
December 20, 2013
Owning books is illegal. But this future is worse than the book hoarders and firemen of Bradbury's classic novel. In this novel all of the books are collected into a central Library that no one can use except once a year for exactly ten minutes.
Nevel Walker is a traitor to the government because he has photographic memory. Once he reads a book he can never forget what it says. Nevel is a bookkeeper and in a future where knowledge is literally power, He is also Currency. This probably explains why he is being chased across the Australian outback. Nevel and his new ally Quinn not only need to survive in the inhospitable dessert but they need to escape from the outlaws and government officials who want to use him or worse kill him.
This was truly an interesting read but it left me wanting more. It's like the first Hunger Games novel, how can you read about a world so cruel and not want to see it change. Maybe Nevel and Quinn will get another book in which they can change the world maybe for now it's good enough that they found each other.
Nevel Walker is a traitor to the government because he has photographic memory. Once he reads a book he can never forget what it says. Nevel is a bookkeeper and in a future where knowledge is literally power, He is also Currency. This probably explains why he is being chased across the Australian outback. Nevel and his new ally Quinn not only need to survive in the inhospitable dessert but they need to escape from the outlaws and government officials who want to use him or worse kill him.
This was truly an interesting read but it left me wanting more. It's like the first Hunger Games novel, how can you read about a world so cruel and not want to see it change. Maybe Nevel and Quinn will get another book in which they can change the world maybe for now it's good enough that they found each other.
December 27, 2013
Whitney L. Grady's debut novel I AM CURRENCY is a page-turner from start to finish. As an educator, I loved her theme of knowledge serving as currency in a post-technological world. She has sprinkled references to other great literary works throughout the novel, encouraging readers to want to explore the classics that Nevel, the main character, loves. The book's engaging characters, fast-paced and adventure-filled plot, and thought-provoking theme make it a perfect choice for classroom and book club discussions for all ages. My middle-school son loved the book as much as I did, and we both eagerly await the next novel in the series!
February 1, 2014
While it took a bit of time to wrap my mind around this new world, I was engaged with the characters immediately. The fast-paced adventure will keep the reader wanting to read just one more chapter 'till way past bedtime. Personally, I loved the awe and wonder of books that was emphasized in this novel. Books not just as carriers of knowledge but also for that quality of whisking us away to another time and place. This is a time and place that I look forward to visiting again. Can't wait for book two!
November 10, 2013
I Am Currency is a clever and exciting take on a dystopian tale. Being set in Australia provides lots of interesting scenes and plot twists and the idea of using knowledge as currency brings new meaning to the phrase"knowledge is power." This is a thoroughly enjoyable story that is hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure with just a touch of romance!
April 26, 2016
I received this book from the author at a book fair. I think the idea of knowledge as currency is a unique twist on the dystopian genre. The story is faced paced and kept me hooked. As a former teacher, there were so many ideas in the book to use in the classroom. I look forward to reading the next book.
November 28, 2013
The idea of the book is just amazing, the beginning of the book is really good a total page turner, the end is kind of a bit disappointing. I felt like I wanted more things to happen, it felt like when the book was ready to start it ended. Still worth the read.
December 14, 2013
This book grabs your attention in the first chapter. The plot is intriguing, the characters well developed. I stayed up way too late finishing this book. This would be an excellent book for classroom use to help teach students that knowledge is currency. Looking forward to Grady's sequel.
October 28, 2013
Not a book I would pick up, but once I got into it I absolutely could not put it down.
November 14, 2013
I would like to thank the LibraryThing's Early Reader program for the chance to have read this book for free. The fact that I received this book for free has in no way informed my review.
This is a fascinating book based on a premise that has been around for some time, but with its own unique twist. The characters are well developed and we get to go on a very interesting, and often frightening, journey with them. During this fairly brief period of time they both mature, and form intense bonds that often only come so quickly through shared hardship. Set in Australia makes for an even more interesting story as we get to discover the Outback, or as locals call it, the 'Never, Never,' for the simple fact that it appears to be never ending.
After the meteor hits Earth life changes radically. All electronics have ceased to work, or at least the have in Australia. Things like coal-powered trains still function, but only the extremely wealthy travel at all, and usually only for necessity. Suddenly print books are worth more than anything on earth, including gold, silver, coal, uranium, etc. Everyone is required to turn in all of their print books to central repositories, and Bookkeepers work there memorizing every single book, chapter and verse. To not turn in books and get caught with them is a hanging offense, just as being a non-government bookkeeper is; however this doesn't stop an underground movement from being created to share all knowledge as widely as possible in a bid to save it for future generations.
Nevel Walker is a bookkeeper, and both of his parents work for the Underground Book Movement, or UMB. They have been 'feeding' Nevel books since the MegaCrash, as he has a photographic memory. Nevel has to work very hard to be sure that he doesn't give himself away, though it is a daily struggle for him to sit through school each day, frantically scribbling down every word the teacher speaks, especially when the teachers get the information wrong.
One day he is shaving down his quill and isn't paying attention to where he scrapes the shavings - and they land in the long, perfectly brushed, glossy red hair of Quinn. Quinn is a tall, regal girl who sits in front of him in class, though he doesn't know why she's wasting time in his class learning agriculture rather than sitting two classrooms over learning poise and etiquette, as she clearly will never need to work a day in her life. Much to his chagrin Quinn notices the shavings in her perfect hair, but all she does is turn in her seat and give him a slight smile.
However that is not the end of their interaction, but rather the beginning. Once Nevel gets home and is relaxing who should show up at his door but Quinn, and she doesn't look happy. From here on out they are engrossed in a cat and mouse situation, with Quinn hunting Nevel. Amazingly the girl has serious skills bushwhacking in the Outback, skills far beyond Nevel's, meaning that he can't evade her for very long, no matter how often he might evade her. Clearly Quinn is nothing like the pampered rich girl Nevel took her to be.
As they interact they actually begin to see each other as more than a means to an end/threat. Over the course of the next few days they discover that they actually like one another as people, which is good because suddenly the hunter and her prey have become the hunted. They are being chased by the goons of the baddest guy around - the guy the cops & judges yield to. Things does not look good for them, trapped on a giant rock in the Outback. An rock surrounded by about 30 different fires at night, spread far enough apart that they have room but close enough together to make sneaking between them next to impossible, especially in the dark.
Now that they are being chased everything changes even more and feelings are magnified and intensified by fear for themselves and fear for each other. What will happen to them? Will they get caught, and if they do get caught will they be killed, turned in for a reward for being a bookkeeper? Everything is suddenly an unknown and they will need all of Quinn's skills in the Outback and every scrap of information locked in Nevel's head to try to stay a step ahead of their hunters.
Nevel learns more from this life experience than he could ever get from the books stored in his head, making him realize that as important as they are, real-life experiences are just as valuable if not more so. And Quinn is discovering that her impetuous nature won't save her from everything out there, but calm, rational thinking might get her farther in certain situations than simply reacting.
The arc of the story is well done with nice pacing, periods of intense excitement bracketed with periods of self discovery along with learning about one another. Both of them learning that prejudging people can be unhealthy, if not downright dangerous. Even as the main characters grow the supporting characters become more fully developed, particularly in the last third of the book. And the ending is not what you expect, for in the final paragraph or two Ms. Grady throws in some real twisting cliffhangers, leaving you wondering what the future holds for our intrepid duo. I plan to read the sequel when it comes out - if one is planned at all that is!
This is a fascinating book based on a premise that has been around for some time, but with its own unique twist. The characters are well developed and we get to go on a very interesting, and often frightening, journey with them. During this fairly brief period of time they both mature, and form intense bonds that often only come so quickly through shared hardship. Set in Australia makes for an even more interesting story as we get to discover the Outback, or as locals call it, the 'Never, Never,' for the simple fact that it appears to be never ending.
After the meteor hits Earth life changes radically. All electronics have ceased to work, or at least the have in Australia. Things like coal-powered trains still function, but only the extremely wealthy travel at all, and usually only for necessity. Suddenly print books are worth more than anything on earth, including gold, silver, coal, uranium, etc. Everyone is required to turn in all of their print books to central repositories, and Bookkeepers work there memorizing every single book, chapter and verse. To not turn in books and get caught with them is a hanging offense, just as being a non-government bookkeeper is; however this doesn't stop an underground movement from being created to share all knowledge as widely as possible in a bid to save it for future generations.
Nevel Walker is a bookkeeper, and both of his parents work for the Underground Book Movement, or UMB. They have been 'feeding' Nevel books since the MegaCrash, as he has a photographic memory. Nevel has to work very hard to be sure that he doesn't give himself away, though it is a daily struggle for him to sit through school each day, frantically scribbling down every word the teacher speaks, especially when the teachers get the information wrong.
One day he is shaving down his quill and isn't paying attention to where he scrapes the shavings - and they land in the long, perfectly brushed, glossy red hair of Quinn. Quinn is a tall, regal girl who sits in front of him in class, though he doesn't know why she's wasting time in his class learning agriculture rather than sitting two classrooms over learning poise and etiquette, as she clearly will never need to work a day in her life. Much to his chagrin Quinn notices the shavings in her perfect hair, but all she does is turn in her seat and give him a slight smile.
However that is not the end of their interaction, but rather the beginning. Once Nevel gets home and is relaxing who should show up at his door but Quinn, and she doesn't look happy. From here on out they are engrossed in a cat and mouse situation, with Quinn hunting Nevel. Amazingly the girl has serious skills bushwhacking in the Outback, skills far beyond Nevel's, meaning that he can't evade her for very long, no matter how often he might evade her. Clearly Quinn is nothing like the pampered rich girl Nevel took her to be.
As they interact they actually begin to see each other as more than a means to an end/threat. Over the course of the next few days they discover that they actually like one another as people, which is good because suddenly the hunter and her prey have become the hunted. They are being chased by the goons of the baddest guy around - the guy the cops & judges yield to. Things does not look good for them, trapped on a giant rock in the Outback. An rock surrounded by about 30 different fires at night, spread far enough apart that they have room but close enough together to make sneaking between them next to impossible, especially in the dark.
Now that they are being chased everything changes even more and feelings are magnified and intensified by fear for themselves and fear for each other. What will happen to them? Will they get caught, and if they do get caught will they be killed, turned in for a reward for being a bookkeeper? Everything is suddenly an unknown and they will need all of Quinn's skills in the Outback and every scrap of information locked in Nevel's head to try to stay a step ahead of their hunters.
Nevel learns more from this life experience than he could ever get from the books stored in his head, making him realize that as important as they are, real-life experiences are just as valuable if not more so. And Quinn is discovering that her impetuous nature won't save her from everything out there, but calm, rational thinking might get her farther in certain situations than simply reacting.
The arc of the story is well done with nice pacing, periods of intense excitement bracketed with periods of self discovery along with learning about one another. Both of them learning that prejudging people can be unhealthy, if not downright dangerous. Even as the main characters grow the supporting characters become more fully developed, particularly in the last third of the book. And the ending is not what you expect, for in the final paragraph or two Ms. Grady throws in some real twisting cliffhangers, leaving you wondering what the future holds for our intrepid duo. I plan to read the sequel when it comes out - if one is planned at all that is!
February 14, 2014
I really enjoy Young Adult dystopian novels. This book is an excellent first book and the author has a lot of potential. That being said, I think it needs a lot of work before a second book is produced. It is an easy and light read for those who are interested in this genre.
Ok Spoilers may be contained below:
Things I like about the book:
1. I really like the premise. I think that it is an interesting thought to have knowledge as a form of currency. It isn't particularly realistic, and I really like that because it reduces expectations for it to be realistic.
2. I like that it is light hearted and appropriate for all ages. It can be tricky to have a love story that younger kids can read, but I would feel comfortable with my kids reading this book.
3. I really like that the story is self contained. It leaves room for a sequel, but it is also good as a stand alone book.
4. I think Ms. Grady did an excellent first job. It can be hard to world build and create characters and she did a stellar job. I would really want to encourage her to keep at it. I think she will only improve with time. She has a lovely writing style, and I think with the right mentor and editor, she could be stellar.
Things I didn't like about the book:
1. It is all just a little too forced for me. It feels forced. The romance is forced. Nevel's sudden concern for Quinn is forced. The sureness with which they think they will be rescued is forced. She spent a lot of time describing bad guys that turned out not to be that bad. I didn't feel particularly attached to any characters or any relationships.
2. Nevel has a photographic memory or something akin to that. But the book makes it seem like there are many people with this ability. That simply isn't true in the real world, so how did it happen that there are so many people with this ability. I think this area could have used some further explanation.
3. I think that by reading other novels with this dystopic theme, the author could learn about romance building. (Red Blood Road for example). I just didn't feel like the characters were genuine enough. There could definitely have been some more character development.
Overall, this book was an easy read (It took me about 4 hours). And was interesting. I would read a sequel if there is one if only to give Ms. Grady a chance because I think she shows promise.
-------------------------------
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher free of charge for early review. It has in no way influenced my review of this book.
Ok Spoilers may be contained below:
Things I like about the book:
1. I really like the premise. I think that it is an interesting thought to have knowledge as a form of currency. It isn't particularly realistic, and I really like that because it reduces expectations for it to be realistic.
2. I like that it is light hearted and appropriate for all ages. It can be tricky to have a love story that younger kids can read, but I would feel comfortable with my kids reading this book.
3. I really like that the story is self contained. It leaves room for a sequel, but it is also good as a stand alone book.
4. I think Ms. Grady did an excellent first job. It can be hard to world build and create characters and she did a stellar job. I would really want to encourage her to keep at it. I think she will only improve with time. She has a lovely writing style, and I think with the right mentor and editor, she could be stellar.
Things I didn't like about the book:
1. It is all just a little too forced for me. It feels forced. The romance is forced. Nevel's sudden concern for Quinn is forced. The sureness with which they think they will be rescued is forced. She spent a lot of time describing bad guys that turned out not to be that bad. I didn't feel particularly attached to any characters or any relationships.
2. Nevel has a photographic memory or something akin to that. But the book makes it seem like there are many people with this ability. That simply isn't true in the real world, so how did it happen that there are so many people with this ability. I think this area could have used some further explanation.
3. I think that by reading other novels with this dystopic theme, the author could learn about romance building. (Red Blood Road for example). I just didn't feel like the characters were genuine enough. There could definitely have been some more character development.
Overall, this book was an easy read (It took me about 4 hours). And was interesting. I would read a sequel if there is one if only to give Ms. Grady a chance because I think she shows promise.
-------------------------------
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher free of charge for early review. It has in no way influenced my review of this book.
December 2, 2013
"I Am Currency" follows the highly prized 'Bookkeeper' Nevel, as he goes from a teenager in hiding to a teenager running for his life. Nevel's photographic memory means that he is of great worth in a world, localised to the Queensland outback, where knowledge is currency, and books are kept under lock-and-key. This apparent dystopic vision of a world in which technology no longer works is actually highly romanticised, and certainly comes at a time when digitalisation threatens the book industry.
The premise is a sound and highly-compelling one, but the rendering leaves much to be desired. At times it seems the frame story is sacrificed to the development of a teen romance. There are some highly unnecessary and disruptive passionate scenes between the two main characters that seem to exist solely for their erotic potential.
Sadly, this is not the only let-down. The story, while it does maintain interest, is at times so poorly written (or edited) that it makes it rather difficult to read. Grammatical and spelling errors abound, which ironically seems to be a mark of lazy e-book publishing. I'd love to say this adds a kind of 'meta' quality to the work, but it really does just come off as laziness. It is for this reason that I give only two stars. I am certain that some more work on solidifying the main characters' relationship without resorting to titillation and better editing would add another star to this work.
The premise is a sound and highly-compelling one, but the rendering leaves much to be desired. At times it seems the frame story is sacrificed to the development of a teen romance. There are some highly unnecessary and disruptive passionate scenes between the two main characters that seem to exist solely for their erotic potential.
Sadly, this is not the only let-down. The story, while it does maintain interest, is at times so poorly written (or edited) that it makes it rather difficult to read. Grammatical and spelling errors abound, which ironically seems to be a mark of lazy e-book publishing. I'd love to say this adds a kind of 'meta' quality to the work, but it really does just come off as laziness. It is for this reason that I give only two stars. I am certain that some more work on solidifying the main characters' relationship without resorting to titillation and better editing would add another star to this work.
November 1, 2013
YA post-natural disaster dystopia set in Australia. For some reason, access to books is strictly limited by the government and information is the new currency. The main character is a boy with photographic memory who has illegally read a lot of books.
The plot is quite action-y and engaging, but the writing is patchy. The first few chapters with Quinn and Nevel running around the outback really dragged for me, and the endless descriptions of Quinn's hair were a bit creepy. Not bad, but I won't be seeking out the sequel.
The plot is quite action-y and engaging, but the writing is patchy. The first few chapters with Quinn and Nevel running around the outback really dragged for me, and the endless descriptions of Quinn's hair were a bit creepy. Not bad, but I won't be seeking out the sequel.
December 26, 2014
Really interesting premise but struggled to read it.
Didn't really understand how using knowledge as currency actually worked.
The romance felt a bit contrived; one minute they were enemies and she was out to kill him, the next they were making out.
Liked the Australian setting, don't often read books set there.
Probably won't read the next book in the series.
Didn't really understand how using knowledge as currency actually worked.
The romance felt a bit contrived; one minute they were enemies and she was out to kill him, the next they were making out.
Liked the Australian setting, don't often read books set there.
Probably won't read the next book in the series.
November 16, 2013
Interesting premise, poor writing
October 5, 2013
We have to rate our own books 5 stars, right?! :)
October 24, 2014
3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews