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The Recalcitrant Project
Elise is like any other high school senior. Except for the part about having a thriving social life, or caring about what anybody else thinks of her, or following the rules, or …
Truth is—Elise Andrek isn’t like most other high school seniors. She’s a programmer, and she’s good at it. She’s bright, intelligent, and knows what she wants, is focused on getting it, and doesn’t mind breaking the rules or subverting authority to get where she wants to go.
This is precisely why her life is turned inside out in this “edge of your seat” dystopian set in the lush, and often treacherous, Pacific Northwest.
Events unfold at breakneck speeds when Elise becomes suspicious that she is being used by the government to design a game which mimics real-life, violent scenarios depicting the eradication of those unwanted populations the government deems underworlders.
Her worst fears are confirmed when she realizes she is responsible for the success of the government’s mass murder of most of her graduating class. In the midst of the tragedy, Elise uncovers a nationwide conspiracy that reveals her class is just the beginning.
After escaping the murderous graduation trials, she becomes a fugitive on the run, caught between an unforgiving regime and a rising faction of resistance known as the Recalcitrants. Things become even more complicated when Bren, the only boy she has ever had serious eyes for, tries to rescue her, and she’s not sure he can be trusted.
As the program she designed begins going online, more graduating classes are being marked for extermination. If Elise can survive her harsh new world, she must somehow infiltrate the government’s protected servers and take the program offline. No matter how close she gets, no matter how much she tries to protect her friends, or the boy she wants for herself, the risks are high—the consequences even higher.
In a world that is not just possible, but likely, Lauren Lynne pulls no punches in establishing herself as a leader among a new generation of dystopian fiction incorporating life-altering decisions, treacherous betrayals, and romance that gives us hope.
Truth is—Elise Andrek isn’t like most other high school seniors. She’s a programmer, and she’s good at it. She’s bright, intelligent, and knows what she wants, is focused on getting it, and doesn’t mind breaking the rules or subverting authority to get where she wants to go.
This is precisely why her life is turned inside out in this “edge of your seat” dystopian set in the lush, and often treacherous, Pacific Northwest.
Events unfold at breakneck speeds when Elise becomes suspicious that she is being used by the government to design a game which mimics real-life, violent scenarios depicting the eradication of those unwanted populations the government deems underworlders.
Her worst fears are confirmed when she realizes she is responsible for the success of the government’s mass murder of most of her graduating class. In the midst of the tragedy, Elise uncovers a nationwide conspiracy that reveals her class is just the beginning.
After escaping the murderous graduation trials, she becomes a fugitive on the run, caught between an unforgiving regime and a rising faction of resistance known as the Recalcitrants. Things become even more complicated when Bren, the only boy she has ever had serious eyes for, tries to rescue her, and she’s not sure he can be trusted.
As the program she designed begins going online, more graduating classes are being marked for extermination. If Elise can survive her harsh new world, she must somehow infiltrate the government’s protected servers and take the program offline. No matter how close she gets, no matter how much she tries to protect her friends, or the boy she wants for herself, the risks are high—the consequences even higher.
In a world that is not just possible, but likely, Lauren Lynne pulls no punches in establishing herself as a leader among a new generation of dystopian fiction incorporating life-altering decisions, treacherous betrayals, and romance that gives us hope.
- GenresYoung AdultDystopia
456 pages, Paperback
Published May 27, 2017
About the author
Lauren Lynne
8 books216 followersI’m author Lauren Lynne. The good side of growing up is that you can write whatever you want. The downside... now I can’t read it without my glasses! I have the soul of an adventurer but when it comes to actual danger, I’m the one running the other way. I must be an armchair adventure hound since I’m drawn to suspense, intrigue, and action when it comes to reading, writing, and film.
I spent my childhood in Milwaukie, Oregon and I'm a graduate of both Oregon State University and Portland State University with degrees in education. I’ve been passionate about reading my whole life, but my professional writing is a more recent adventure. For my sons and my students, I wrote The Secret Watchers series. Today, I have fans from age 10 to 93. Hear that? It’s my heart singing with joy.
In 2017, watch for my first children's book and a dystopian adventure to be released. Other works in progress include a fantasy novel and two different middle-grade stories in various stages of completion. Creating stories for the young and young at heart is a perfect fit for me since I love to teach curious learners, and I am, after all, a big kid who just looks like a grown up. I still brainstorm with my friends, parents, and my boys, who have grown into adults during my writing career; like their mom through, it’s just on the outside.
When I’m not doing author stuff, I can be found spending time with my friends and family, working with students, reading, gardening, baking, playing with our goofy Golden Retriever, or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, or the Oregon Coast with my camera. Yep, I love to take pictures of scenery.
Some of my favorite reads over the years have been: Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Victoria Laurie’s Ghost Hunters and Abby Cooper Psychic Eye, cozy mysteries, Little House on the Prairie, Dragonlance, Heralds of Valdemar, and Alex Rider. All of these have had their part in inspiring me to write and publish The Secret Watchers series and my future works. My wish is for readers to have nearly as much fun reading them as I've had writing them. If you're from the Pacific Northwest, you may recognize several of the locations that Owen and some of my other characters visit because if I’ve lived it - in reality or virtually - it’s in there!
I spent my childhood in Milwaukie, Oregon and I'm a graduate of both Oregon State University and Portland State University with degrees in education. I’ve been passionate about reading my whole life, but my professional writing is a more recent adventure. For my sons and my students, I wrote The Secret Watchers series. Today, I have fans from age 10 to 93. Hear that? It’s my heart singing with joy.
In 2017, watch for my first children's book and a dystopian adventure to be released. Other works in progress include a fantasy novel and two different middle-grade stories in various stages of completion. Creating stories for the young and young at heart is a perfect fit for me since I love to teach curious learners, and I am, after all, a big kid who just looks like a grown up. I still brainstorm with my friends, parents, and my boys, who have grown into adults during my writing career; like their mom through, it’s just on the outside.
When I’m not doing author stuff, I can be found spending time with my friends and family, working with students, reading, gardening, baking, playing with our goofy Golden Retriever, or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, or the Oregon Coast with my camera. Yep, I love to take pictures of scenery.
Some of my favorite reads over the years have been: Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Victoria Laurie’s Ghost Hunters and Abby Cooper Psychic Eye, cozy mysteries, Little House on the Prairie, Dragonlance, Heralds of Valdemar, and Alex Rider. All of these have had their part in inspiring me to write and publish The Secret Watchers series and my future works. My wish is for readers to have nearly as much fun reading them as I've had writing them. If you're from the Pacific Northwest, you may recognize several of the locations that Owen and some of my other characters visit because if I’ve lived it - in reality or virtually - it’s in there!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 27, 2017
I really love this book. I am a big fan of Lauren's work, and this new foray into Dystopian sci fi is a terrific move for her.
Full of technological horrors and governmental controls, Recalcitrant is a terrific and terrifying dystopian tale of YA innocence turned to strength through determination. Elise is thrown into the dark test she helped to create. A hero of circumstance (with only a little foreknowledge from her experience in building the game) she may well be the only survivor. But that only starts her trip to hell. A race to escape the clutches of the government forces sent to capture her Author Lauren Lynne gives us a detailed breakdown of Elise's capture and the horrors she suffers inside the prison for political "recalcitrants." Elise is a reluctant hero who has a personal stake in stopping the game from going live. She must find a way to escape, before all hope is lost.
Full of tension, suspense and horrific events. Lauren Lynne has painted a believable world, (a little too much so at times) and of what can happen, if controls are not put into place to stop power hungry people forcing the world into their own image. This is a story of control and the lack of it. Of what can happen when people try to control the lives of others. And of the bravery of one young woman who finds the strength to keep on going.
This is also a story of how to find hope in the dark. And of how to keep fighting when all hope is lost.
There is a love story here too. Elise and Bren, along with their friends and potential friends must fight to survive and escape. Elise is a strong young woman put through hell. Bren is a caring young man with a mission. Together they find there is something to hope for, something to fight for. Each other.
A terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Full of technological horrors and governmental controls, Recalcitrant is a terrific and terrifying dystopian tale of YA innocence turned to strength through determination. Elise is thrown into the dark test she helped to create. A hero of circumstance (with only a little foreknowledge from her experience in building the game) she may well be the only survivor. But that only starts her trip to hell. A race to escape the clutches of the government forces sent to capture her Author Lauren Lynne gives us a detailed breakdown of Elise's capture and the horrors she suffers inside the prison for political "recalcitrants." Elise is a reluctant hero who has a personal stake in stopping the game from going live. She must find a way to escape, before all hope is lost.
Full of tension, suspense and horrific events. Lauren Lynne has painted a believable world, (a little too much so at times) and of what can happen, if controls are not put into place to stop power hungry people forcing the world into their own image. This is a story of control and the lack of it. Of what can happen when people try to control the lives of others. And of the bravery of one young woman who finds the strength to keep on going.
This is also a story of how to find hope in the dark. And of how to keep fighting when all hope is lost.
There is a love story here too. Elise and Bren, along with their friends and potential friends must fight to survive and escape. Elise is a strong young woman put through hell. Bren is a caring young man with a mission. Together they find there is something to hope for, something to fight for. Each other.
A terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 21, 2017
The Recalcitrant Project totally captured my imagination. It is a disturbing look at a future where the government is aggressively taking away our liberties and goes to terrifying lengths to accomplish their insane objectives. This book is an exciting page-turner of a story - relevant and extremely entertaining!
July 4, 2017
I was taken by surprise in a really good way. This is not the type of book I would usually pick up, but I liked The Secret Watchers series by this author so I thought I would give it a try. Well written and frightening, The Recalcitrant Project grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I had a hard time putting it down and blame the author for lack of sleep and projects laid to the wayside. Sadly, I could see how a situation of a government gone rogue could happen if we the people let it. Elise is a brave girl who does not see her own worth but keeps doing what she thinks is right. She let her government trick her and now she refuses to let it happen again.
April 3, 2019
I read on beyond any appreciation or enjoyment, hoping that I would become more involved and come to care what happened... but that did not happen. So eventually I "put the book down" (well removed it from my Kindle).
I found the premise just too divorced from reality, and the barrage of meanness and ill-fortune too heavy handed. OK, bad things happen, girl heroine is bright and amazing and resilient, I get the point: can we just move on to the story?
I did not stick it out...
I found the premise just too divorced from reality, and the barrage of meanness and ill-fortune too heavy handed. OK, bad things happen, girl heroine is bright and amazing and resilient, I get the point: can we just move on to the story?
I did not stick it out...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews