People’s Choice Written by Litty Williams. Reviewed by Ivan, Age 14

The story follows Maz, whose brother has asthma and needs money for inhalers. When Maz joins up to a reality show at her school called the People’s Choice where she is given the opportunity to win enough life chances to pay for any treatment her brother needs

My favourite character was Will, as I thought his love of old music and pop culture really grounded the story and made it feel more realistic. He was a funny character and was a great comic relief in such a high-stakes novel. I also liked the character Tartan Tim as he made for a good side villain who was very entertaining.

I enjoyed the way the novel showed all aspects of the world it was set in, from the COMPASS camps to the high society families. It showcased really well how unfair the social and economical hierarchy was, and showed Maz’s struggle to achieve the ‘winner’ status. This book had some important messages about social media and how it can greatly affect people’s lives for better or worse. I was really surprised by quite a major plot twist, which I won’t give any more away about, but it had me on the edge of my seat.

People who enjoy famous dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games would likely enjoy this book, which felt like it may have been inspired by classic books such as 1984. However, People’s Choice takes a very different spin on the idea of having to play a game to survive.

I would say this book is aimed at ages 13+ and is a great read for new YA readers who are looking for a way into dystopian fiction.