The Kill Factor

In this social media–centered riff on dystopian game shows, teens trapped in the criminal justice system are given the opportunity to win money and their own freedom by competing in the public eye for fame, followers, and survival. After being charged with theft, arson, and manslaughter, white teenager Emerson Ness is approached by a mysterious person known as the Producer, who offers her the chance to avoid prison time by competing on a show called Retribution Island along with 49 other contestants. When Emerson learns that the show’s actual title is The Kill Factor, she quickly understands that it’s more than just a clever name. Once the game begins, she and her fellow participants are forced to resort to lethal means to advance—and survive—and as contestants drop one by one, Emerson realizes that she must ingratiate herself to her viewers and rack up as many followers as possible if she hopes to get out of this alive. Oliver (the Loop trilogy) draws upon well-known tropes from dystopian classics like The Hunger Games, but scarcely elevates them which sometimes overshadows the narrative worldbuilding and didactic social commentary. Nevertheless, Oliver’s thriller chops are sound, inspiring real scares via the gruesome trials characters are forced to endure in this visceral read. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)