Truancy: A Novel (Truancy, 1)

by Isamu Fukui

Book Overview

In an alternate world, in a nameless totalitarian city, the autocratic Mayor rules the school system with an iron fist, with the help of his Educators. Fighting against the Mayor and his repressive... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765322587
• ISBN13: 9780765322586
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Tor Teen
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Way better than Paolini!

Everybody always talks about Paolini being the most amazing teen author. I have to disagree. I believe Fukui has the most amazing ability I've ever read. His use of words pulls you in, drawing you deeper into the book. The action is detailed, the plot intricate, the feelings real. This is by far one of my favorite books, and I recommend it to everybody!

I'm a teacher and I'd love to use this book in school

When I heard an interview with Isamu Fukui on National Public Radio, I was impressed with the reasons that he wrote this book. Many things he said during the interview and the themes in his novel really hit home: school is often the socializing forum for kids. Even though I'm part of the system the radical in me has wanted to blow it up and start over for quite a while. I'm glad that a teenager has had the courage to pen an exaggerated version of how many educators negatively affect their students' moral and self-respect. Thank heavens my summer break has begun because I can not put that book down!

Very promising young writer.

I did not expect to enjoy this book as teen writers tend to find fame and fortune before their talent is able to catch up. However, I think Fukui is a very promising young writer. Although he professes not to enjoy math and science, Truancy makes excellent use of fanciful diseases. It's rare for someone so young to be so gifted in literature and yet display such a profound interest in the sciences. I look forward to seeing more from this young writer. I hope more young readers discover Fukui's writing as this can't be anything but a good influence.

Mindful of Huxley's Big Brother and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall"

The Mayor rules the city through the subtle use of the Bureaucracy starting with students whose minds and behavior are shaped to the mayor's ideal of perfection. Every pupil is brainwashed until as adults they do the same things to their offspring who are students. This has led to a totalitarian society in which the Enforcers make sure the students follow the rules; those who fail to conform are expelled to live as homeless waifs. One former student saw the Mayor, his Educators and the Enforcers as tyrants. He and other disenfranchised and disenchanted students formed the Truancy who chose to live in a free world. Fifteen years old Tack is stunned when the Truancy Leader Zyid kills his sister in what he calls "collateral damage"; he vows to kill Zyid. He joins the Truancy in order to accomplish his quest and though he has chances he hesitates because without Zyid the Truancy, who is family to him, dies. Tack, Zyid and their enemy will soon confront each other with no telling who if any will walk away. Mindful of Huxley's Big Brother and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", Isamu Fukui shows what happens to a society when a dictatorship centrally controls the entire education process especially what is learned. Zyid may be a young teen, but he is a pragmatist who believes bloodshed must occur to bring fear into the hearts of the Mayor, the Educator and their inner circle in order to incite a rebellion. Tack is his opposite as an idealist willing to die for his beliefs, but preferring change without bloodshed.. Readers will be enthralled by this meaningful story focusing on the impact of corrupt leaders controlling all communication starting when the citizens are young pupils. Harriet Klausner