Hard Wired by Len Vlahos

Abhijit | Ocean Township Intermediate School, Grade 8

Rating: *****

Hard Wired is a science fiction novel by Len Vlahos about Quinn, who lives a normal life in his hometown. Quinn's father died of cancer before he was born, but was able to record some messages to his children, which they play on their birthdays. When Quinn turns 15, his mother tells him that the message for his 15th birthday is the last one recorded. When he watches it, he discovers clues that lead him to discover that his life is a lie- he is an artificial intelligence who lives in a simulated reality. As he discovers this, the team of researchers who created him bring him out of the simulation, where he becomes known worldwide as the first truly human artificial intelligence. However, Quinn learns that he cannot leave the lab that he was created in, and struggles to find a way to be free from his birthplace, which is now his prison.

This book was very good, and it makes you think about complex topics like if a computer can ever achieve true consciousness, or whether it is even possible to know for sure if they do. As Quinn tries to leave the lab and live in the outside world, both the researchers in the lab and the people outside it are divided on whether he qualifies as living, and therefore deserves rights or not. The book is well paced and it never gets boring, and the end is sad, but still hopeful. All in all, I give this book a recommendation for anyone who is interested in technology and science fiction.