Deepfake by Sarah Darer Littman

How could Dara say such a thing? There is not doubt; it's right there in the video. That is why Will is so angry. But Dara knows she didn't say it. She would never say anything like that especially about Will who she has been secretly dating since the beginning of the school year. 

None of it would have happened if the video had not been posted on the anonymous blog, Rumor Has It. You know the blog - the one that some senior takes over every year to spread gossip about students and teachers. Every blog entry affects someone, but this one has completely upended Dara's and Will's lives. Will's acceptance to Stanford is in jeopardy (although his dad has been pushing him to go there for so long, he's not really sure he wants to). Dara knows she is innocent, but Will is not so sure (obliterating any trust in their relationship). 

So is it possible the video is fake? And if so, who would make it? Who has the tech to do it? All questions that must be answered before Dara and Will can prove their innocence. 

Tackling an issue that may become all too common in our world, this story is a satisfying read. The tech itself is really just a tool for the teens to deal with basic human issues: friends that betray you, parents that won't listen to you, boyfriends that don't trust you.  

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

 

It Came from the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti

Gideon and is brother Ishmael are so different. Gideon is a serious science guy who dreams of going to MIT. He even has his own lab in the shed outback. Ishmael is a laid back prankster. Gideon worries; Ishmael goes with the flow. They get along, but rarely see eye to eye... until one of Gideon's experiments blows a huge crater in the backyard, and they decide to tell everyone it was from an alien spacecraft. 

You can understand why Ishmael would do it (he is too enthusiastic - he may have helped increase the size of the explosion). Gideon, though, is supposed to be the level headed one. But he sees an opportunity to do a social experiment that will make his MIT application stand out. The problem is people actually believe the story - people from all over the world are suddenly interested in their small town. 

 Lots of things happen in this humorous story. The brothers keep the people interested by faking other alien activities (like making crop circles). The head of their mom’s company (a health products network that is probably a scam) shows up to exploit the town for marketing and his own self- indulgence. Gideon is secretly dating Owen; secretly because as the only openly gay males in their school, Gideon does not want people to think that they are dating because they have no choice (yes, Gideon is insecure). Oh, there is a giant lave lamp in the center of town.

This is a fun read even though you want tell Gideon to chill out. There is some suspense (like how much trouble are these two going to get into); some romance; a little adventure; fake science fiction. Really, a bit of everything.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.