Cell 7: The reality TV show to die for. Literally

Description

A world where justice and the fate of those accused of murder is decided by the public, but has moved on from the Roman Gladiator 'thumbs up or thumbs down' public vote, to a public vote by telephone. If you are voted innocent you are set free; if you are voted guilty you are committed to death by electric chair. Those awaiting their sentence reside in ever decreasing cells, getting smaller each day, until Day 7 and Cell 7, where they hear their fate. Sixteen year old Martha has confessed to killing a famous celebrity. But has she done it? And if not, why has she claimed the murder? Perhaps she wants to show up the flawed and brutal system by sacrificing herself in the hope of a better world....

Kerry Drewery is the author of two highly acclaimed, more literary YA novels: A Brighter Fear, 2012 (which was Love Reading 4 Kids Book of the Month and shortlisted for the Leeds Book Award) and A Dream of Lights, 2013 (which was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, awarded Highly Commended at the North East Teen Book Awards and shortlisted for the Hampshire Independent Schools Book Awards). Both were published by HarperCollins in the UK and Callenbach in The Netherlands.

This book will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games, a modern classic for those who like their future served up with a generous slice of dystopia * The Bookbag * This powerful thriller oozes suspense and offers a sharp satire on media and celebrity * The Bookseller * A ticking time bomb of book, and you're counting down to an electrifying end * Maximum Pop * This will have great appeal to anyone who loves Suzanne Collins, Teri Terry or Veronica Roth. It makes you think about the nature of social media and the power it gives its users over other people's lives * Reading Zone * Cell 7 is a book that stays with you long after finishing it, and one that poses the reader with many questions. In a recent assembly I presented the basic plot and details of the Martha's 'crime' to 250 key stage 3 pupils and asked them to vote. The result was an interesting split between 'live', 'die' and play no part by abstaining.In Cell 7, Kerry Drewery delivers a piercing satire on the cult of celebrity, democracy and how the media delivers 'information'. Cell 7 deserves to be read by as many young adults as possible, and I would love to see it appearing on the GCSE syllabus.' * Suffolk Libraries Blog * I found this book rather disturbing to read. It is extremely realistic, exceptionally gritting and rather too accurately foreboding. It's one of those books that could happen and that is unnerving. I got a chill just reading it * Serendipity Reviews * Thought provoking fodder, and a love story, for the X-Factor generation * Teach Secondary * The information that is held back at the start of the novel does provide for an interesting mystery (...) I was quite satisfied with the ambiguity of what might happen to the characters given the events of the ending (...) You should probably give it a read! * The Bookshelf Gargoyle * A winning premise, this is up there as one of the year's best YA books -- Natasha Harding * The Sun * It's cold, confronting stuff, and the author handles it with sensitivity (...) this is a confronting look at our society, with elements that take it to the extreme. But the familiar parts of it are what will make the story resonate with readers in the end * Readingtime.com.au * intelligent and sensitive...plenty of thought provoking issues to confront and the book is a real page turner. * School Librarian * I loved Cell 7. It is in equal parts entertaining and thought provoking and it will keep you hooked until the end. 5/5 * My Random Musings *