Sixteen-year-old Jaffrey Pewitt holds a life-threatening secret. A genetic outcast, the brilliant teen’s academy scores have earned him a position patrolling the mainframe and eliminating rogue program code ― a job prohibited to those with his DNA. And when he encounters an illegal AI, she threatens to expose his true identity if he doesn’t help her community survive.
Torn between loyalty to his people and protecting himself, Jaffrey struggles to decide what he should do. But when his superiors upload a massive virtual war machine that causes a lethal power surge, the cost in digital and human lives convinces him that the future of both species may be doomed.
Can Jaffrey choose the right side before it’s too late?
The tech-magic of Tron and suspense of Ender’s Game meet the exciting new frontiers of How to Train Your Dragon in this explosive, hopeful, and action-packed standalone. It’s science fiction that asks the age-old question, “What does it mean to be human?” on every riveting page. A cyberpunk book for readers of all ages. If you like clever heroes, intricate puzzles, and deep moral quandaries, then you’ll love this electrifying thrill-ride.
Buy Shadow Status to hack into the future today!
Ages 12 and up
⚠ Some language, simulated violence
“Scott’s energetic cyberpunk adventure is a story of xenophobia in a dystopian future ravaged by a genetic disease . . . . She folds themes of environmental degradation and genetic manipulation into a fast-paced caper and delivers a satisfying ending to this cautionary but entertaining story. The message of diverse characters working together to solve a common problem will resonate with readers of all ages . . . . Takeaway: Cyberpunk fans will thrill to video-game action and sympathetic characters fighting high-stakes battles. Great for fans of: Stephanie Flint’s Huntress, Julian North’s Age of Order.”
An adventurous YA cyberpunk novel about a teenager dealing with sentient AI in a post-pandemic world.
“Gripping, thought-provoking, and upbeat . . . . Shadow Status is an exciting and wonderfully written dystopian tale with plenty of well-rounded and memorable characters, like Astrid (Jaffrey’s precocious younger sister) and Parker (Jaffrey’s snarky albino best friend) . . . . This book is overflowing with something vital that we all desperately need right now: hope.” ―Michelle Hogmire, Co-Founder of The Haint, Reedsy Discovery.
“Ender’s Game meets Ready Player One. A fascinating, well-developed future world full of action and intrigue. . . .Jaffrey is the best kind of main character: smart, conflicted, and dealing with forces much bigger than he is . . . . Highly recommended for fans of sci-fi and artificial reality, as well as anyone who loves a good dystopian future tale.”
“Hard-hitting, nonstop action, relatably flawed characters, and a dash of hope. Shadow Status is a sharp, mindful story about class, family, and sentience, and what it means to actually live every day like it’s your last while being 100% cyberpunk and 100% fun.”
