AVEREE

Averee’s world implodes when her social media rank mysteriously drops.

In the near future, the social media app Ranked has been incorporated into every aspect of society, determining where you can live, park, eat out, and work—and your social status at school. Averee and Zoe are best friends despite their polar opposite views on Ranked: low-ranked Zoe hates how mindlessly people buy into its judgmental elements while midranked Averee avoids conflict with the popular crowd and tries to minimize stress on her hardworking single mother by not rocking the boat. When Averee’s and her mother’s ranks inexplicably drop, their lives are thrown into chaos. The girls plan to fix this by hunting down PrettyKitty, the enigmatic creator of Ranked. Instead of a simple solution, the friends discover dark secrets behind the popular social media platform. The integration of social media into society and its consequent discrimination and bullying are well depicted in detailed, full-color illustrations. Averee is a sympathetic but meek protagonist, in contrast to strongly opinionated, impulsive Zoe. Dramatic scenes, panel flow, and backgrounds are energetic and vibrant, fitting the story’s tone. Unfortunately, the plot feels rushed, and the resolution of what could have been a gripping high-tech mystery lacks complexity and falls flat. Averee is cued as East or Southeast Asian while Zoe seems intended to be biracial (Asian/White); there is diversity in the supporting cast.

An intriguing glimpse of the future that never reaches its full potential.