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Sneak
Sneak
Sneak
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Sneak

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“Apocalyptic dystopian fiction at its best. Angler’s sharp wit and dexterity with political themes are matched only by the thrilling suspense on every page.” —Lis Wiehl, New York Times bestselling author and FOX News correspondent

 

In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go to school, and even get medical care—but without it, you are on your own. Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.

Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last minute.  Now he’s on the run from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture him. But Logan is on a mission to find and save his sister, Lily, who disappeared five years ago on her thirteenth birthday, the day she was supposed to receive her Mark.

Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, discover a vast network of the Unmarked, who help them travel safely to the capital city where Lily is imprisoned. Along the way, the Dust receives some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.

When the Dust finally arrives in the capital, it seems that all their careful planning is useless against a government that will do anything to bend its citizens to its will. Can the gentle words Logan has found in a tattered, banned Bible really stand against the most powerful military the world has ever known? Can Logan even sacrifice his own freedom, choosing to act through faith alone?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherThomas Nelson
Release dateSep 3, 2012
ISBN9781400321421

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Review originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

    There are two basic methods by which dystopias nee utopias are formed: through force or through people agreeing to give up their rights in exchange for an easier life. Angler's Swipe series falls into this latter category, along with Anthem. There's something so entirely horrifying about people giving up rights in exchange for peace. Don't get me wrong: I like peace, but I like being able to be myself more.

    Despite my worries, I read Swipe last year, and was pleasantly surprised. With actual dystopias somewhat thin on the ground as a broader definition takes over, in an effort to make the most of the genre's popularity, Swipe comes as a nice refreshing dose of old school dystopian. Also setting Swipe apart is the youth of the heroes. Though still a YA and not an MG, the main characters are but 13.

    They are, however, a rather mature 13 for the most part. Most incongruously for their age is Erin's hacking skills. This is something that happens all of the time in fiction: young people who can outhack anyone. I just have a little trouble accepting that child of privelege Erin has picked up these skills. Where did she learn them? However, their youth does shine through when it comes to their romances. This one has less romance than Swipe because the kids are busy with other things, but they react so childishly to romantic things, which is about the only time they read as their age.

    My favorite aspect of this series is how powerful the two main female characters, Erin and Hailey, are, particularly in comparison to the main male characters. Though Logan has become the figurehead of the Markless movement, he really is not good for much. Mostly he causes trouble and makes unwise decisions. The girls, though, have the talent and the cleverness to really accomplish the group's goals. You all know how much I love books where the female characters are not portrayed as weaker than the men or in need of saving.

    My favorite character by far is Erin. I love her for her acerbic, antisocial nature and her brutal honesty most of the time. When Logan and Dane are missing at the beginning of school and everyone wants to know where they are, she's the kind of girl who will tell it like it is and say they aren't coming back, who wants to yell at everyone to stop pretending like they care Logan and Dane are gone when they didn't care about them when they were in school. Plus, I love that Erin isn't all good. She totally buys into the Mark and Cylis and everything. She's more complex for her imperfections and her darkness.

    There are two really wonderful new elements in Sneak that were not in Swipe. First, there's the River. Following the same concept as the Underground Railroad, the Markless have formed the River. This is not an actual river, but a road along which assistance can be found for the Markless if you know how to read the signs. For example, a boat means that there's a person there to help guide you, a captain. There's another sign indicating that a person therein will give you food or a place to sleep. I loved the way he brought history back and thought it was totally authentic. There was, however, some seriously obvious plotting here, because there's a symbol that's a hook, which means, basically, "It's a TRAP!" As soon as I saw that, I knew the kids would miss seeing it and get hooked. They, of course, did. Chekhov rule.

    Second, there's a literary reference which is unbelievably cool and mad props to Angler for this. He brings in Dante's Inferno. In Sneak, their whole goal is to get to this prison, Acheron, where Logan's sister is supposedly being incarcerated. Well, Acheron is modeled after Dante's vision of Hell, which was just awesome. Acheron won't be less creepy if you haven't read Dante, but, if you're familiar with the Inferno, it adds another level (or 9) of awesomeness.

    Lastly, I have to talk about religion. As you may or may not know, Thomas Nelson is a Christian publisher. That was what initially gave me pause, but I found little to no religious reference in Swipe. In Sneak, I can now see why a Christian publisher would have chosen this work, but the religion remains very light. I was never annoyed by it, and I'm touchy about such things. In fact, at one point someone sneezes, and the response was 'Gesundheit' and not 'Bless you,' which seems like a little thing but indicates to me that he has no intention of shoving his views down anyone's throat.

    If you enjoyed Swipe, Sneak will not let you down in the slightest. If anything, I would say Sneak is actually a bit stronger than its predecessor.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Since I loved the first book, getting in to the next book is easy. Logan is on the run, searching for answers and the whereabouts his sister. I really loved that once again, this plot is face-paced full of action. With each chapter, Logan begins to learn the truth, the REAL truth! This makes me so excited! It felt so amazing to watch Logan learn the real truth and be awed by it.There are more characters introduced and this time they are not good. They invest false hope in them, giving food and shelter only it's a trap. This high adrenaline plot made my heart race. Not to mention to global warfare with diseases. Scary!The best part of the book is when Logan knows the truth and begins to trust and call on him. It just goes to show that whatever situation your are in he is always there. And while I was reading this section, it felt so amazing that I wanted to play Casting Crowns, "Courageous" in the back round. Young men and women, standing together fighting the fight. AMAZING!Sneak is far better then the first book. With bigger revelations on the enemies plan, you must decide which side you are on? The pleasure in stepping in such a realistic book captures the reader. Coming in full force, Sneak is an action thriller that will blow you away!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    ***WARNING: Spoiler is you haven't read Swipe***What will happen to Logan Langly now that he didn't get the Mark as planned? Logan is on the run. The DOME is after him because he not only escaped the center when he was supposed to get his Mark, but he is considered a hero among the markless. His goal is to go to Beacon to rescue his sister, Lily. He makes it out of Spokie and into New Chicago where he meets markless who know of him. He is afraid to tell them who he really is.During that time, the DOME is looking for him. They said that they would give immunity to any markless that would give him up. Only the markless are a loyal bunch. The DOME aren't the only ones who are looking for Logan. Peck is too. Things didn't end to well in Spokie for Peck and the Dust and word on the street is that it is all because of Logan. They had to move on and Logan is their number one priority.When Logan left Spokie, he left Erin behind. She told him that he was all alone now. Erin finally got her wish, her father is being transferred back to Beacon. She thought that she would feel better about it than she does.What is going to happen to Logan, Peck, the Dust and Erin? Will Lily finally be rescued? Will the DOME finally catch up to Logan and what will happen with him when they do?After reading Swipe, I immediately began Sneak. I was so interested in what was going to happen to Logan. There are a few new characters in this book that add well to the story. I like how the markless characters are more developed in this book. You see what they stand for, how loyal they are and they have more depth. I will be sure to follow this series to see what happens to the markless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In the sequel to Swipe, Logan has found himself alone being hunted by the government. Rather than surrender, Logan continues fighting, determined to rescue his sister Lily, who disappeared five years ago. After being reunited with the Dust, a group of markless children, Logan and the Dust find their way to the city of Beacon through an underground network of markless.Overall, I enjoyed this book and am excited to read the next in the series. This was a quick read, one that left me wanting to know more about the characters and how their story unfolds. That being said, I was a bit put off by the bible references. I also wish that Logan had not speculated about his sister Lily at the end of the book. I think it would have been much more impactful to reveal that in the next book slowly.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Second in Series, Filled with SurprisesSneak is the second in Evan Angler’s dystopian series that has distant echoes of predictions from Revelations, including one world rule and a mark required by the government. When Logan’s discovers at the end of the first book in the series that his sister is not dead as his family was told, he sets out on a quest to save her from prison. He learns who his true friends are and finds help in the most unlikely places. When he finally makes his way across the country, he gets the shock of his lifetime. The main characters at around the age of thirteen, but they act with much more responsibility than that. While this might be surprising for today’s teenagers, during WWII, many early teenagers contributed to the war effort and even fighting with troops in many countries.I read the first two books in a matter of a few days, and now I cannot wait for the next book in the series. This is a clean series without heavy love interests, and no profanity. Angler wrote this series for younger teen readers, and it will definitely be a hit there. However, readers of all ages will enjoy this story. Received from NetGalley.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sneak is the follow up to Evan Angler's debut novel Swipe. I really enjoyed the first novel and Sneak did not disappoint. I thought that as far as Christian fiction goes this is a subtle attempt at sharing what comes after the Rapture. The comparison to being Matched meets Left Behind is fairly accurate although it lacks the deep romantic angel of Matched and the overt Christian message of Left Behind.Sneak, I found, was a bit less subtle than Swipe in it's message, although I think a lot of younger non-Christians might miss some of the references. And there is no overly preachy tone. This is what I absolutely loved about Sneak (and Swipe). Angler manages to write about religion in a completely non-judgemental, non-preachy, non-pressuring way. The good guys don't all believe in the same thing, but they have the same end goal. Freedom. They want to be able to choose what they could believe in. Even better is that the bad guys are not all bad. One character in particular truly believes the Mark is the best thing and that the government only wants to help. Even as this person aides the government it's hard to be angry. Frustrated, yes, but not really angry.This is a great sequel, but I do have to say that if you haven't read the first book, or haven't read it in a while, go and read it. There isn't much background poured into the opening chapters. Instead it's written with the assumption that you remember everything about what happened in Swipe. Character's aren't being reintroduced, and story lines are never rehashed. We are simply thrust right back in where we left off. This was good in the sense that there is no background dumping, but it does make it a little jarring to try to remember everything.Overall,I think Sneak (and Swipe) would be great reads for younger male teens, regardless of their beliefs. There is action, adventure, and boys that actually act and think like boys - there's a scene where Logan is so pumped about finding and fixing up a bike that took me a moment to realize it was a bicycle, not a motorbike. I will definitely be checking out more from Angler (which considering the importance of rivers, fish, fishing, and captains to the story, I wonder if that's his real name!).
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    ? ? ?1/2 rounded down to 3

    Erin is still with her Dad and the Dust are on the run toward Beacon to see if they can find Logan’s sister, Lily. They find the river, which is the current equivalent of the underground railroad, and travel by various ways and means. Erin’s father is demoted, so they pack up and move back to rejoin her mother.

    My son was in the throes of reading this last night, until I insisted he shut off his light in order to get some sleep before school the next morning—what I she thinking? ;) Needless to say, he loves this series and will no doubt give this one 4.5 stars as well. As he is in the target audience, he ought to know . However, my son hates to write anything involving words and paper (notes on staves printed on paper, different story), my rating is the one that gets posted.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was prepared to be a little tough on this book as hard to follow, etc. but only recently found out that it is a sequel, which explains the holes in the book that I had trouble filling in. However, for someone not having read the first book, I still found this to be an interesting story, with complex plotlines and characters that I enjoyed reading about. Plenty of plot twists and question marks to keep readers interested. A great read for teens, as it speaks to the power (and struggles) of friendships. Look forward to the next book (hoping there is one, considering the ending was left pretty open), and will definitely be reading Swipe now as well.I received an early release edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When I began reading I felt rather lost, you see, I hadn't read the first book in the series, Swipe. So I stopped Sneak and read Swipe. So, the premise is that the USA began to slide down further into a pit of crime, famine, and war. Two leaders arose from the wars and forged an alliance, The Dome. Part of the alliance was a mark being placed on all citizens, which allowed them to live, work, and play within the tightly controlled boundaries of the new law. Religion and patriotism are done away with and everyone is expected to "worship" the new leaders who saved them. At the end of book one, Swipe, Logan's sister had gone to receive her mark as she had reached the age; however, there was a mishap and Lily was never seen again and Logan's family was told she died during the procedure. Life was never the same. A new girl moves into town and befriends Logan. Erin is the daughter of a Dome official and she is unhappy about the transfer. She will do anything to get her father transferred back so she can resume her normal life in Beacon City with her family intact.

    Enter, The Dust. The Dust are a group of markless kids who live and play outside the law. They live in an old grocery store, eating what is found on the shelves, and looking after each other in a disfunctional familial way. They want Logan. They watch Logan. They try to capture Logan. At the end of Swipe, Logan, who had begun feeling like he was living under a microscope but did n eliminate.

    I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A bit dark for elementary aged children but middle to high school aged should be able to understand and even enjoy the books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    BOO! I hate endings that make me second guess everything that I ever perceived as the truth. For some reason, though, authors seem to love them. Probably because it makes everyone eager to read the next book and the next book and so on. Yeah. So, basically I am dying for the next book.I really liked the first book in the Swipe series, it brought to light this dystopian society based on peace through unity and just how real the society could be. It showed the fact that peace and unity comes with a price that is typically paid in blood. Who would want to live in a society like that, right? Who would support such a thing? Well, after facing destruction after destruction, war after war, would it be nice to be offered the promise of peace? I think in the beginning, no one realizes the influence their choices will make and they realize too late that their choices have been taken away. That's the type of world that Evan Angler brings to light in his Swipe series and the resounding questions brought up by the series is what makes it so addicting.Sneak is the second book in the Swipe series and picks up a couple of months after the ending of the first book. It shows just how much of an effect Logan has had on the supposed perfect society and hints towards just how imperfect it really is. I love the beginning chapter of the story because the author has this knack for making it seem so ominous and mysterious. The way that it isn't from a main perspective also adds to the intense nature of the first chapter. If anything, this story will keep you interested until the very end.Logan has continued to grow since the first book where he is portrayed as a boy scared of everything to a young man becoming a hero in the eyes of the Markless. He never planned on becoming a symbol, never planned on making a mark in this society that had been against him from the beginning. But by the end of the novel, it's almost impossible to find the boy that was in the first novel. I almost feel like a proud big sister or something when I see how much he's matured, grown, and learned throughout the whole story. I admire him for the fact that he remembers who he is, who he has been, and can see who he will be. One thing that he holds true to is the fact that he never purposefully pushes boundaries when he knows he shouldn't. He doesn't force his opinions on anyone, he stays true to himself, and he knows when to back off. I really love Logan, I can't stop rooting for him as the story progresses because like I said earlier, I feel like a proud sister.I was surprised to say the least to see how much of a part Erin still played in the series just based on how it all ended in the last book. She has lost a lot of her selfish qualities from the first book and become a character who just doesn't know what is right and what is wrong. That's her main battle through the whole story. She is desperate to remain faithful to a cause that her parents say is just and yet all she sees is a cause that has destroyed her only friendship. Throughout the story, she maintains a certain amount of innocence that I was determined would disappear by the end of the story and I was right. She gives up blindly believing in anyone and instead bases her beliefs on facts which can't lead her astray. I honestly love her now that I've read this book, I adore her for all of her faults and shortcomings. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it's her.Peck and the Dust play a huge role in this story. Which originally, I wasn't surprised. The Dust has been a major player in the whole series while Peck hid in the shadows like some mythical being. A monster that parents told their children about to convince them to get their Mark. I was excited to get to see more of who Peck was and see that he definitely has a lot of faults that hadn't been previously mentioned. I am still kind of iffy about whether I like Peck or not. As the story progressed, I was constantly considering whether or not to trust him and if he was really worthy of being a symbol. Logan is, without a doubt, but Peck? I'm not so sure. I grew more attached to all of the characters that formed the Dust and felt all of the emotions that seemed to play out in every scene they were in. The friendship they had is falling apart, their faith in the cause dwindling, and in the beginning, you wonder if they will survive the course of the novel.There was a lot of new characters introduced (and Lily actually played a part in the story!) and most of them were what I consider the bad guys of the story. The people that everyone perceives to be the good guys but really, they are the ones with the bad intentions. I was still disappointed though to see that the main bad guy didn't play a major role, in fact I am beginning to think he is a ghost. But who knows? Perhaps the best is going to be saved for last. I am completely addicted to this series. It is totally worth reading. I love it. I can't wait for the next book and can I just say that waiting sucks?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Review:I'm still trying to wrap my head around the complete 180 this series took. Swipe the first book in the series left such an awful taste in my mouth but this book, this was Dystopian fiction at its best. Perfectly paced, plenty of Action and a gripping plot has skyrocketed Sneak to my Favorite read of the new year. It was just that good.In Sneak Logan Langly has accepted his status as Markless. His drive to save his sister remains and when he finds her let's just say the reunion was definitely bittersweet. I also liked learning more about the nanoflu which was first introduced in Swipe. In Sneak we learn more about the sinister machinations behind it and the potential implications this will have on the populace should it reach critical levels.As for the characters, I loved Logan in this book, he was really fleshed out and became someone I could rally behind. Logan also matured quite a bit and I definitely feel that benefited him greatly. The other characters (The Dust, Hailey, Dane) were great as well, even Erin who I flat out hated in Swipe redeemed herself. The addition of Logan's Grandmother was nice. Her and Hailey's mother had me laughing midway through and I'd like to see more of them in the next book.While Swipe I felt was geared much more Middle Grade, Sneak falls firmly in Young Adult territory. While this is still a clean series (no foul language, violence,sexual situations etc) I didn't feel deprived in any way since the writing was just so darn good this time around.Sneak was good, but how good was a shocker. It is really rare for a series to go from 2-5 stars but somehow this book has pulled it off. I am really looking forward to Storm which is the third book in the series. If Storm is even half as good as Sneak, I'll be happy.Overall, I am highly recommending you pick Sneak up and give it a go. The book does get a bit "preachy" near the end but it's not overbearing and like I mentioned above this is a clean Dystopian so if you like yours with a bit more oomph you might (though I doubt it) be disappointed. That being said I will be rating Sneak by Evan Angler ★★★★★.*I received this book to review from Netgalley. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for providing them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My Opinion: I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.I didn't think this book (the dreaded second book in a series) would be able to live up to the first one (Swipe), but not only did it live up to it, I honestly think it surpassed it! We got to know the individual characters a lot better as they traveled in groups to Beacon to find a prison that nobody talks about or even knows about (Archeron) and free Logan's sister, Lily. Along the way they meet up with hardship and danger, but not even this will shake them from their goal. They become a family who trust each other and who have each other's backs, even if they don't agree with some of the actions taken by their "leaders", Peck and Logan. Logan is betrayed by one of his own, but this just strengthens his resolve to find his sister. Along the way to Beacon, the groups meet up with people who help them get where they are going, and who offer them food and rest when it is most needed. Some of these people are Marked and some are Markless, but they all agree that something has to change in their Union's leadership. They have a secret network that helps the Markless find their way to safety called the River, and they call themselves "fishers of man," which anyone who has read the Bible will recognize as the words of Jesus himself. It is in essence set up like the Underground Railroad, which I thought was incorporated into the story very well. They call the path the "Unmarked River" and the kids have to look for certain symbols carved into trees and such along the way so they don't get lost and end up in the desert with no food or water. They also have to be very careful to look for any symbol that means the place they are heading is a trap set to catch the Markless, not help them, but they don't always see it, which results in chaos and occasionally violence, but even this does not stop them. There is no religion allowed in their time but Logan is given a (banned) book by a Markless and really enjoys reading the stories in it. Only after his group meets up with the rest of the Dust and they find a huge Markless community that has an underground church in it does he find out that the book he was given was the Bible and the stories in it are true. Yes, this is Christian fiction, but I don't feel like Mr. Angler beats us over the head with it; he weaves the religion seamlessly into the story line and brings it up only when it furthers the story. To a Christian such as myself, this book is a lot more mainstream than straight up Christian fiction, but that is only my opinion. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed how religion was used to stir the pot so to speak, and not just added willy nilly so that it could be called "Christian fiction!"I was also happy with the ending and felt like it set the scene for the beginning of the third book perfectly, and I really don't say that very often! All in all, I felt like this was an excellent second book in what has so far been a very interesting and unique look at Revelations and the Mark of the Beast, showing how anybody who thought independently was ostracized from society and had to try to make it on their own, which was nearly impossible unless you joined a group of Markless to have your back. I thought the world building was excellent and the explanations for how the Earth got to the point that it was were believable and well written. The descriptions were spot on and made me very thirsty when the kids were traveling in the heat with no water! There was definite character growth in this book, which is really what a second book should have - the world building was done in the first book, so I expect the characters in the second book to be at the forefront so we can get to know them and relate to them, and even feel like we are suffering alongside them. In summary, I am giving this book a very enthusiastic 5 stars! I can definitely recommend this series to fans of YA, dystopian worlds, and Christian fiction.

Book preview

Sneak - Evan Angler

SNEAK

OTHER BOOKS IN THE

SWIPE SERIES:

SWIPE

9781400318421_INT_0003_001

© 2012 Evan Angler

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Tommy Nelson. Tommy Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Tommy Nelson® titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc™. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Angler, Evan.

   Sneak / Evan Angler.

      p. cm.—(Swipe series ; bk. 2)

   Summary: In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, thirteen-year-old Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, receive some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.

     ISBN 978-1-4003-1842-1 (pbk.)

    [1. Science fiction. 2. Government, Resistance to—Fiction. 3. Fugitives from justice—Fiction. 4. Christian life—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.A5855Sn 2012

[Fic]—dc23

2012005919

Printed in the United States of America

12 13 14 15 16 QG 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Logan, Lily, Tyler, and Shawn

CONTENTS

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

PROLOGUE

07:16:32

ONE

NEW CHICAGO, NEW RULES

TWO

WHERE ERIN COMES IN

THREE

THE SETUP

FOUR

SHOT IN THE DARK

FIVE

THE AFTERMATH

SIX

THE RIVER CODE

SEVEN

HOUSE ARREST

EIGHT

CITY ON THE HILL

NINE

BEACON’S SHADOW

TEN

ACHERON

ELEVEN

FOXHOLE

TWELVE

MARKED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A NOTE FROM

THE AUTHOR

DEAR READER,

By the time you read this, the book you are holding in your hands will most likely be banned. Inside you will find the second volume in the chronicles of Logan and Lily Langly, Erin Arbitor, Daniel Peck, and the Dust. Their story is dangerous; the knowledge within it is forbidden.

You must not be seen reading this. You must not be noticed holding it. Breathe not a whisper of it, even to your closest friends. For the walls have ears—and DOME is always listening.

But if you are committed to freedom . . . if you are determined to place yourself on the right side of history, no matter the cost, then here is what you must know:

For the last five years, Logan Paul Langly was watched. By a group of outlaws. By a secret society of Markless teenagers just waiting for the right moment to kidnap him. He spent every day terrified that it was his last. Five years ago, his sister, Lily, disappeared. Logan was sure that he would be next.

And then about a month ago, Logan found out that these teenagers— Peck and the Dust, the Markless threat of Spokie—were in fact the only thing protecting him from a far bigger danger: his own government.

You see, Logan was born into the worst years of our States War, terrible in its own right, and yet merely one small part of the Total War that threatened every nation on earth. All of us were determined to end the years of slaughter, the decades in which environmental devastation forced more and more people to fight over less and less land, water, food. . . . By the time Logan was born, our global civilization faced a choice: unify, or perish.

As you know, our world chose unity. The desperate few of us remaining banded together into two great countries, East and West, hoping that it might bring peace.

To this day, it has worked. None would question that our new European Union now thrives under the charismatic leadership of Chancellor Cylis, or that our American Union, where Logan lives, has done the same under our general in chief, Lamson.

It has been over a decade since General Lamson and Chancellor Cylis worked together to institute DOME’s Mark Program, by which all who wish to gain the rights of citizenship may receive the Mark in exchange for their binding Pledge of allegiance to Lamson, Cylis, and country.

And it was around this same time that the chancellor and the general cooperated to bring about the worldwide Inclusion—the doctrine that systematically rid our world of all religions and conflicting worldviews, replacing them with a single, unified belief that the Mark is the only answer, the only security, the only peace anyone will ever need.

Every schoolchild knows that through these two initiatives—the Mark Program and the worldwide Inclusion—General Lamson and Chancellor Cylis are working toward a Global Union, promising a future of peace and prosperity for the entire world.

But what if I told you, dear reader, that Lamson and Cylis’s intentions are not what they seem? What if I told you their Mark Program is just one part of a more sinister plan than we ever could have imagined?

A month ago, Peck and the Dust opened Logan’s eyes to this truth—that when Logan’s sister, Lily, disappeared five years ago on the day she was supposed to be Marked, it wasn’t by accident. And it wasn’t the Markless, or Peck, or anyone else who took her. It was DOME.

And just as all this was sinking in, just as his whole world was turning upside down before his very eyes, Logan’s new best friend, Erin Arbitor, betrayed him, bringing DOME right to the doorstep of the Dust’s hideout—Logan’s last remaining sanctuary—and burning it to the ground. Now Logan is on his own, running from the law, determined to find his sister . . . whatever the price.

My name is Evan Angler. I was there for many of the events transcribed on the following pages. What I missed, I’ve learned through firsthand account.

I am part of Logan’s world. I am Dust.

As are you, should you choose to turn this page . . .

Are you ready to learn the truth?

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Evan Angler

PROLOGUE

07:16:32

THERE WAS A CLOCK IN THE CORNER THAT counted the seconds, an old-fashioned analog-type with long hands and a slender needle that tapped a maddening beat. The room was dark, and a team of men and women stood with their arms folded and their faces cast in canyon-deep shadows. A line of noses and the tips of chins, but no eyes, no lips, no ears. . . . They loomed over the man lying at their feet, but were they smiling? Frowning? It was impossible to say.

I’ve done nothing wrong, the man pleaded. What is all of this?

When did it begin? someone said in the crowd.

"I don’t . . . who . . . when did what begin?" The man shivered violently.

A young Advocate stepped forward to the pulse of the clock. The room’s light shifted over the pieces of her face, and the blue tint of her eyes now shone even as the rest of her disappeared. She bent forward and touched the man’s flushed cheek and said, "This. The fever. When did it start?"

The man lay bound at the Advocate’s feet, soaked in a cold sweat and trying to make sense out of her question. About . . . I’d say . . . about a month ago, he said, looking up. Maybe. Yes. About a month. He sneezed twice.

No response from the Advocate leaning over him.

"I don’t understand. You come to my work, you pull me from my desk, you bring me here, poke me with needles . . . because of a fever?"

The Advocate sighed.

"What is it you want from me?"

Nothing, she said. Nothing anymore.

Then . . . then you’ll let me go, won’t you? Rapid breathing now from the floor, rasping and wet. The clock counted seconds on the wall.

It counted for a long time.

No.

I have a family! the man cried. A wife. And kids. Marked, everyone of age. Loyal citizens!

The young Advocate knelt down now, into the light, beside the man. We know, she said ominously.

He looked up in horror. This woman had no Mark on her wrist.

This woman was Marked on her face.

Who . . . who are you people? the man asked.

The young Advocate tucked a wisp of her chin-length hair behind one ear and smiled, beautiful in the harsh, fractured light. The International Moderators of Peace, she said. I’m the Advocate here. Behind me are my Coordinators.

The man squinted at them through his watery eyes. Then there must be some mistake. I’ve never heard of any of those things. My record is completely clean. I’m not a threat to peace anywhere!

A Coordinator stepped forward, stone-faced, and knelt down beside the Advocate. Very sorry to say that you are, sir. Very sorry to say that you’re wrong.

The Advocate put her hand on the bound man’s shoulder. No fault of your own, she apologized. It’s just . . . this fever . . . we’re going to have to do something about this fever . . .

In his delirium, the man looked past the young woman, past the team who’d captured him, up and over to that old, analog clock. Sixteen minutes after seven, it read. And the man tallied his last few seconds on earth.

07:16:28.

07:16:29.

07:16:30.

07:16:31 . . .

ONE

NEW CHICAGO,

NEW RULES

1

LOGAN PAUL LANGLY RAN UNTIL HIS LEGS gave out and his insides burst with pain. He ran until there were sparks in his eyes and splinters in his lungs. He ran until he collapsed.

The sun had long since dipped behind the skyline’s abandoned rooftops, and Logan Paul Langly slumped now against the side of a building that gave no shelter, under lampposts that gave no light.

Ahead of him, outlined against the dying glow of a purple horizon, was an overpass, silent and slowly crumbling. This was the Ruined Sector, the outskirts of New Chicago, destroyed in the States War and never rebuilt. He was fifty miles out from Spokie. Another twenty from downtown.

Downtown was where he needed to be.

So Logan stood and stumbled on, blindly, paranoid, walking backward half the time, under the shadows of the dead neighborhood. A winter stillness held him at arm’s length from any sense of hope these city streets might have given him, but even in his exhaustion, he knew that this was progress. For the moment, he wasn’t being followed. For the moment, he wasn’t lost.

It’s better than the woods, Logan told himself, emerging from the shadows and finding some small comfort in the thought. He had to wipe his face on his sleeves so the tears wouldn’t freeze to his cheeks, but he laughed a little and said it again. It’s better than the woods, and the view here is nice tonight.

He looked out as he said it. Beside him, the water at the Ruins’ edge stretched all the way to the horizon, peaceful and frozen and smooth. A soft wind slid over the ice, hitting Logan with waves of clear blue chill, and he could feel the Lake Michigan air lodging, jagged, in his throat.

Three months ago, Logan Paul Langly could not have imagined he’d wind up here. Three months ago, Logan Paul Langly was a normal kid with a normal life. He went to school, he mostly did his homework, and like all kids his age, he waited patiently for his thirteenth birthday—the day he would finally be Marked. By now, Logan should have been a full American Union citizen with full American Union benefits. But instead, he was here, a Markless fugitive stranded and alone—and that was the least of his worries.

Growing up, Logan had always thought of New Chicago as being familiar and close. He and his family had visited often to see his grandmother on birthdays or for the Inclusion Day parades. New Chicago always reminded him of cakes from his aunt and uncle’s bakery downtown, of school trips to museums or family trips to sights and shops. He had felt like he belonged there. It had felt almost as much like home as Spokie did.

But New Chicago did not feel like home tonight.

And Logan did not belong anywhere now.

Hands out, hotshot!

Logan spun in the direction of the voice behind him.

"I said hands out!"

Under darkness, Logan could see the silhouette of a teenager in front of him, poking up from behind a trash can and holding its lid as some type of defense.

I’m not . . . I don’t . . . I’m no hotshot, Logan stuttered, barely even knowing what that meant, but the girl was already rushing at him, fumbling with Logan’s coat, tearing at it. Finally she had Logan’s wrist, and with the hand that held the lid, she pushed Logan’s sleeve up tight past his forearm.

Stop it! Stop it! Logan yelled, wide-eyed and horrified, as the girl twisted his arm painfully to get a better look. I’m no hotshot! I’m Markless, you beggar! I’m Markless! Like you! And with these words, the girl paused finally, her arms slackening ever so slightly. She peered down at Logan’s wrist, squinting severely in the dim light.

Logan was right, of course. His wrist was empty.

Oh. Well, then it’s nice to meet you, the girl said suddenly, smiling big and toothy. Welcome to the Ruins!

2

It’s how we get by. The girl shrugged, sitting cross-legged next to Logan by the lake. I’m sure you understand.

But Logan rubbed his elbow tenderly, not understanding at all.

Oh, get over it! she scoffed. As if you’ve never accidentally attacked a friendly stranger.

I haven’t, Logan said. And where I come from, no one else does, either.

Oh yeah? Where’s that? The girl rolled her eyes. I’d love to visit.

Logan rose to his feet. Slog Row, he said. In Spokie. Then, more quietly, You can’t visit anymore.

The girl paused for a moment, cocking an eyebrow and taking in the sight of him. You’re a long ways from home, she said.

Logan laughed. You have no idea.

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The two of them walked along the water’s edge for some time after that, Logan still nursing his elbow, the girl swinging her trash can lid playfully. So you looking for anything in particular? she asked. It isn’t an easy hike from the suburbs to the Ruins. Especially not this time of year.

I wasn’t headed for the Ruins, Logan said. I’m headed downtown. I’d still be on my way if you hadn’t stopped me.

Well, then you’re lucky I did! Markless like us don’t stand a chance downtown anymore.

Logan looked at her, narrowing his eyes.

Don’t tell me you haven’t heard.

He shrugged.

DOME. They’ve gone bonkers! She raised her eyebrows, pausing for effect. Come on. You must know this by now. What they’re doing—

I’ve been on the road a long time, Logan said, shaking his head. Hiding in alleys, lost in the woods . . . But the truth was that Logan did know. The truth was that Logan knew exactly what the Department of Marked Emergencies had been doing in the month since his Pledge. The Department of Marked Emergencies had been looking for him. He knew because they’d chased him in circles for weeks. He knew because they’d barricaded every last entrance to his hometown of Spokie. He knew because it took him three false starts to make it even this far toward New Chicago without getting caught in his first few steps.

Logan shrugged. I haven’t exactly been keeping up with current events. Been about a month since I’ve spoken to anyone at all.

The girl eyed Logan sideways for just a moment longer than he would have liked. Well, that’s when it started, she said. ’Bout a month ago. DOME has agents everywhere now, patrolling the streets. Someone with a dirty coat or unwashed hair or a skinny face comes along, DOME asks to see a Mark. Any poor tightwad can’t show one . . . off they go.

Where?

Hard to say. The girl shrugged. They don’t come back. Anyway, you can understand why I get a little jumpy around strangers these days. She took his hand playfully, twining her fingers in his and pointing his wrist upwards to examine it again.

Still not Marked, Logan said.

Yeah, well . . . can’t be too sure. The girl rolled her eyes and let his hand drop. So where’s your huddle, then, Mr. Lone Wolf?

Huddle?

You don’t have a huddle?

Logan cleared his throat nervously.

A huddle’s, like . . . you know, your tribe or whatever. A circle. A family. Maybe not a real family, but—

I get it, Logan said. For a moment, Peck and Blake and the others flashed into his head. I almost had one once, I guess. I didn’t know you called them huddles.

"Well, what do you call them?"

I dunno, Logan said. A gang?

The girl laughed. "Gang is a tycoon word. Markless stick to huddles."

Tycoon? Logan asked.

"Sure. Tycoons, bigwigs, hotshots, moguls—you know, the big spenders. The haves. The Marked."

Logan had heard the words before, but in Marked culture only the most foulmouthed people would dare use them in such a disparaging way.

Oh, don’t look so offended, the girl said. The day the Marked stop calling me ‘miser’ and ‘skinflint’ and ‘tightwad’ and all the other awful slurs they’ve thought up over the years is the day I’ll apologize for calling them moguls. Until then . . . well . . . they started it.

The two of them looked out at the lake for a long time.

I need to get going, Logan said, shivering a little. I’ve got a long way to walk tonight.

What? Have your ears frozen shut? I told you, kid, downtown is off-limits. We stick to the Ruins now.

No. Logan frowned. I need help.

Well, then let me. I have warm clothes, food—

"I don’t need to survive. I need to move. The girl looked at him, not understanding, and Logan sighed. I need to get to the capital, to Beacon City. I have an aunt and uncle downtown, and as far as I can figure it, they’re my only ticket there."

They Marked?

Yeah.

Then they’re not family anymore.

Look, whatever, Logan said, turning to leave, but the girl grabbed his shoulder before he could.

You won’t make it—

I’ve made it this far—

"They won’t help you. The girl looked desperate now, her voice shaking suddenly. Logan wondered how many friends she’d lost in the last couple of weeks. DOME’s turning them on us. I’m telling you, it’s like Mark-Unmark warfare or something. Your family won’t take you to Beacon. They’ll take you to the Center to Pledge and align yourself with Lamson and Cylis, like all the other moguls and hotshots. They’ll take you to be Marked. The girl ran her fingers through her hair, looking down and sighing deeply, trying to compose herself. And that’s if you’re lucky. That’s if they don’t just send you straight to DOME on some trumped-up charge, like the good little tycoons they are. She looked out at the lake again, frozen and peaceful, and she took a few more deep breaths. The one thing they will not do—she spoke slowly now, her energy spent— is get you to Beacon."

Logan sighed, feeling the cold creep in under his skin again. He wrapped his arms around himself. They’ll have to, he said, simply. They’re my only shot.

Only shot at what?

Logan frowned, and for a moment his mind traveled far away. To his sister, to Lily, a flunkee, swiped by DOME during her own Pledge five years ago, shipped halfway across the continent to Beacon City, to be punished in ways so secret that even most DOME employees didn’t know the specifics. Logan thought of her, hidden away, alone and scared and confused. He had to save her.

It doesn’t matter what, Logan said finally.

Well, it’d better. It had better matter a lot, actually. ’Cause you’d be risking everything for it.

You’d be amazed, Logan said, at how little I have to lose.

The girl stared at him, frowning, and he stared back. Then she knelt down, and she laid her trash can lid on the ground. She had a small bundle slung on her back, and she untied it and opened it, spreading out its contents on the ground. Hungry?

Logan didn’t quite know how to answer that. He hadn’t had a real meal since his birthday breakfast almost a month ago. Anything he’d eaten since, he’d found discarded among garbage or growing in the woods. In the moment, out of pride, he intended to shrug the girl’s question away, to reinforce his status as the Lone Wolf Markless, able to fend for himself. But the thought of food sent a lurching wave through his system, and Logan must have grimaced.

Here, she said, holding out

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