Me and Banksy

by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

A Banksy-style protest against cameras in classrooms brings a group of middle-grade students together. For fans of Rebecca Stead, Susin Nielsen and Gordon Korman.

Dominica's private school is covered in cameras, and someone is hacking into them and posting embarrassing moments for the whole school to see. Like Ana picking her nose. When Dominica quickly changes her shirt from inside out in what she thinks is the privacy of a quiet corner in the library, she's shocked -- and embarrassed -- to discover a video has captured this and is currently circulating amongst her schoolmates. So mortifying, especially since over the past three years, they've had a half-dozen school talks about social media safety.

Who has access to the school security cameras and why are they doing this? Dominica and her best friends, Holden and Saanvi, are determined to find out, and in the process start an art-based student campaign against cameras in the classroom.

• ISBN10: 0735266913
• ISBN13: 9780735266919
• Publish Date: 7 January 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: CA
• Publisher: PRH Canada Young Readers
• Imprint: Puffin Canada
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780735266919

Reviews

[wcs53]

I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and by ‘Banksy’ being in the title. This is a book that deals with the two hot topics of cyber security and cyber bullying in schools. The story centres around Dominica a Her two best friends Holden and Saanvi. After she becomes the victim of a cyber bullying event, that seems to be connected with the over-zealous security camera system in her private school, Dominica, inspired by reading about Banksy, decides to fight back and do something about it. What follows is a fast-paced, exciting story that shows the power in friendships and loyalty, along with the danger of having too much security. There are a few twists and unexpected moments in the story and, in the end, it is quite a page-turner.

This book is probably aimed somewhere between middle-grade and young adult, but if you don’t fall into either of these categories, it is still worth the read. There are strong, believable characters and the story raises a number of questions about bullying and security that are worth discussing, especially with the young people in your life, who could be dealing with these things on a daily basis.