Truancy (Truancy, #1) (Tom Doherty Associates Books)

by Isamu Fukui

[Angie]

I love the idea behind Truancy: complete control through education! This is set some time in the future, and schools have near complete control over the student population. Classes are harder, tests are even more important, and the rules make sure all teens stay in line. And classes are six days a week now. Students aren't even allowed to talk in the hallways, snack, or use the restroom without express permission. It's no wonder there's a rebellion group known as the Truancy, made up of dropouts and expelled students, fighting to take back their city.

Truancy started off pretty good. I was intrigued by this idea of an entire city being used as an experiment. It's not revealed who is conducting this experiment, or where this is even taking place (it's just The City), but the goal is pretty clear. Someone wants total obedience and order from the citizens, and perhaps conditioning them as kids through the education system is the way to go. I also found it interesting how this has been going on for generations, so even though the kids hate school, they enter the system to do it to the following classes. It's just how life is. They take it, and then it's their turn to dish it out.

As much as I liked this whole set up, I found that I didn't actually care about what was happening. Truancy has a ton of action, since the Educators and Enforcers are finally going full force to stop the Truancy, and the Truancy is stepping up their game to end the Educators and Enforcers. It's never boring, but I felt this disconnect from everything. Our main narrator is Tack, who is the latest student to leave the system and join the Truancy, although for very different and personal reasons, but I never grew to care about him. I felt bad for what happened to him and caused him to run away, but nothing beyond that.

The one character I was really interested in was Umasi. He's this combination of "the wise janitor" and Mr. Miyagi. He lives in an abandoned district which Tack wanders into one day, and then he starts answering all of Tack's questions about what happens to students who leave school. Then Umasi starts his training, including menial tasks that seem like they have no purpose at first. Of course, Umasi has to have a secret, since it's odd that those in charge would just leave him alone like that. I wasn't very satisfied with the explanation, but it was interesting.

In the end, I kind of liked Truancy. It held my interest, but it was more like I was just reading to be doing something rather than becoming invested in the characters and events.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.