Code Name Komiko

November 15, 2013
A teenage hacktivist and her online comrades encounter danger and betrayal when they begin investigating a fashion mogul's business operations in Hong Kong. Lian leads a double life. Offline, she is her parents' "Little Panda," the studious, obedient daughter of an affluent family; online, she is Komiko, a trusted member of 06/04, a pseudonymous group of hackers dedicated to exposing government and corporate wrongdoing. Her two worlds collide with a vengeance after a corpse washes up on Big Wave Bay Beach, as Lian soon stumbles upon a link between the dead girl and one of her father's business partners, Rand Harrison. Her situation becomes even more complicated when Harrison's smarmy son, Matt, transfers into her school, where their paths cross regularly. Lian's readiness to risk her own safety to secure evidence of Harrison's crimes makes for a fast-paced story, marked by narrow escapes and high-speed chases. Alas, the technological action fizzles in comparison, as Lian's elite hacker research appears to consist mostly of basic Web searches. In addition, the novel's Hong Kong feels more like a movie set than a lived-in city, and it doesn't help that even the non-American characters often speak colloquially American dialogue. This bland techno-thriller has plenty of action but not quite enough style. (Thriller. 13-18)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-When it comes to Lian's life, appearances can be deceiving. On the outside she presents herself as a dutiful daughter and talented violinist, but she hides a deep secret. She is really part of a secret, underground group of cyber-investigators called 04/06 whose mission is to expose injustice and corruption around the world. One day while hanging out at the beach with her best friend, Lian happens upon the washed up dead body of a young girl. As she investigates further, she begins to suspect Harrison Corporation, a clothing company giant that has recently come to Hong Kong to do business with her father's company. As she probes deeper, Lian suspects Matt, the son of the Harrison Corporation's owner. She struggles to solve the mystery of the girl's death all while keeping a fragile hold on her secret life. This is a suspenseful, if uneven, thriller. Lian is a likable character but sometimes seems far more capable than her linited training would suggest. Lian's relationship with her best friend is spot-on, as is her desire to be a good daughter and her concern over her father's stress at work. The Hong Kong setting is fully realized and the descriptions of city life and different areas give the story an authentic feeling. Readers who enjoy a light thriller will appreciate this offering.-Necia Blundy, formerly at Marlborough Public Library, MA

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