The Innocence Device - by William Kowalski (Paperback)

About the Book

In a dystopian future where there are only prisoners and those who guard them, a young man survives an uprising and stumbles toward the freedom he's never known.

Book Synopsis

The year is 2147. Chago, twenty-four, is a prisoner in a world made up only of prisoners and those who guard them. The only bright spot in Chago's life is his son, Jim-Jim, whose mother is a guard. In an effort to resolve overcrowding in the prison, the warden introduces the Innocence Device, a high-tech machine he claims can determine innocence or guilt. Prisoners are encouraged to walk through the Innocence Device and experience its rewards: immediate freedom or death. When they discover the machine is rigged, the prisoners riot and take over the prison. After witnessing the execution-style death of the mother of his son, and surviving a brief stint outside the prison walls, Chago ends up in a position of power. But he soon finds the new regime little different from the old, and he sets out to save the only thing he values--his son.

From the Back Cover

The year is 2147. Chago is a prisoner in a world made up only of prisoners and those who guard them. A high-tech machine that can determine innocence or guilt is introduced into the prison. People line up to walk through the Innocence Device and experience either immediate freedom or death. When they discover the machine is rigged, the prisoners riot. After the dust settles, Chago ends up in a position of power. But he soon finds not much has changed.

"Kowalski is a talented and vivid stylist." --Washington Post

Review Quotes

"[A] thought-provoking, quick-read, thriller...Chago, although simple and unassuming, is a character that many readers will cheer on to due to his familiar struggles with bullying, fear, authority, and love for family...This book will engage young adult readers, and certainly be a popular addition to any school library."-- "The Deakin Review of Children's Literature"

"An exciting and thought-provoking novel that low literate readers would likely enjoy very much. Even adults looking for a quicker read will be captivated by this exciting narrative."-- "CM Magazine"