4 Stars.
Sid Fleischman's "The Whipping Boy" gets an update ala YA dystopian science fiction.
Syd (16), a poor orphan from "The Valve" was born into debt. This is a common situation in Syd's world, in fact all of his peers have 18 year of debt on their hands at work. And like his peers, Syd's debt was bought as an infant by a wealthy benefactor who would use him as a "proxy" for Knox (also 16), a spoiled rich boy. While some proxies are lucky enough to have mild mannered "patrons" who get into only small amounts of trouble in their lifetimes, Knox looks for trouble. And why wouldn't he? Knox knows that any crime he commits would be paid for in punishment by his proxy. While Knox and Syd have never met face to face, Knox is forced to watch "his" punishments on a screen via Syd's body.
While Syd's life has been a virtual hell due to his patron's devil may care attitude, Syd take comfort in the fact that that in two years he will be Knox free and debt free. That is, until Knox's antics cross a line that raises the stakes too high and society discovers that Syd is not an ordinary proxy. On the run, Syd and Knox are thrown together on a journey through a futuristic Detroit where the battle between debtors and creditors have been taken to a new level.
Class warfare. Bored, wealthy society where its citizens dress in ridiculous fashions. This is some well worn territory for sure. However, "Proxy" finds a fresh voice in Syd and executes its premise admirably. I cannot think of another novel in this genre with a character like Syd. Not only is he non-caucasian, but he is gay and his coming out is not central to the story. Early on we know that this is who Syd is and while it contributes to all the things that make up his persona it alone does not define him. In fact, he is a protagonist any teen can relate to regardless of race or sexuality.
While the villains could have been fleshed out a little more I have to applaud some of the plot points.
"Proxy" throws in a few curve balls that keep the plot moving. The ending itself while not totally unexpected was heart wrenching just the same. I look forward to spending more time with Syd in further books in this series.
