Items related to Silicon Songs
A starving beachcomber by day and computer programmer by night, seventeen-year-old Max must decide whether to sacrifice his ethics for a chance at raising money by selling computer time to a South African company. Reprint.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From School Library Journal:
Grade 9 Up-- A YA novel for those who want lots of problems in a very brief book. Seventeen-year old Max's mother blew her brains out when he was twelve. Max's father didn't want him; life with a succession of six relatives, and then eight foster homes followed. Then his Uncle Pete took Max in and gave him love. Now, however, Pete is dying of brain cancer. The action involves visits to the hospital, life on the streets and contact with an alcoholic bum, a budding relationship with a black girl, and developments at the university's computer lab where hacker Max is given pretty free rein by Professor Medeiros. The professor gives Max the assignment of discovering who has been stealing computer time-slices, and Max traces the theft to South Africa. But it turns out that it isn't the BAD, white South Africans who have been buying the time; it's black South Africans. So all are forgiven, as is Max, who has begun raking off some of the money for himself in between such endearing activities as mugging an old man to get some cash. But not to worry: that is forgiven also, and all ends happily--boy and girl together, and Uncle Pete dead and out of his misery. Anyone intersted in graphic descriptions of what it is like to see someone die of brain cancer in a hospital--life-support methods and all--will find it thoroughly described here, along with a mishmash of plot implausibilities, computer lingo, shallow characterization, and PROBLEMS. --Ronald A. Van De Voorde, Graduate Library School, University of Arizona, Tucson
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Publishers Weekly:
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"I haven't always lived on the street," admits this story's 17-year-old narrator, Max. Following years of shuttling between relatives after his mother killed herself and his wealthy father pretty well forgot about him, Max has been living with his Uncle Pete. But now Pete is dying of cancer and the teenager chooses to become one of the city's homeless--dividing his time between the hospital, the beach and the UCLA computer center. He makes a little money as a legitimate computer hacker, but when he happens onto an illegal scheme, the temptation proves irresistible. Overwhelmed by events, Max sinks low, but he discovers that even when life seems bleak, it is worth living well. King's debut novel offers a thoughtful, realistic look at loss. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherLaurel Leaf
- Publication date1992
- ISBN 10 0440211646
- ISBN 13 9780440211648
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages176
(No Available Copies)
Search Books: Create a WantIf you know the book but cannot find it on AbeBooks, we can automatically search for it on your behalf as new inventory is added. If it is added to AbeBooks by one of our member booksellers, we will notify you!
Create a Want