Compelling writing, and a good protagonist, who is neither too naive nor too informed. I'm not totally convinced by the world-building, mostly because I want the 500 words. Where is my List? Also because John Noa is too perfect a bad guy. Where is his motivation? It doens't make much sense. Still, I enjoyed this as a gentle dystopia, perfect for our younger readers who might not be ready for the more heavy-hitting works that are bordering on YA, but would like to explore the world of dystopias in a way that is solidly mid-grade.