Title: Convergence
Author: Esther Pia Cordova
Publisher: Power of Yet
Publish Date: January 21, 2025

Excerpt:

They promised progress. She uncovered something else.

Seventeen-year-old Maya has always known her place in the secluded village of Brookfield, where tradition shields humanity from the dangers of technology. Beyond the village lies a world ruled by AI, where towering skyscrapers and virtual realities mask a chilling truth.

When Maya’s sister falls gravely ill, a mysterious outsider offers a cure from the high-tech city—a place Maya has been taught to fear. Desperate to save her sister, she ventures beyond the safety of Brookfield and discovers a corporate empire with a terrifying to redefine what it means to be human.

My Thoughts:

Convergence is a YA story about a traditionalist community that has chosen to keep itself separate from the modern world. No phones, cars, doctors, and very little use of technology. They grow their own food, make their own clothing and trade with the outside world only when necessary. Despite this, they still try to keep informed of the high tech world outside their borders, only from a distance.

When 17 year old Maya's younger sister, Sophie, becomes sick, the community's healer uses what limited tools she has, a computer, a small lab for blood tests, and a CT scanner to diagnose her with cancer. With only antibiotics and herbs to treat the cancer, Sophie doesn't have much hope. Maya is devastated, and will do anything to save her sister, including sneaking off to the city with a newcomer, Ethan, to search for a cure.

I thought this book raised some very interesting questions about artificial intelligence and what makes us human. One of my favorite scenes involved a virtual reality helmet that engages all of your senses and Maya's reactions to the immersive technology. This is an enjoyable read, especially suited for a younger audience. It blends light romance, ethical dilemmas, and a bit of sci-fi leaving you with thought provoking questions long after putting it down.

Thank you to Esther Pia Cordova for the wonderful opportunity to read and review Convergence


Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐