Proxy by Alex London

Reviewed by Lori

Proxy

Title: Proxy

Author: Alex London

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 82514

Description: Privileged Knox and his proxy, Syd, are thrown together to overthrow the system.

Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud it!

Why I Read It: Good title and interesting tag line - "Some debts cannot be repaid."





Notes:  Knox is living the "lux" life.  He gets in trouble but that's ok, his proxy is always there to take his punishment.  So when he steals a car and gets into an accident he figures his proxy will get his punishment and all will go back to normal.  Except he's killed someone.  And Syd, Knox's proxy, doesn't want to pay this debt.  In this book society is split into the Upper City - those of wealth and status, and the Valve - those who eke out a living and accumulate debt and when you live in the Valve, everything costs.  Syd has done everything he can not to accrue any debt but his Patron Knox always seems to be getting into trouble and from the time he was four he's taken the punishments - the work camps, the beatings, the EMD sticks.  Now Knox has even taken his blood. Syd's had enough, but when Knox kills someone and Syd is sentence to sixteen years in a work camp, despite only having two years of debt servitude left, he knows he has to escape.  But when Syd goes with his best friend Egan to meet someone who can give him a new identity, the last person he expects to meet is his Patron.  In a twist of fate, Syd and Knox find they must trust in one another to outrun the Guardians and Knox's father, who wants to kill Syd.  Turns out that Syd's blood is more valuable than he realizes.  There are several twists and turns in this story.  I really loved Syd's character.  He has dark brown skin and he's gay.  Unlike other novels I've read where the main character's sexuality becomes integral to the plot, this is not the case in this book, this is just a character that happens to be gay.  Knox is extremely self-centered and selfish, he seems to have no idea what life is like for those who live in the Valve - how debt is accumulated and how they are used.  While I did have a pretty good idea about how the story would end, I did find the journey getting there to be very intriguing.  I would have given this book a Level 4 rating if somewhere along the journey to the rebooters (those who plan on wiping out all of societies debts to begin again) Knox was given a clear explanation of how society works - for both himself and the reader!  There are many allegorical comparisons that can be made in this story - Syd as a Jesus figure (an absent father/destined to be sacrificed), Syd's blood is important, Marie/Mary character who stands by Syd with pure belief, Knox - the doubter, but also the X/Christ link.  I was satisfied with the ending, and felt that the characters lived up to my expectations of them.  The book would make a fantastic movie.

Recommended Readers: Grade 9 and Up.  As a high/low novel this is a good selection for reluctant and/or slow readers looking for a fast paced dystopian story.

Themes: Division of Society, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian, Debt and Repayment, Gay Characters, Self-Centered vs. Self-Sacrificing, Causes and Belief, Rich Vs. Poor, Friendship, Survival, Crime and Punishment, Orphans, LGBT

Cross-Genre Links: 
Websearch: Whipping Boy
Movie: Bladerunner (1982)
Music: Bolero by Ravel
Music: Proxy by Martin Guerrix

Inquiries and Activities: 

  • How does the Proxy system work?
  • Why would people sign up to be proxies?
  • Why doesn't Syd want to accumulate any debt?
  • Explore the role of fathers in this novel - talk about Syd's biological father, Mr. Baram, and Knox's father.  How do the fathers' actions influence their sons' lives?
  • Who are the Rebooters? What do they intend to do?  Will this help or destroy society?
  • What do you think happens after the novel has finished?
  • How would you rebuild the society?
  • If you were a patron, knowing someone else would take your punishment if you got in trouble, would you be more or less careful in your decisions?
  • Discuss the allegorical links in this book.
  • Create a movie trailer or poster for this novel.

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