- Hardcover: 496 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (October 14, 2014)
- ISBN: 9780316220750
- Source: Publisher
Alix is a high school senior who lives a privileged life. She has the all the right clothes and attends an prominent private school. Never once has she questioned the source of her family’s affluence, until an activist group known as 2.0 targets her school. The school isn’t the target, however. According to 2.0, Alix’s father, head of a public relations firm, is responsible for countless deaths. The firm, nicknamed the Doubt Factory by 2.0, makes money protecting prominent companies from lawsuits by inspiring a feeling of doubt about the claims against them. The members of 2.0 not much older than Alix herself, all orphans after their parents died after health warnings about various drugs were covered up by the Doubt Factory. It is the hope of Moses, one of the members of 2.0, that Alix can aid the group in their attempts to bring down her father’s company.
Alix is forced to question everything and everyone around her. Initially, she stands behind her father’s prestige but her resolve is weakened as she begins to do some research. Everything about Alix’s life begins to crumble down around her. Only she can put an end to all the senseless deaths, even if it means bringing down her father with her.
The Doubt Factory is a thought-provoking thriller that forces readers to reevaluate our feelings about big business corporations and the power they wield. While it’s terrifying to contemplate that a situation like this may reside in our nation, it’s not that far from the realm of possibility.
Bacigalupi has crafted a novel rich with dynamic, well-rounded characters. Alix’s transformation from snotty, privileged teen to a determined, passionate young woman was quite pronounced. Readers, like Alix, will question everything they know as they embark upon this journey of discovery. Initial opinions about certain characters will shift dramatically, with a multitude of questions not answered until the end. A truly exhilarating read, The Doubt Factory is a novel that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Highly, highly recommended.
