In the not-too-distant future, a new technology is available to help people better multitask. It's called a Pilot, and it requires brain surgery to get the glowing piece of equipment working. When teenager David asks his moms for one, he's pretty sure it will help him get a leg up in school, where he's quickly falling behind to his Piloted peers. While one mother is game, the other is a bit of a luddite, particularly when it comes to anything brain-related, as David's younger sister Sophie has epilepsy and is ineligible for Pilots because of her condition. The novel follows the family over the course of several years, exploring the way that this ubiquitous technology changes their individual lives, their relationships to one another, and society at large.
This is a fascinating examination of the ways that technology impacts our lives and our perception of privacy, as well as a multitude of flaws in the health care system. I was absolutely captivated by this story, which, yes, is firmly science fiction, but is also so accessible and intriguing to a non-SF reader. Highly recommended.
