The Unidentified

Fifteen-year-old Katey, aka Kid, goes to school in the Game—a ‘school’ run by corporate sponsors. Social networking is as natural as breathing, your online profile is everything, and striving to get ahead in the popularity stakes involves a careful navigation that could go wrong at any turn.

The corporations watch the students to spot the next trend and the kids vie with each other to be noticed and sponsored by the corporations. Being ’branded’ means celebrity status, not to mention financial freedom.

But what kind of freedom is it when you’re always being watched? And how important is it to be the coolest and most popular kid when your identity is owned by a corporation?

When Kid witnesses a mock suicide staged by an anonymous group calling itself the Unidentified she begins to ask herself those questions.

The Unidentified is a book about identity, freedom and integrity, a book that will lead readers to discuss the power of marketing and the media, our desire to fit in and be popular, and the importance of making a stand for what you believe in.

Read a sample here

Praise for The Unidentified:

Here is a twisted reflection of Gen Y’s intoxication with Facebook, designer labels and popularity….Katey’s journey is wicked, clever and frighteningly close to the bone.

Sun Herald

Mariz’s writing displays a keen ear for ‘teen-speak’… I am sure teen readers will appreciate the authentic voice. The Unidentified will provide a springboard for discussions on identity, privacy, consumer culture, civil disobedience and the social impact of technology.

Fiction Focus: New Titles for Teenagers

The Unidentified ensnared me with its futuristic tentacles and wouldn’t let go…Rae Mariz doesn’t make judgements. She depicts realistic players in multiple dimensions then leaves us to make our own decisions…It’s been a long time since I couldn’t put a book down. Rae Mariz has nailed it with The Unidentified.

Good Reading

An imaginative take on the late-capitalist zeitgeist…Mariz’s trendy and innovative and dialogue stands out.

Age