Proxy

A poor refugee becomes the center of a twisted conspiracy in this sci-fi thriller inspired by Sid Fleischman’s The Whipping Boy and M. T. Anderson’s Feed.

“Put down what you’re doing and read this book. Right now. The complex characters, intricate world, and blistering pace are off-the-charts amazing.” —Marie Lu, author of the Legend trilogy

In a world ruled by corporations, everything comes with a price. Sixteen-year-old Syd knows that well. An orphan living in the slums and saddled with massive debt, his life is not his own. He is a proxy.

His patron, Knox, on the other hand, comes from one of the wealthiest families in the Upper City. He has everything a young man could want, from the coolest tech to the hottest clothes, and he even has Syd to take all his punishments. Given Knox’s penchant for trouble, Syd is no stranger to suffering harsh discipline on Knox’s behalf. Beatings and forced labor are the price he has to pay for survival. But when Knox’s latest misadventure kills a girl, Syd is branded and sentenced to sixteen years in a hellish work colony.

Finally resisting the system that has pushed him too far, Syd finds himself caught in a conspiracy right alongside Knox, and these two boys are going to need each other if they’re going to stay alive. But they’re going to have to learn to live with each other first. 

Friendship, class warfare, and an unconventional love triangle drive our heroes on an action-packed adventure that will change them all—and their world—forever.

A perfect choice for fans of Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series, James Dashner’s Maze Runner, and Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking series.

“Whipping Boy + Blade Runner with a sprinkling of The Hunger Games (plus, of course, a dash of A Tale of Two Cities) = a treat for teen SF fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Not only is Proxy an edge-of-your-seat literary thrill ride, it’s an important and groundbreaking novel as well…London has crafted a true tour de force.” —Matt de la Peña, author of Mexican White Boy 

“Looking for an awesome YA summer read? Look no further than Alex London’s Proxy.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Offering intriguing moral dilemmas amid breakneck action. . . . The matter-of-fact presence of a gay lead [Syd] in an action driven story is welcome and overdue.” —Publishers Weekly