EchoStar is a teen science fiction novel about a fourteen year old girl that downloads an app that is supposed to help her with school and instead turns her life upside down.

Ruby Brookes is a teenage theatre kid who is looking forward to attending a performing arts summer camp with her best friend Deva. But Deva won’t be able to go unless she gets her grades up and she finds an AI app (EchoStar) that will help her cheat in her classes. When Ruby gets her progress report she realizes she’s in the exact same boat she tracks down a representative of EchoStar to get her own copy. When their friendship starts to fall apart and the app starts saying strange things Ruby realizes she is in way over her head. 

Although the publisher has EchoStar rated as young adult it felt similar to a middle grade technological thriller or horror to me. This isn’t a knock against the book but just a missed opportunity in marketing as it’s only 128 pages and has no extreme violence or any romantic content that would make it inappropriate for this age group. The storyline about bullying, friend groups and cyber stalking is the perfect topic for younger teens and the fast pace would keep them interested.