In Catfishing on CatNet we meet Steph, whose mother has been keeping her on the run from her abusive father for as long as she can remember. Her only consistent community is the set of friends she chats with on CatNet, a social media site where users share cat pictures. Steph and her mother have just moved to yet another new town, where Steph meets Rachel, an artistic girl she’s quickly captivated by. She also learns that CheshireCat, who runs CatNet, is actually an AI. She’s starting to get settled into the new school when some mistakes lead to her father discovering her location. Steph and Rachel go on the run to escape him, and to rescue CheshireCat whose maker is about to take them offline.
In Chaos on CatNet, Steph and her mom have entered a new phase of their life: stability. With her father safely behind bars, they move to Minneapolis to settle down for the first time. Steph ends up making a quick friendship with the other new girl in class, Nell. Nell has moved in with her previously-estranged father after her strictly religious mother went missing. Nell’s struggling to come to terms with her father’s living situation with his wife and girlfriend, and her girlfriend – while trying to track down where her mother has disappeared to. She takes solace in the tasks she performs for the religion-themed social media app her church encouraged her to use. Steph and Nell start getting to know Minneapolis via another social media app, where the “Mischief Elves” assign them silly little tasks of minor mischief. The story takes darker turns as Steph and CheshireCat realize the “mischief” is starting to add up to something more sinister.
Both books are slightly dark thrillers that leave you thinking about how tech can be used – and misused – to manipulate people. Both are a great warning and social commentary to be aware of your online presence. Both have some really sweet and wholesome LGBTQ+ characters and relationships. The danger and romance are at appropriate levels for young adult (13+) readers, or even mid-grade (9-12) readers who don’t get too scared at some suspense. And the stories are really engaging even for an adult reader – you’ll get hooked and not want to stop!
Content warning: domestic abuse, kidnapping
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