Futureproof

by: N. Frank Daniels

Published by: Harper Perennial

Reviewed by Wendy Hines

Futureproof was originally a self-published success launched on the author’s Myspace page.

Lucke attends Peckerbrook High School in Atlanta. A school for artistic kids, Luke is one of the kids bussed in from the seedier part of town. Home life is rough. His stepfather abuses him while his mother stands on the sidelines protecting their other boys. She begs Luke to stop provoking him, but Luke finds it difficult to back down. He joins the drama class at school and for awhile, he can be someone else. The fighting escalates at home until Luke gets the drop on his step dad and beats him up. Knowing he can no longer stay there, he packs a bag and leaves.

He begins to stay at a friend’s house and before long finds himself dropping out of school. The deeper he delves into the delinquent subculture of Atlanta, the more friends Luke makes–friends who share their girls, basements, and drugs with him. Luke begins to self-inflict damage to himself with razor blades while also starting a new job. Conflicting situations and emotions run high until they spiral out of control.

Futureproof is a shocking, yet stunning debut. It is told almost like a memoir, yet the author states it is not. Filled with unique characters and a gritty storyline, Futureproof will have you addicted in no time. However, it is not for the faint of heart as it contains vulgar language, drugs, and explicit sex.

Armchair Interviews agrees.