Staying True to Our Futuristic Minds

As technology plays an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, the novels of this timely panel grapple with the implications of a technological future and its impact on young people’s mental health. Kelly Yang illustrates the impact of social media in Finally Heard, a heartpounding novel about ten-year-old Lina’s quest to go viral and her struggle to break free from the allure of comparison and become her authentic self in this fast-paced world. Immersed in an AI-generated, virtual-reality environment, The Vale is Abigail Hing Wen’s cautionary tale about thirteen-year-old Bran’s technological world that grows by the power of imagination, and the chaos that ensues when it begins to have a mind of its own. Given all the dangers of technology, some parents may decide to send their teenagers off to Mexico for an unplugged summer, as Celi and Elio’s parents do in Stream. Aida Salazar’s heartwarming dual narrative imagines what happens in the middle of nowhere—without internet, electricity, or even running water—amidst the stark beauty and cultural richness of rural Mexico, with crushes blooming, when teenagers can finally shed their online selves to embrace nature, connect to culture, and cultivate authenticity. With a future of technology written on the horizon, Berkeley High School librarian Allyson Bogie and Berkeley High School senior Penelope will moderate this panel and provide a youth perspective to this thoughtful conversation about technology, mental health, and creating a sustainable digital future.