In 2099, twins Tessa and Theo live in a community based on rules and order. Citizens seem to like the safety and comfort that their government, run by a dictator Zokiris, provides. At least that is the message citizens receive. Then Theo vanishes and no one can find him. Gradually, Tessa’s family stops talking about Theo but they clearly haven’t forgotten him.  

Events are set in motion when their neighbor, Miriam, moves to a retirement community. She gives Tessa a key that unlocks boxes of books, which are forbidden by Zokiris. When Tessa’s parents find out, her father shares that Miriam had given him a copy of Moby-Dick. He  conducted experiments with Theo using Moby-Dick to activate their imagination. Finally, Tessa and her parents understand that Theo has literally fallen into a good book. He has spent months aboard a cold whaling ship without proper clothes and food. To rescue him, they need to find the confiscated copy that is in a warehouse of books set to be destroyed. While they are rescuing Theo, the citizens begin to overthrow Zokiris.

Building 903 has definite similarities to the Giver, but with a lighter touch. There are strong dystopian elements of power, class, control, and elements of faith. During Theo’s rescue, he needs to pray, which may seem out-of-place without an understanding of dystopian plot elements. Overall, this is a powerful, timely tale about control, censorship, and how creativity and imagination cannot be contained.   

Reviewed by Jaime Beal, RSU 40, Waldoboro