400 years after humanity nearly destroys itself, a lone city stands-Paramus. The city's motto is "Excellence and Innovation" and its leaders use a test called the Criterion to give each citizen a score of intelligence that determines the rest of their life. A high score means wealth, status, and the best jobs Paramus has to offer. A low score means being cast outside of Paramus forever. Arin Wells just wants to take care of her parents, and has worked hard her entire life to do so. But when testing day comes, something feels wrong, and Arin leaves wondering if she did well enough to save them. All her friends and neighbors receive their scores and the neighborhood grows empty. But for Arin, no answer comes. Until the day a single message appears, Blinking in her eyescreen-And everything changes.
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