In a world where every life is scored, every choice tracked, and every profession ranked, the game is supposed to be fair. Choose college or career. Earn points. Rise through the system. But when the rules suddenly shift, the truth becomes harder to ignore: some degrees are worth more than others - and some lives are barely counted at all. Degrees is a powerful allegorical novel that follows a group of pegs navigating the rigid paths of a game designed to measure worth through credentials, visibility, and compliance. From aspiring athletes to social workers, influencers to invisible laborers, each character must confront the cost of being devalued by a system that claims to reward effort but punishes deviation. As the Index reclassifies "professionalism" and careers disappear mid-play, the pegs begin to ask deeper questions: What makes a life matter? Who gets to define success? And what happens when the only winning move is to stop playing? A poetic, layered story for readers 14 and up, Degrees challenges us to rethink how society assigns value - and what it means to be seen. Degrees invites readers to reflect on the invisible rules that shape opportunity, and the quiet resistance of choosing presence over performance. Its layered allegory and emotional nuance make it a powerful conversation starter for older teens and adults alike.
