Jennifer Kasman

Anna & The American Puzzle Jennifer Kasman

Anna & The American Puzzle imagines a near-future America where a surprising combination of wealthy, religious, and social media derived power structures join forces to form a political party that wins the Presidency. As the new regime reshapes the country into a high-tech surveillance state, the free and open use of technology by most citizens is outlawed. Anna's diary of how her life unfolds as part of the working poor in this "new America" reveals a story of limited choices. When an accidental encounter results in her being offered the opportunity to work close to power in the White House, she accepts and enjoys the perks of being part of a better social class than her birthright provided. But, when she learns during her work at the White House that huge swaths of American children are being sent away to military training camps when their parents can't afford to care for them, Anna has to decide how she will reconcile her past and her present. How much of a price is Anna willing to pay to be an outsider admitted to the inner sanctum of wealth and power? Anna & The American Puzzle makes us think about how the pieces of American culture fit together and consider if it is possible for Anna's story, and the American story, to end differently.