The book inspired all the right emotions that the author seemed to be going for, namely anger at a broken system and frustration at authorities who refuse to listen. I really enjoyed the realistic portrayal of how quickly temporary measures can become permanent doctrine, and how people would find ways to work around the system or cause trouble. 
 I didn't like that a majority of the characters were lacking in drive: the main character is essentially the entire reason anything happens, and I was jarred by the deus ex machina ending, but I could be easily convinced that Doctorow intentionally designed the characters to give the teenage target reader a sense of ambition (if I don't X, who will?). 
 All said and done I liked the book, I like the author, and I enjoy "fight for our rights" revolution stories, though I think Doctorow exchanges a bit of suspension-of-disbelief to have fun with the story near the end.