Deathworld is a young adult horror novel that is set in the future where there is no more war or disease. The USA has decided on a means of population control that is controversial. Once a youth reaches eighteen and graduates from high school, they are put in a draft lottery that chooses ten thousand youths a day to attend the theme park Deathworld, and one hundred will die.
The main character, Jesse, has ADD and has faced many challenges through his life. His selection to attend the park is the most important test of his life. Not only is his life in danger, but the lives of his twin sister and two other students from his school are at risk as well. Using his ability to focus and decode puzzles, Jesse manages to help the group avoid all the major pitfalls until the last required ride where tragedy strikes.
Wracked by guilt and grief, Jesse does the one thing he knows how to do-hack. He digs into the history of the creation of the Deathworld, the inner workings of the park, and the qualifications/motivations of the park's creator.
Through his investigations, he discovers the true nefarious purposes of the park. Jesse and his friends vow to take down both the director and the murderous park. He creates a plan that brings him face-to-face with the director of the park and the greatest challenge of his life.