Origin Book Review

Author: Jessica Khoury. Release date: 2012. Publisher: Razorbill. ISBN: 9781595145956.

Annotation: Pia is perfect: the sole member of a race of immortals created deep in the jungles of the Amazon. She has spent her entire life behind the walls of the secret compound of scientists who made her and doesn’t know anything about what lies beyond the cage she calls home. Everything changes, however, when she discovers a hole in the fence and ventures into the jungle where she meets Eio, a boy her age from the outside world.      

Personal thoughts: I really liked the concept of this book and, although I had some trouble reading through some of the parts pertaining to animal testing, overall, I enjoyed it. Pia is a very likable character and it was interesting watching her grow and become more “human” as the story progressed. While I don’t think this novel is for everyone, I would definitely recommend it to science-fiction fans who want something a little different from the norm.   

Plot summary: Pia is perfect. The only member of a race of immortals created deep in the jungles of the Amazon, she has spent her life in the walls of the compound of scientists who have dedicated their lives to engineering more people like her. Pia knows that her destiny lies in one day joining the scientists in discovering how to quickly create more immortals; currently the process takes five generations and Pia is the result of work that began in 1912. Everything changes, however, when Pia discovers a hole in the fence that surrounds her home and ventures out into the jungle. There she meets Eio, a handsome boy who lives in a neighboring village of natives. Pia has never seen someone her age and is fascinated by Eio and the rest of the villagers. Although she knows it’s wrong, she continues to visit Eio and the village, learning more about the outside world than she ever thought possible. The more she discovers, however, the more she begins to realize that not everything inside her compound of scientists is what it seems and that the truth behind her creation might be deadlier than she ever imagined.

Review: From debut author Jessica Khoury comes this Michael Crichton-esque novel for young adults about science, danger and, of course, romance. One of the best things about Origin is that the author does her best not to dumb down the scientific aspects of the plot for the reader. Pia’s creation isn’t paranormal: she was engineered by the very group of scientists that are the only family she has ever known. Some aspects of the operations of Little Cam, the compound Pia calls home, might be difficult for readers to make it through, particularly the elements pertaining to animal testing. Part of the story, however, is showing how Pia’s humanity despite her immortality impacts the events of the novel, and her growing separation from the scientists of Little Cam becomes more evident as she grows and changes. The romance that develops between Pia and Eio, the handsome eighteen-year-old from the neighboring village of natives, is enjoyable and not over-the-top, making the book relatable for teen boys and girls alike. Overall, a well-written and thought-provoking novel from an author with a lot of promise.

Genre:  Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Michael Crichton novels (Jurassic Park, Next, etc.)    

Themes:  Science, genetic engineering, the Amazon, duty, immortality, danger, secrets, romance, betrayal.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from Kirkus and Booklist.

Series Information: N/A  

Discussion questions:

-          Why do you think the scientists of Little Cam kept the outside world a secret from Pia? Do you think it was the right choice?

-          How do you explain the “tests” that was Pia was put through? What was Uncle Paolo hoping to accomplish with the tests?

-         Why do you think Pia was so intrigued by Eio?

-         Why did it take Pia such a long time to warm up to Aunt Harriet?

-         Would you have been able to do what Uncle Paolo asked Pia to do to Sneeze? Why or why not?

-          Do you think Pia made the right choice in the end? Why or why not?

Partials Book Review

 Author: Dan Wells. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Balzer + Bray. ISBN: 9780062071040.

Annotation: In the year 2076, the world has been decimated after the Partials, genetically engineered super soldiers, rebelled against their human creators with a deadly virus known as RM. Now the human race is on the verge of extinction as every newborn in the survivor settlement of East Meadow on Long Island succumbs to the virus. Sixteen-year-old medic Kira Walker is determined to find a cure for the virus, even if it means capturing and studying a Partial to do it.

Personal thoughts: I was a bit worried that this novel would be irritatingly similar to other dystopian books I’ve read recently when I heard what it was about, but was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. Although I definitely recognized some concepts from other popular books, TV shows or movies, the overlap didn’t bother me. In fact, I found the author’s take to be fresh and interesting. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the presence of strong, intelligent female protagonist, Kira. Not only is she described as beautiful, she is also very smart, explaining the science of her research to the reader and giving teen girl’s a positive role model who is proud of her knowledge and uses it for a purpose she believes in. I’m looking forward to seeing how Kira develops in the following installments, and can’t wait to read Fragments when it’s released in 2013.

Plot summary: The year is 2076, and the world has been decimated after the Partials, genetically engineered super soldiers, rebelled against their human creators. Having replaced the world’s armies, humans were unable to defend themselves when the Partials launched their attacks. It was a biological weapon, a deadly virus known as RM, that managed to wipe out 99.9% of the world’s human population. The Partials retreated after the RM plague and haven’t been seen for eleven years, but now the human race is on the verge of extinction as every newborn in the survivor settlement of East Meadow on Long Island succumbs to the virus. The survivors themselves are inexplicably immune to RM, but the inability to produce new generations threatens to put the final nail in the coffin that was humanity. In response to this overwhelming problem, the government of East Meadow created the Hope Act: a law that requires all women age 18 and over to be pregnant at all times. Sixteen-year-old Kira Walker was only five when RM was released, but she still remembers a time before every infant died within hours of birth. Kira works as a medic in East Meadow hospital’s maternity unit. Everyday she helps her fellow scientists try to discover a cure for RM by studying the newborns before they quickly die. When her best friend Madison becomes pregnant, however, Kira is determined that her baby will live. Convinced that the answer to curing RM lies in the physiology of the Partials, all of whom are immune to the virus, Kira sets out for the deserted island of Manhattan with one mission: to bring a live Partial back to East Meadow and find a cure.

Review: Continuing the dystopian craze that seems to have taken over young adult literature is Dan Wells’ Partials, the exciting and well-written first installment in a new post-apocalyptic series for teens. A cross between Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, Battlestar Galactica and Terminator, some common ideas (i.e. the revolting robot/machine, world-ending plague, totalitarian government, etc.) get a fresh and interesting take in this novel. From the beginning, it is clear that the Partials, the human race’s enemy number one, are going to have a role in curing the deadly RM virus. Unraveling exactly what that role will be is one of the most intriguing parts of the story. The author does an excellent job of creating an action packed plot, making Partials an ideal recommendation for male readers who want something exciting. Teen girls will also find a lot to identify with in Kira, the smart and dedicated scientist who is determined to save the life of her best friend’s unborn baby. Unlike other dystopian novels, and young adult novels in general, the romantic part of the novel takes a bit of a backseat to the rest of the story. Readers might pick up on a potential future love triangle, but the book isn’t particularly lovey-dovey, adding to its male appeal. Overall, Partials is an enjoyable and interesting beginning to a series with lots of potential. The sequel, Fragments, is set to be released in 2013.

Genre: Science-fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Eve by Anna Carey, The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, Legend by Marie Lu, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Divergent by Veronica Roth.    

Themes:  Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, plague, genetic engineering, survival, pregnancy, oppression, rebellion.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, VOYA, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times.

Series Information: First installment in Partials series. Second novel, Fragments, set to be released in 2013.  

Discussion questions:

-      Why do you think the Partials rebelled against their human creators? Do you think they were justified?

-      Do you think the Hope Act was right or wrong? Why?

-       Do you think the way Samm was treated was humane? Why or why not?

-     Why do you think the Senate chose Kira to study Samm?

-       What do you think the last line of the novel means?

Tankborn Book Review

Author: Karen Sandler. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Lee & Low Books. ISBN: 9781600606625.

Annotation:  Kayla and her best friend Mishalla are both GENs, genetically engineered non-humans, living in the strict caste system of the human colony on the planet Loka. Now that they are fifteen, they will receive their work assignments and likely be separated forever. But when both become unwittingly involved in a plot to liberate the GENs from their lives of servitude, Kayla and Mishalla face a danger that could mean being separated for good.

Personal thoughts:  I found the description of this book to be intriguing, but when I first started reading it I almost put it down. There is a lot of lingo in here that I found really annoying and I was wondering why the author didn’t tone it down a bit. As I continued to read, however, I began to really enjoy the novel and forgot completely about my initial irritation with all of the acronyms and phrases. I think this is one of those novels that could easily be misunderstood or given-up on when only reading the first few chapters. I encourage readers to plow through any initial misgivings because the result is a very entertaining story that has the potential to be a wonderful trilogy.  

Plot summary: Best friends Kayla and Mishalla are both fifteen-years living in Chadi, one of the sectors home to GENs, or genetically engineered non-humans. Centuries earlier, the people of Earth fled their broken home planet and set up a new human colony on Loka. Since its creation, Loka’s society has developed into a rigid caste system with “trueborns” of various statuses at the top, and GENs at the very bottom. GENs like Kayla and Mishalla are treated like slaves, destined to lives of hard labor and servitude. In their fifteenth years, each GEN receives an Assignment: a work placement that will determine how they spend the rest of their lives. Since GENs are given a special skill when they are created, the Assignment is specially selected to suit the individual GEN. As a strong GEN, Kayla is assigned to care for Zul Manel, an elderly, high-status trueborn in a neighboring sector. Mishalla, a nurturing GEN, is sent to Sheysa, another sector close to Chadi, where she cares for low-status trueborn children in a decrepit orphanage. As Kayla and Mishalla settle into their new lives, however, it appears that there are more to their assignments than they originally suspected. The children Mishalla cares for are mysteriously taken each night, with new ones returning in their place each day. Kayla soon learns that Zul and his great-grandson, a handsome and kind teen named Devak, are involved in a plot to liberate the GENs that has been decades in the making. Mishalla and Kayla seem destined to cross paths again, but when they do, what dangers will they face at the hands of people who see them as nothing more than animals?

Review:  Originally meant to be the screenplay for a science-fiction movie in the 1980s, Sandler’s Tankborn creates a whole world of adventure that works even better in novel format. Understanding the intricacies of Loka and the human society that inhabits it takes quite a bit of time. At first, all of the acronyms, phrases and names of the various sectors, objects and individuals on Loka is confusing to the point of irritation. Sandler thrusts the reader headfirst into the world she has created, leaving little time to become accustomed to the “lay of the land.” After the lingo is better understood, however, the novel becomes quite enjoyable. The caste system concept harkens to Hinduism quite a bit. The “untouchables” of Loka are the GENs, who’s treatment and oppression is very reminiscent of the 19^th-century slavery system of the United States. Although Kayla and Mishalla are presented as both being the focus of the book, Kayla is by far a more developed character and, essentially, the protagonist. Her budding romance with the great-grandson of her charge, Devak, will be pleasing to many teen readers and doesn’t detract from the more serious science-fiction aspects of the storyline. Indeed, Tankborn is best suited for teens and adults who are more serious science-fiction fans; anyone with only a small interest in the genre will likely be lost in the first few chapters. Sandler has announced that Tankborn is the first installment in a trilogy, the next two novels focusing more on Kayla and Mishalla’s attempts to improve life for the GENs.

Genre: Science-fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Divergent by Veronica Roth, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Themes:  Genetic engineering, slavery, caste system, social status, dystopian, courage.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal.  

Series Information: First installment in Tankborn trilogy.

Discussion questions:

- Do you think there are any groups of people currently in American society who’s treatment is comparable to the GENs? What about in other parts of the world?

- Why did Devak’s friends refuse to talk to him after he stood up for Kayla and Jal? Do you think that this sort of behavior happens in our lives?

- If you had a sket, what would you want it to be? Why?

- Why did you first thing that Pia was stealing the children from Mishalla? Were you surprised to learn the truth?

- Do you think that Kayla and Devak have a future together? Why or why not?