Replica

August 22, 2016
Oliver (Vanishing Girls) sacrifices substance for style in a novel told from two perspectives: flipping the book allows readers to read the full story from the point of view of the two main characters, Lyra and Gemma. Lyra, a replica (clone) at the Haven Institute research facility, and Gemma, a loner who has spent her life in and out of hospitals due to various medical troubles, have surprisingly similar stories—both live in relative captivity. When Haven is destroyed, Lyra escapes and crosses paths with Gemma. Gemma, the daughter of one of the men who initially funded Haven, decides to help Lyra and another replica, 72; in the process, she slowly begins to discover the mysterious mandate of the Haven Institute. This ambitious project requires patience during some of the more repetitive parts of these interlocking stories, even as Oliver explores thought-provoking ethical and existential terrain. The pieces of Oliver’s story all fit together, but the novelty of the storytelling approach doesn’t quite compensate for a less-than-compelling plot. Ages 14–up. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management.

Teenagers Lyra and Gemma give separate accounts of their dystopian world. Narrator Sarah Drew tells Lyra's story with a slightly breathy and uneven delivery. Her voice is packed with emotion that reflects the extreme stressors she faces while being imprisoned in the Haven Institute, a center for human cloning, and then escaping into a world unknown to her. At first, narrator Erin Spencer's steady voice for Gemma reflects her quiet life but then intensifies as she begins to question her world and her own connection to the Haven Institute. The chapters alternate Lyra's and Gemma's accounts, but listeners might skip chapters to follow one complete narrative. Either approach will deliver captivating fast-paced adventure. M.D. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Two girls from very different backgrounds find autonomy, strength, and identity as they fight against corporate greed and medical corruption.Gemma was born to rich and powerful parents. Lyra was made in a lab. Both white girls have spent their lives protected behind walls: Gemma, under her parents' watchful eyes, and Lyra, under the care of nurses at the Haven Institute. The latter has always known she's a replica, a clone created by doctors from human stem cells. The heavily guarded Haven Institute's activities are shrouded in mystery and speculation, and when an explosion destroys the facility, both girls' carefully formed worlds topple in the aftermath. Events unfold quickly as Gemma and Lyra learn they're not who they thought they were, that the truth goes much deeper than either ever thought. The dual narrative is presented as two books in one; it's up to readers to decide how to proceed: read each girl's story separately or in alternating chapters. There are very few characters of color: Caelum, another replica and key secondary character, is described as "mixed race"; Gemma's Latina best friend has two high-powered moms. Deep-rooted racial and ethnic inequality is hinted at in the "birthers," the dark-skinned women who carry and give birth to replicated babies and don't speak English. Gemma's fatness is a source of embarrassment, but, unusually, she grows emotionally without losing weight. A reading experience not to be missed--or forgotten. (Science fiction. 15 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-This unusual piece of fiction will be a winner among teens. Written as a "flip book," the volume has two novels in one. Readers will experience the story from two different characters' perspectives. Sixteen-year-old Gemma has always been sickly and alone most of her life. Her existence changes in a hurry when she is followed and questioned about what she knows about Haven, a secret research facility to which her father seems to have a connection. Eventually, she starts to investigate and travels to Florida, where she finds two replicas who are actually clones who have escaped from the facility. Turning the book over, readers get the story from the viewpoint of Lyra, who is one of the clones. Each point of view can be read in its entirety one at a time or in alternating chapters. Oliver has managed to create different tempos and moods in each tale, which allows readers to better understand the characters. Young adults will enjoy this unique reading experience. While the narrative is accessible to middle and high school readers, occasional strong language will make it a choice for older teens. VERDICT Reading this book in alternating chapters as an ebook could prove challenging, so libraries will want to have this hit available to teens in a print format.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
Grades 8-12 Oliver revives a standard dystopian story of human clones and government conspiracies with a high-concept premise in this near-future sf novel, the first in a planned duology. Two girls' narratives are bound together in this flip book, which readers must literally turn over to get from one protagonist's story to the other. Lyra is #24 of thousands of experimental subjects at Haven, a clandestine research facility. Gemma is a self-conscious teen with controlling parents, a dismal social life, and a history of health problems. The two meet on the night protesters bomb Haven, and they begin working together to discover Haven's secrets and how their lives are inextricably entwined. Lyra's story has intensity and a distinctive voice, and her depiction of life in Haven is chilling; Gemma's is a more conventional teen mystery. How the two stories intersect is clever, as is how the structure mirrors the themes of identity formation and individuality, but both feel slight and lack a satisfying resolution. The unique format will draw in readers, though, and strong writing will keep them hooked. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Oliver's dystopian Delirium trilogy achieved best-seller status, and she's been gaining steam ever since. Teens will line up for this one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)