Splintered

April 1, 2019
A science-infused political sci-fi thriller. The irrepressible Jimi continues to throw caution to the wind to help her chimera (humans who have enhanced their DNA with animal genes) friends in their fight for equality. A few months after the conclusion of Spliced (2017), Jimi finally reunites with love interest Rex, but when their friend Doctor Guzman is wrongfully arrested for a chimera's death, the 17-year-old and her friends seek to clear his name and uncover the secrets behind the facility that last treated the deceased chimera. The heroine continues to rescue her modified friends with her ingenuity and bravery, which begins to grate due to predictability and reliance on tired tropes. All roads lead to tech billionaire Howard Wells, but he barely makes an appearance even though his reach is omnipresent. The romance fails to come to life and often falls in dated gender territory. Awkward dialogue and belabored exposition mar the otherwise effective exploration of relevant and timely issues, such as personhood, genetic experimentation, slave labor, and more. The long-lasting impact of prejudice and the evils that are perpetrated in its name are poignantly woven in with some success, but uneven pacing and characterization detract, and the worldbuilding falters to the point of distraction. A big reveal in the last chapter hints at more to come, but fans might not return for future entries. A disappointing sequel that fails to capture the cohesiveness of the first book. (Science fiction. 14-18)

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July 12, 2019

Gr 9 Up-In this follow-up to his YA debut, Spliced, McGoran finds his rhythm in an exciting, futuristic thriller. Just as 16-year-old heroine Jimi Corcoran has settled back into normalcy, her world is shaken by several events. First, her boyfriend Rex-one of the many younger members of society who has decided to splice his DNA with the genes of animals in order to acquire qualities like fur, cat eyes, or feathers-has returned from places unknown. Second, a cultural and political war between the spliced subculture of "chimeras" and a powerful anti-chimera group is once again heating up. When Doc Guzman tries to help one of these hybrid humans and is jailed, the action takes Jimi and her chimera friends out of their battle-scarred, futuristic Philadelphia and into the postapocalyptic suburbs. There, she finds a hospital with a terrible secret and herself on another mission to save hundreds of chimeras. While the love scenes feel a little forced, this book is full of enough action-packed thrills and suspense to more than make up for it. The social commentary is a bit heavy-handed at times, but it will leave young readers with a lot to ponder about hate groups and their adversaries. VERDICT A sci-fi page-turner for readers who enjoy Cinder and Divergent.-Sara Scribner, Marshall Fundamental School, Pasadena, CA

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