Hardcover, 294 pages
Published December 27th 2011 by Zonderkidz
NetGalley Review
Premise: Ganked from Author's site:
Someone is covering up multiple secrets…
Martyr—otherwise known as Jason 3:3—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to “expire” in less than a month. To see the sky.
Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.
As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures—the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he’s ever known.
My Review (sans spoilers!):
First, I want to say that I have not read many Christian
books, and by that I mean, books that quote the Bible frequently, cover
salvation, have characters that find God, etc.
I don’t mind these things, but I am rubbed backwards over stretching a
story to fit a pre-planned idea when it isn’t going that way. You know, “forcing”.
When I requested Replication, I wasn’t thinking “Christian book” at all. I was
thinking “clones – wow!” And I’m so glad I got this book, ‘cause it’s not “forced”!
It took me a little bit to get into the story. Right at the
beginning, Abby moves to Alaska and starts attending the high school running
into hot JD. I’ve read a few books about new girls in high schools running into
hot guys… which honestly, I’m happy for them, but why didn’t that happen to me?!
(Just saying… I did move to a new high school when I was a senior. You’d think
I might’ve run into one of these available hot guys. Nope.)
But after the story started uncovering the hidden farm and I
got to know Martyr, who is a great character, it started picking up speed and
never slowed down again. There’s a complicated mystery uncovered which is
guarded by lots of big, bad guys (who are fun to hate!), so as the story picks
up speed, so does the danger.
Abby is a complicated character, which is so great. She
never falters in her convictions and is the strong hub for all the other
characters. (Yay for strong girls!!) She’s not perfect, though, and even when
she’s trying to make the best choices, sometimes she doesn’t, which is great.
Martyr, as I mentioned, is amazing. He is meek and insecure on one hand while
being decisive and a great leader on the other, based on his, uh… experience.
JD is maddening, which is also fun, and I can’t say any more without giving
away some story. (Not gonna happen!!) Abby’s dad is a good character, too. When
he argues with his daughter and her prinicples, he disagrees and almost over-reacts…
but in his heart, he means well and loves his daughter and life in general,
which I really enjoyed.
This book raises some big questions that are interesting to
consider about cloning. I think I’m not giving anything away to say this book
is centered on a stem-cell researcher gone crazy. If the clones are started
from a dish and replicate someone, are they real people? (All 53 of ‘em?!)
Do they have a soul? Can they have their own purpose? Or is their purpose just
to raise replacement body parts?! I know…
UGH!! I liked the way the author didn’t
spoon-feed me what I should think, but rather raised the questions in this
interesting scenario and let me watch how the characters chose and responded.
Cover Commentary: The cover is a little spooky and intriguing
and matches half of the story well. It’s a tad more sci-fi lookin’ than
temporary, which is misleading, in my opinion. But I did research the premise
based on that freaky cover, so hey, it works!
My Rating: 4 – Pretty Darn Good. The writing is wonderful through-out, very
smooth.
About the Author:Jill Williamson
I was raised in rural Alaska. Alone with my thoughts and the moose, daydreaming was a favorite pastime. As was reading.
I’ve always loved reading. I started out with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. I love just about every genre out there, but my all-time favorites are speculative fiction novels...
So now I write… everywhere.
At home, in the car, at church (only notes, I promise!), in line at the grocery store, at the park, while walking, in the shower… (TMI?)
And I love it.Her entire Bio is (short and) so fun to read... read it at her website!!
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Spirited comes out March 12th, 2012:
by Kat O'Shea, Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author), Mark Finnemore (Goodreads Author), Heather Kenealy (Goodreads Author), Dawn Dalton (Goodreads Author),Linda Joy Singleton (Goodreads Author),Candace Havens (Goodreads Author), Jill Williamson (Goodreads Author) , more...
Giveaway!!
Jill Williamson has graciously offered Replication to one happy winner. She can personalize the book before sending... and this giveaway is open to International Entries. Yay!!! (If the shipping is outrageous to your location, we'll negotiate!)
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