Parents' Guide to

Origin

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Self-contained sci-fi thriller adds emotion to immortality.

Book Jessica Khoury Science Fiction 2012
Origin Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

merilia
merilia Adult
July 8, 2015
age 15+

To inappropriate

Violence, violence, violence that's about it besides some kisses. This book is actually quite graphic. There is a bunch of blood in this book and a lot of deaths. The way they make the syrum in the books is to put in part of the formula into a local human who lived in the forest and drawing the syrum out of their veins after their blood had mixed with it, which a few minutes later kills the person because they can't handle it. When someone or something is injected with the syrum but is already immortal they will lose immortality but if they have already lived past a normal life span they die. These are some of the worst scenes there are more but these are the most graphic.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Deep in the Amazon, Pia has been bred and raised in isolation by a team of scientists searching for the secret to immortality. She is willing to put up with their tests and strict rules until she begins to learn that nothing in the research facility is at it seems. With the help of a sympathetic newcomer and Eio, a boy who lives among the local people, Pia begins to question the cost of immortality and explore the possibility of life outside her camp's fences.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

ORIGIN is a refreshingly self-contained science fiction thriller, the story of one remarkable young woman's discovery of the secrets and betrayal that lie at the heart of her family. Author Jessica Khoury does a fine job of orchestrating Pia's ethical awakening, making her initial naivety and passivity relatable but making her an active agent in her own redemption. The love-at-first-sight of Pia and Eio is a bit overdone but somewhat understandable, given the extraordinary circumstances.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why genetic engineering and the search for immortality are popular themes in science fiction stories. Can you think of other books or movies that explore either or both?

  • What would it feel like to know that you might live forever?

  • How would you feel if you learned that you had been born to be a test subject for a secret experiment?

Book Details

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