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What's Left of Me: The Hybrid Chronicles, Book 1
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intriguing tale of two-souled girl bogs down in repetition.
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What's the Story?
Addie and Eva are hybrids, twin consciousnesses that share a single body. They were supposed to \"settle\" years ago, with Eva fading away and Addie staying behind as the remaining \"soul,\" but they didn't. When they meet another girl with two souls, Addie and Eva dare to break the longtime habits that have kept them safe, and they attract the attention of the government that wants to \"cure\" them once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
WHAT'S LEFT OF ME has an intriguing premise, but it bogs down in a series of repetitive scenes and conflicts. Although much attention is paid to the moral implications of "killing" one soul at the expense of another, the neurological and philosophical aspects of this alternate reality are virtually ignored. Presenting characters with two distinct personalities each would be a challenge for any writer, and author Kat Zhang doesn't make this literary conceit work completely.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it might be like to share your body with another consciousness. Do you think it would be interesting or creepy?
Why do you think evil governments are at the core of so many science-fiction books? Can you think of others?
Why would a government be afraid of hybrids like Addie and Eva? What steps might the government take to protect itself from them?
Book Details
- Author: Kat Zhang
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: September 18, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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