Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Zonderkidz (2013), Edition: Reprint, 304 pages
Description
What if everything you knew was a lie? 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.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member MarFisk
This novel is a complicated look at both faith and scientific ethics wrapped up in a deceptively simple YA teen troubles story. The writing is excellent, enough to keep me reading when the main character adopted a holier than thou attitude that wore on me a bit, mostly because I fell into the trap
The basic premise of the story is that a scientist was maintaining a secret lab in which he produced clones for medical testing and something more nefarious that would end up killing them when they turned eighteen. Even worse, the staff was abusive, both physically with brutal testing and beatings, and psychologically by creating a scenario in which the clones were sacrifices to save the rest of the world, a lie the clones had no way of testing because they are never allowed out of the facilities.
Note the premise has nothing to do with Abby. She comes into it because her father is on an obsessive search for a cure to cancer after it stole his wife and Abby’s mother too soon. He’s lost sight of the bigger picture and is willing to do anything, even get mixed up with a bad scientist who thinks he’s above the law.
There’s a lot going on, both with Abby (enough to make her interesting despite being a fanatic) and with the clone who goes by the nickname Martyr because he defends the weaker clones against the stronger in what is a bit of a Lord of the Flies situation with little effort taken to keep the clones from establishing primitive order among their own. As long as they do no permanent damage to the most viable, the scientist and staff care little for what happens in the facility. It’s up to Martyr to step in, often to his own loss.
It’s hard to talk about all I liked in this novel without giving away important pieces, so I’m keeping it general, or mentioning things that come up in the beginning. Still I’ll say this much: Abby is not a doctrine to be taught despite how much she thinks she is. Replication touches on serious questions and leaves it to you to consider the implications rather than laying down answers in a fanatical manner, answers about faith and science.
I thought at first that Abby spoke for the author, and that she acted in the place of taking an argument to its farthest reaches and using that as a reason not to explore, in this case the argument that because science can be taken to far, it should then be prevented from searching for genetic solutions, sort of like saying that because someone could die from being stuck with a pencil through the eye pencils are clearly too dangerous to exist. Even if I hadn’t recognized that Abby was just one view in an exploration that raises serious questions to consider, the inclusion of discussion questions in the back proves Williamson’s intent was to get people thinking, especially young people who will be the scientists and believers in our future, the ones making decisions about cloning, genetics, and what defines a person.
Now I don’t want you to think this is a textbook, because you could read and enjoy the novel without ever considering a greater implication. It’s a story with many levels, and well-drawn characters who are far from one-dimensional. You get the perspective of Abby who thinks she knows it all; JD, the star senior, who thinks he wants, and deserves, it all; Abby’s father who believes if he can find a cure he can somehow make up for his failure in his wife’s case, missing the fact that his lack was not in failing to prevent her death but in not appreciating and sharing her life while she was there; and Martyr, of course, whose naïve curiosity makes others question what they have accepted as true. And that’s just a sampling of characters, while the story has elements of a family story, a mystery, a thriller, and several other genres blended well into a cohesive whole.
I requested the book from NetGalley after reading a friend’s review, so I read the final galley rather than the final itself. There was one continuity error I noticed that I hope they catch for the released version, but overall, this is a book worth reading both for enjoyment and to make you consider the implications of where we’re headed, both on religious and scientific grounds. It’s not long, it’s not a hard read, but it is packed tight with story and philosophical goodness, including some things I didn’t even touch on so as not to spoil.
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of connecting the Abby’s beliefs and attitudes with those of the author and so expected this novel to end in a heavy, overly simplified moral. Boy was I wrong.The basic premise of the story is that a scientist was maintaining a secret lab in which he produced clones for medical testing and something more nefarious that would end up killing them when they turned eighteen. Even worse, the staff was abusive, both physically with brutal testing and beatings, and psychologically by creating a scenario in which the clones were sacrifices to save the rest of the world, a lie the clones had no way of testing because they are never allowed out of the facilities.
Note the premise has nothing to do with Abby. She comes into it because her father is on an obsessive search for a cure to cancer after it stole his wife and Abby’s mother too soon. He’s lost sight of the bigger picture and is willing to do anything, even get mixed up with a bad scientist who thinks he’s above the law.
There’s a lot going on, both with Abby (enough to make her interesting despite being a fanatic) and with the clone who goes by the nickname Martyr because he defends the weaker clones against the stronger in what is a bit of a Lord of the Flies situation with little effort taken to keep the clones from establishing primitive order among their own. As long as they do no permanent damage to the most viable, the scientist and staff care little for what happens in the facility. It’s up to Martyr to step in, often to his own loss.
It’s hard to talk about all I liked in this novel without giving away important pieces, so I’m keeping it general, or mentioning things that come up in the beginning. Still I’ll say this much: Abby is not a doctrine to be taught despite how much she thinks she is. Replication touches on serious questions and leaves it to you to consider the implications rather than laying down answers in a fanatical manner, answers about faith and science.
I thought at first that Abby spoke for the author, and that she acted in the place of taking an argument to its farthest reaches and using that as a reason not to explore, in this case the argument that because science can be taken to far, it should then be prevented from searching for genetic solutions, sort of like saying that because someone could die from being stuck with a pencil through the eye pencils are clearly too dangerous to exist. Even if I hadn’t recognized that Abby was just one view in an exploration that raises serious questions to consider, the inclusion of discussion questions in the back proves Williamson’s intent was to get people thinking, especially young people who will be the scientists and believers in our future, the ones making decisions about cloning, genetics, and what defines a person.
Now I don’t want you to think this is a textbook, because you could read and enjoy the novel without ever considering a greater implication. It’s a story with many levels, and well-drawn characters who are far from one-dimensional. You get the perspective of Abby who thinks she knows it all; JD, the star senior, who thinks he wants, and deserves, it all; Abby’s father who believes if he can find a cure he can somehow make up for his failure in his wife’s case, missing the fact that his lack was not in failing to prevent her death but in not appreciating and sharing her life while she was there; and Martyr, of course, whose naïve curiosity makes others question what they have accepted as true. And that’s just a sampling of characters, while the story has elements of a family story, a mystery, a thriller, and several other genres blended well into a cohesive whole.
I requested the book from NetGalley after reading a friend’s review, so I read the final galley rather than the final itself. There was one continuity error I noticed that I hope they catch for the released version, but overall, this is a book worth reading both for enjoyment and to make you consider the implications of where we’re headed, both on religious and scientific grounds. It’s not long, it’s not a hard read, but it is packed tight with story and philosophical goodness, including some things I didn’t even touch on so as not to spoil.
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LibraryThing member BurgandyIce
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
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.
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member AngelaFristoe
When I read the blurb I loved the concept (and the cover!). As much as I love zombies, paranormal, and dystopian books, cloning just seems much closer to what is happening in the world, and a much more possible topic. Which is actually a scary in an entirely different way.
The opening chapter hooked
Abby was different. The first few chapters did have me rolling my eyes, and I was not a fan of hers until she meets Martyr. That's when she really came alive for me. She was no longer the whiny daughter who is too good for the locals, but a girl who has knowledge of the horrible things her father has done and she is dealing with what he is doing now. I did love how she she handled JD, the local football start who pursues her hot and heavy almost immediately. And best of all, I love that even though she's attracted to him, she's pretty honest about the facts that she can't stand him. It's nice to read a book for a change that doesn't have the heroine lusting and supposedly loving the guy who is a complete creep.
There is a twist concerning the and it was really interesting to see how Abby dealt with it and how it made her view Martyr and JD. I don't want to give away too much, but while at first it seemed like something that would come up only in relation to how Abby thought about Martyr and JD, but it comes back at the end in an unexpected way.
There is a level of predictability to the plot and as with most science fiction (at least that I've read) there is a need to suspend you disbelief in the scientific details that are really secondary to the moral issues Williamson was attempting to address. Something I thought was best seen through the eyes of Martyr and what we see happening to the other 'Jasons' and the 'Brokens'.
For those readers who are atheists this probably is not a good choice (pretty obvious considering the reference to God in the blurb), but if you don't mind a bit of religion in your books, you'll be fine. There wasn't an overwhelming amount of God talk, and what is there seems to fit in with the heart and message of the story.
The opening chapter hooked
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me immediately. Martyr (Marty as he eventually becomes) has such an amazing view of his world, and even with the point of view shifting between him and Abby, it's Martyr's perspective that Williamson's writing really shines. It's had to make a love interest out of a guy who has an obsession with colors and loves the red socks with green trees on them. But she accomplishes this. Martyr's innocence about the world and his belief in his role in it is what makes him such an amazing character. It just made me wonder if his thoughts are really how little kids think the first time they see things. His devotion to the 'Brokens' and Baby was so sweet, it was hard not to fall for him.Abby was different. The first few chapters did have me rolling my eyes, and I was not a fan of hers until she meets Martyr. That's when she really came alive for me. She was no longer the whiny daughter who is too good for the locals, but a girl who has knowledge of the horrible things her father has done and she is dealing with what he is doing now. I did love how she she handled JD, the local football start who pursues her hot and heavy almost immediately. And best of all, I love that even though she's attracted to him, she's pretty honest about the facts that she can't stand him. It's nice to read a book for a change that doesn't have the heroine lusting and supposedly loving the guy who is a complete creep.
There is a twist concerning the and it was really interesting to see how Abby dealt with it and how it made her view Martyr and JD. I don't want to give away too much, but while at first it seemed like something that would come up only in relation to how Abby thought about Martyr and JD, but it comes back at the end in an unexpected way.
There is a level of predictability to the plot and as with most science fiction (at least that I've read) there is a need to suspend you disbelief in the scientific details that are really secondary to the moral issues Williamson was attempting to address. Something I thought was best seen through the eyes of Martyr and what we see happening to the other 'Jasons' and the 'Brokens'.
For those readers who are atheists this probably is not a good choice (pretty obvious considering the reference to God in the blurb), but if you don't mind a bit of religion in your books, you'll be fine. There wasn't an overwhelming amount of God talk, and what is there seems to fit in with the heart and message of the story.
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LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks
This story took me a while to get though, and I don't know why. The premise was interesting and I wanted to know what was next, but there was something about it that didn't grab me as well as I hoped. Overall though, it was an interesting idea.
After Abby's mother passed away, her father decided to
There were certain aspect of this story that were very interesting. The whole Jason experiment was cool to learn more about. It was funny at times when Martyr, or Marty as Abby calls him, sounds like he's from another planet because he doesn't know of normal things, he was never exposed to certain things, like color and the sky.
There is a strong theme of religion in this novel, so if you are not into that kind of thing, this book may not be for you. I'm not extremely religious, but it was interesting to see two polar opposites, religion and science, kind of going against each other, only to find that they must co-exist.
I can't explain what I didn't like about this novel, only I wish that there was something more. I'm sorry I can't be more descriptive than that.
After Abby's mother passed away, her father decided to
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move themselves to Alaska, much to Abby's dismay. She tries to make the best of things, but she soon becomes aware of something very suspicious, something she morally cannot let go. Before her mother died, her parents would argue about her father's questionable experiments for his job as a scientist. He has a new job in Alaska, and Abby fears it might just be worse than the first. A series of events puts her face to face with Martyr, a boy who looks exactly like the popular boy at school, and who claims to come from Jason Farms, where her father is currently employed. The journey the two go on leads them to dangerous situations, even facing death straight on. There were certain aspect of this story that were very interesting. The whole Jason experiment was cool to learn more about. It was funny at times when Martyr, or Marty as Abby calls him, sounds like he's from another planet because he doesn't know of normal things, he was never exposed to certain things, like color and the sky.
There is a strong theme of religion in this novel, so if you are not into that kind of thing, this book may not be for you. I'm not extremely religious, but it was interesting to see two polar opposites, religion and science, kind of going against each other, only to find that they must co-exist.
I can't explain what I didn't like about this novel, only I wish that there was something more. I'm sorry I can't be more descriptive than that.
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LibraryThing member ljldml
Replication
by Jill Williamson
published by Zondervan
available Jan 1,2012
Excellent book!! Made me think about genetic experimentation- is it right or wrong? Are we attempting to play God?
Clones are created by a 'mad' scientist named Dr. Kane (Cain perhaps?) The clones are clones he created from his
God is addressed by Abby's unyielding faith. (Abby is the daughter of a scientist). Religion in this book is not overwhelming or suffocating, it is perfect in context with the story.
My review consists of more questions than answers because this book encourages questions. Questions of faith, questions about what is right or wrong.
The story itself is suspenseful and perfect for a young audience.
by Jill Williamson
published by Zondervan
available Jan 1,2012
Excellent book!! Made me think about genetic experimentation- is it right or wrong? Are we attempting to play God?
Clones are created by a 'mad' scientist named Dr. Kane (Cain perhaps?) The clones are clones he created from his
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own genetic makeup. He experiments on these clones. These poor 'less than human' creations. Is it acceptable to utilize these clones for research and warlike endeavors?God is addressed by Abby's unyielding faith. (Abby is the daughter of a scientist). Religion in this book is not overwhelming or suffocating, it is perfect in context with the story.
My review consists of more questions than answers because this book encourages questions. Questions of faith, questions about what is right or wrong.
The story itself is suspenseful and perfect for a young audience.
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LibraryThing member themusescircle
I was able to snag an early copy of Replication from NetGalley in exchange for a review. It was an interesting read to say the least. As the synopsis states above, Martyr, along with 55 other boys, are all "Jasons" or clones, living in the secret, underground labs of Jason Farms. Most of the boys
While the nicknames might be cool, what I found disturbing is that the doctors of Jason Farms viewed them as only numbers. Instead of having birth names, each boy was given a number depending on what "batch" and "condition" he was born in. Martyr, being healthy with no birth defects, is a level 3. Baby, with his abnormally large head, inability to speak, and small stature, is a level 1 or 2. The boys with severe deformities are called "brokens". So while the guards or the other "Jasons" may call Martyr by his nickname, the doctors address him as J:3:3. Talk about being just a number, right?
The author, Jill Williamson, presents us with many disturbing, heart-wrenching scenes, scenes that help us put in perspective how far scientists will go in the name of science or for their own hidden agendas. The "Jasons" are educated but are not allowed to see or wear anything of color. No wonder Martyr gladly accepts 2 "marks" for getting out of his seat to touch Dr. Goyer's red tie. Or the fact that he wants to see the blue sky before he "expires" in less than 30 days. Since we are on the topic of expiring, Dr. Kane and the rest his medical team have repeatedly lied to the "Jasons", weaving a tale about how the air above ground is toxic to breath and they must give up their own lives to save humanity.
So now you're probably wondering what's the real reason for cloning so many "Jasons" and keeping them in the dark? Of course that is for you to discover, although it's not hard to figure out. Determined to see the sky before he dies on top of finding out some disturbing information that makes him question his purpose even further, Martyr is able to escape the lab by stealing Dr. Goyer's key card and hitching a ride in the back of his truck without him knowing it. Dr. Goyer is a new member of the medical team at Jason Farms. He's not only new, but appears to be a little sympathetic towards Martyr.
When Dr. Goyer arrives home, Martyr sneaks into the house and hides in a room upstairs. Little does he know that the room he hides in is Abby's (Dr. Goyer's daughter). Abby is a smart, goal oriented young woman with strong religious beliefs and values. Her faith in God has helped her to come to terms with the loss of her mother, who died from cancer. Her father on the other hand is still in mourning. I got the sense that he blames himself for not being able to find a cure quick enough to save his wife. Unlike Abby, he puts his faith in what he can see in front of his microscope and lab results. Of course once Abby finds Martyr in her room and puts 2 and 2 together, Replication becomes the basis for the religion vs. science debate. Hold that thought because I'm going to come back to it in a minute.
The chapters that follow Martyr seeing the real world for the first time is both comical and sad. It's nothing we haven't seen before in movies (Powder, Encino Man, etc.) but nonetheless still effective. I won't get into any of those details since I think it's important for the reader to experience it on their own. However, it's worth mentioning that the Williamson did a great job illustrating how much we take for granted just by the way Martyr is in awe of the tiniest things.
Most of the reviews I've seen posted so far for Replication have been extremely positive. Even though I commend the author for writing about a topic that is controversial, edgy, and adds something unique to the Young Adult literature world, I did have some issues with this book. My first major problem is the heavy-handed religious proselytizing that takes place from the time Martyr meets Abby to the end of the story. Before I get rocks thrown at me and hate mail, let me say that I found out an important factor AFTER I finished the book. Apparently, Jill Williamson is a Christian author and that Replication was published by Zondervan, a Christian publishing company. Let me make this clear. This is NOT a bad thing! I have nothing against Christian writers, publishing companies, etc. It was my fault for not doing some research before or during my reading experience. That being said, if I had known ahead of time, I could have gone into the book better prepared. Instead, I was highly annoyed when whole chapters turned into Abby preaching to Martyr, sending him to a pastor, the pastor putting a bible in his hand, Martyr reading the bible, Martyr becoming a devote Christian within what-- 2-4 days of his break out of the lab??
Even knowing now about the origins of the book, I still feel the religious aspects of it was too excessive and a bit unrealistic. I know that when it comes to the idea of cloning, religion can play a big part in the ethical debate between religion vs. science. I get that. I was even fine when I realized that Abby was going to take the religious stance while her father took the other side. But it was pretty obvious the book had more than one agenda and that was a major turn off.
My other issues are minor. The author did a lot of "telling" and not enough "showing". Williamson used 3rd person narration which is a great device to use because you can get into more than 1 character's head. However, I don't think she used it to her full advantage. I was also bothered by Mr. Markley's lack of emotion when it is confirmed what really happened to his wife. I can't say any more about that for spoiler purposes, but it also could be an issue with the writing. Also, what happened to JD??? If these things could have been tweaked, I think the book would have an even greater affect on readers' emotions.
Overall, Williamson impressed me with the subject matter, how she took her time developing her characters, and finding the perfect formula for adding comic relief without taking away from the seriousness of the story. If anyone is interested in an adult version of the cloning debate, I highly recommend a book called, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The book recently became a movie, also called Never Let Me Go. Warning: if you decide to watch the movie, have a box of tissues handy.
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have nicknames, given to them by the mean-spirited guards based upon their actions or specific characteristics. For example, Baby obtains his name because he sucks his thumb and is considerably smaller then the other boys. Hummer does nothing but rock back and forth and hum. Martyr is known for protecting those in the facility who are weaker and picked on (especially Baby), often resulting in him receiving "marks" or punishment.While the nicknames might be cool, what I found disturbing is that the doctors of Jason Farms viewed them as only numbers. Instead of having birth names, each boy was given a number depending on what "batch" and "condition" he was born in. Martyr, being healthy with no birth defects, is a level 3. Baby, with his abnormally large head, inability to speak, and small stature, is a level 1 or 2. The boys with severe deformities are called "brokens". So while the guards or the other "Jasons" may call Martyr by his nickname, the doctors address him as J:3:3. Talk about being just a number, right?
The author, Jill Williamson, presents us with many disturbing, heart-wrenching scenes, scenes that help us put in perspective how far scientists will go in the name of science or for their own hidden agendas. The "Jasons" are educated but are not allowed to see or wear anything of color. No wonder Martyr gladly accepts 2 "marks" for getting out of his seat to touch Dr. Goyer's red tie. Or the fact that he wants to see the blue sky before he "expires" in less than 30 days. Since we are on the topic of expiring, Dr. Kane and the rest his medical team have repeatedly lied to the "Jasons", weaving a tale about how the air above ground is toxic to breath and they must give up their own lives to save humanity.
So now you're probably wondering what's the real reason for cloning so many "Jasons" and keeping them in the dark? Of course that is for you to discover, although it's not hard to figure out. Determined to see the sky before he dies on top of finding out some disturbing information that makes him question his purpose even further, Martyr is able to escape the lab by stealing Dr. Goyer's key card and hitching a ride in the back of his truck without him knowing it. Dr. Goyer is a new member of the medical team at Jason Farms. He's not only new, but appears to be a little sympathetic towards Martyr.
When Dr. Goyer arrives home, Martyr sneaks into the house and hides in a room upstairs. Little does he know that the room he hides in is Abby's (Dr. Goyer's daughter). Abby is a smart, goal oriented young woman with strong religious beliefs and values. Her faith in God has helped her to come to terms with the loss of her mother, who died from cancer. Her father on the other hand is still in mourning. I got the sense that he blames himself for not being able to find a cure quick enough to save his wife. Unlike Abby, he puts his faith in what he can see in front of his microscope and lab results. Of course once Abby finds Martyr in her room and puts 2 and 2 together, Replication becomes the basis for the religion vs. science debate. Hold that thought because I'm going to come back to it in a minute.
The chapters that follow Martyr seeing the real world for the first time is both comical and sad. It's nothing we haven't seen before in movies (Powder, Encino Man, etc.) but nonetheless still effective. I won't get into any of those details since I think it's important for the reader to experience it on their own. However, it's worth mentioning that the Williamson did a great job illustrating how much we take for granted just by the way Martyr is in awe of the tiniest things.
Most of the reviews I've seen posted so far for Replication have been extremely positive. Even though I commend the author for writing about a topic that is controversial, edgy, and adds something unique to the Young Adult literature world, I did have some issues with this book. My first major problem is the heavy-handed religious proselytizing that takes place from the time Martyr meets Abby to the end of the story. Before I get rocks thrown at me and hate mail, let me say that I found out an important factor AFTER I finished the book. Apparently, Jill Williamson is a Christian author and that Replication was published by Zondervan, a Christian publishing company. Let me make this clear. This is NOT a bad thing! I have nothing against Christian writers, publishing companies, etc. It was my fault for not doing some research before or during my reading experience. That being said, if I had known ahead of time, I could have gone into the book better prepared. Instead, I was highly annoyed when whole chapters turned into Abby preaching to Martyr, sending him to a pastor, the pastor putting a bible in his hand, Martyr reading the bible, Martyr becoming a devote Christian within what-- 2-4 days of his break out of the lab??
Even knowing now about the origins of the book, I still feel the religious aspects of it was too excessive and a bit unrealistic. I know that when it comes to the idea of cloning, religion can play a big part in the ethical debate between religion vs. science. I get that. I was even fine when I realized that Abby was going to take the religious stance while her father took the other side. But it was pretty obvious the book had more than one agenda and that was a major turn off.
My other issues are minor. The author did a lot of "telling" and not enough "showing". Williamson used 3rd person narration which is a great device to use because you can get into more than 1 character's head. However, I don't think she used it to her full advantage. I was also bothered by Mr. Markley's lack of emotion when it is confirmed what really happened to his wife. I can't say any more about that for spoiler purposes, but it also could be an issue with the writing. Also, what happened to JD??? If these things could have been tweaked, I think the book would have an even greater affect on readers' emotions.
Overall, Williamson impressed me with the subject matter, how she took her time developing her characters, and finding the perfect formula for adding comic relief without taking away from the seriousness of the story. If anyone is interested in an adult version of the cloning debate, I highly recommend a book called, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The book recently became a movie, also called Never Let Me Go. Warning: if you decide to watch the movie, have a box of tissues handy.
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LibraryThing member jackiediorio
Replication has an interesting, if not very original premise. The story is about a group of identical clones living in an underground facility. These clones are told that it is their life purpose to die when they turn eighteen, in order to further research on the toxic air that exists outside of
Martyr wants to see what the sky outside looks like before he "expires," so he steals a nice doctor's keycard and escapes from the facility. Outside of it he learns the truth, and becomes friends with the doctor's daughter Abby. She introduces him to God, and together they work to free the other "Jason" clones from the facility.
The actual story for this book is someone interesting, but definitely unbelievable at some points. For example, a dead doctor's keycard works years after her demise. A high security lab doesn't change the codes on its keycards? Even hotels do that. At another point, a girl manages to escape from the police and shimmy down a dumb waiter that was in full sight of the local cops. They must have really bad vision.
Additionally, this story is highly religious, with the characters frequently praying and talking about God, and Abby using the bible to condemn any kind of stem cell experimentation. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; indeed, this book will probably have a welcome place in a religious community, as there isn't a lot of religious sci-fi out there. This novel will probably not have a place, though, in an area that has a low Christian community. The book should be marked under both "religion" and "sci-fi" in the library.
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the facility. In reality, they are simply organ donors and science experiments for the leading scientist, who is trying to cure his own lupus.Martyr wants to see what the sky outside looks like before he "expires," so he steals a nice doctor's keycard and escapes from the facility. Outside of it he learns the truth, and becomes friends with the doctor's daughter Abby. She introduces him to God, and together they work to free the other "Jason" clones from the facility.
The actual story for this book is someone interesting, but definitely unbelievable at some points. For example, a dead doctor's keycard works years after her demise. A high security lab doesn't change the codes on its keycards? Even hotels do that. At another point, a girl manages to escape from the police and shimmy down a dumb waiter that was in full sight of the local cops. They must have really bad vision.
Additionally, this story is highly religious, with the characters frequently praying and talking about God, and Abby using the bible to condemn any kind of stem cell experimentation. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; indeed, this book will probably have a welcome place in a religious community, as there isn't a lot of religious sci-fi out there. This novel will probably not have a place, though, in an area that has a low Christian community. The book should be marked under both "religion" and "sci-fi" in the library.
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LibraryThing member BrynDahlquis
I honestly wasn't expecting much. Not only is it an ARC for me, but the cover isn't overly impressive and something about the plot didn't sit right with me.
But wooah.
It is awesome. I loved it. I enjoy very few Christian fiction books, because they tend to be preachy and lack actual writing, plot,
Sure, there are a few awkward points that need smoothing out, but I'm willing to excuse them since I read an ARC.
And the ENDING! The whole time I was stressing about the ending because I couldn't think of a satisfactory ending, but Jill Williamson managed to pull it off.
So... basically, I loved it. It was a very, very pleasant surprise.
But wooah.
It is awesome. I loved it. I enjoy very few Christian fiction books, because they tend to be preachy and lack actual writing, plot,
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and characters. But Replication -has- those things! The writing is very good, the plot is actually interesting, and the characters are actually cool. It was -so- well down.Sure, there are a few awkward points that need smoothing out, but I'm willing to excuse them since I read an ARC.
And the ENDING! The whole time I was stressing about the ending because I couldn't think of a satisfactory ending, but Jill Williamson managed to pull it off.
So... basically, I loved it. It was a very, very pleasant surprise.
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LibraryThing member chickey1981
I received this book from Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
Replication: The Jason Experiment alternates perspectives between two protagonists: Abby Goyer, a teenager who discovers a horrible secret-- Marty (aka Martyr and one of the cloned Jasons) who lives in a facility with
I was torn about this book. I really liked the initial setup of the book. Abby and Marty's perspectives were very distinct from one another, which I thought was well done. I loved getting to know the world through Marty's eyes. I also liked thinking about the ethical consequences of science taken too far.
That said, there were a few key issues I had with the book. I am not sure the intent of Williamson in this book. A central argument in the book is whether stem cell research is ethical and what might happen if it's not. I may be in the minority about stem cell research-- I believe myself to be a religious person but do not deign to know when life starts. I felt like the author was telling me that stem cell research is bad (this may not have been her intent as the questions at the end of the book suggest that she was trying to make it more open ended). I do think a lot of people have misconceptions about stem cell research. Just to put a thought out there-- fertility clinics dispose of unused stem cells. If they are going to be destroyed anyway, using these cells for research seems to make sense. Plus, if this is legal, we will have better control of how the research is directed and put safeguards in place before something awful like the Jason experiment occurs. Unfortunately, religion sometimes clouds this issue, making it more black and white than it actually is. But I digress.
I thought the first half of the book was a lot stronger than the second. The strength of the book lies in Marty and Abbey's characterizations. I really felt for both of these characters and was almost moved to tears when Marty described new experiences. I was a little disturbed by Abby falling in love with him so quickly-- this kid has only seen one woman before her!!! And to me, Marty is socially in kindergarten-- it seems a little inappropriate for them to be in a relationship so fast. The last half of the book becomes more of an action film and the ending was a little too pat-- this is a difficult issue that has a lot of gray. Lastly, the scientists are painted the bad guys. Obviously, the main baddie is pretty psychotic, but to me, people are three dimensional, and he just seemed very one sided.
That said, I did enjoy this book, and it was very thought provoking at times. I am worried, however, that intentionally or not, it gives a one sided answer to a very difficult ethical question.
Replication: The Jason Experiment alternates perspectives between two protagonists: Abby Goyer, a teenager who discovers a horrible secret-- Marty (aka Martyr and one of the cloned Jasons) who lives in a facility with
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many other Jason clones. He has prodded, poked, and experimented on, and will eventually be terminated by his 18th birthday like all other Jason clones. Marty learns what it means to be free, and Abby learns the dark secret behind closed doors.I was torn about this book. I really liked the initial setup of the book. Abby and Marty's perspectives were very distinct from one another, which I thought was well done. I loved getting to know the world through Marty's eyes. I also liked thinking about the ethical consequences of science taken too far.
That said, there were a few key issues I had with the book. I am not sure the intent of Williamson in this book. A central argument in the book is whether stem cell research is ethical and what might happen if it's not. I may be in the minority about stem cell research-- I believe myself to be a religious person but do not deign to know when life starts. I felt like the author was telling me that stem cell research is bad (this may not have been her intent as the questions at the end of the book suggest that she was trying to make it more open ended). I do think a lot of people have misconceptions about stem cell research. Just to put a thought out there-- fertility clinics dispose of unused stem cells. If they are going to be destroyed anyway, using these cells for research seems to make sense. Plus, if this is legal, we will have better control of how the research is directed and put safeguards in place before something awful like the Jason experiment occurs. Unfortunately, religion sometimes clouds this issue, making it more black and white than it actually is. But I digress.
I thought the first half of the book was a lot stronger than the second. The strength of the book lies in Marty and Abbey's characterizations. I really felt for both of these characters and was almost moved to tears when Marty described new experiences. I was a little disturbed by Abby falling in love with him so quickly-- this kid has only seen one woman before her!!! And to me, Marty is socially in kindergarten-- it seems a little inappropriate for them to be in a relationship so fast. The last half of the book becomes more of an action film and the ending was a little too pat-- this is a difficult issue that has a lot of gray. Lastly, the scientists are painted the bad guys. Obviously, the main baddie is pretty psychotic, but to me, people are three dimensional, and he just seemed very one sided.
That said, I did enjoy this book, and it was very thought provoking at times. I am worried, however, that intentionally or not, it gives a one sided answer to a very difficult ethical question.
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LibraryThing member Reesa111
I loved this book~ Would like to see this one made into a movie for the big-screen. I had a hard time putting this one down and finished this book in two days or so- This will be a favorite of 2012 for me. Reesa***
LibraryThing member jes5890
This is definitely not a book for someone who doesn't care for Christianity in their reading. It does do a great job of combining both religion and science in a nice way since Abby has the heart of a scientist but is very religious and only touches very slightly on the morals of practices rather
The thing I disliked the most was the first 100 pages of interaction with JD and Abby. Talk about a character made for annoyance. Their dialogue and actions seemed petty and not really critical to the story at all beyond the bit where you get that he's an arrogant jerk, but then it just drones on and on between the two characters until things actually start to happen.
Sometimes it seems as if some of the characters sort of meld. They don't have entirely their own voice so that you really recognize them as being substantial and unique.
It definitely does have the feel of the movie The Island, so if you like that and want a teenage and religion mix, it's an entertaining read. I'd read a sequel in hope that Jill Williamson expands on Abby and others to really cement them into their own being, in the way that Martyr really came to life.
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than the constant battle between the two.The thing I disliked the most was the first 100 pages of interaction with JD and Abby. Talk about a character made for annoyance. Their dialogue and actions seemed petty and not really critical to the story at all beyond the bit where you get that he's an arrogant jerk, but then it just drones on and on between the two characters until things actually start to happen.
Sometimes it seems as if some of the characters sort of meld. They don't have entirely their own voice so that you really recognize them as being substantial and unique.
It definitely does have the feel of the movie The Island, so if you like that and want a teenage and religion mix, it's an entertaining read. I'd read a sequel in hope that Jill Williamson expands on Abby and others to really cement them into their own being, in the way that Martyr really came to life.
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LibraryThing member Caj828
I enjoyed Replication: The Jason Experiment a lot more than I was expecting. I was pulled into the mystery and the what if this really was happening. It makes you start thinking about that. I like all the characters and would love to read a follow-up book to this one. I will be checking out other
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books by Jill Williamson. Good book Show Less
LibraryThing member RachelJohn
I won this through a first reads giveaway.
I thought the book was fairly entertaining, but needs some editing. Also, the cloning premise was a bit much, without either putting it way in the future, or maybe on a smaller, more believable level. The mix of science, religion, and romance is hard to do
I thought the book was fairly entertaining, but needs some editing. Also, the cloning premise was a bit much, without either putting it way in the future, or maybe on a smaller, more believable level. The mix of science, religion, and romance is hard to do
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well and this book didn't live up to my expectations. Martyr, who should have been the hardest character to write was more believable than the dad, daughter or evil scientist. I found myself just wanting to get through it so I could write the review. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
304 p.; 7.99 inches
ISBN
031072760X / 9780310727606
UPC
025986727604