The Originals
Author: Cat Patrick
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 7, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316219436
ISBN-13: 978-0316219433
Trust Cat Patrick to write something wild and crazy, told in the most normal of voices. I first came into contact with her work when I read Revived and was completely blown away. When I saw The Originals, I knew I just had to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. The Originals tells the story of three sisters who are not triplets…they are clones. Because their scientist/geneticist mother is on the lam and the FBI is searching for girls of their age masquerading as triplets, they are forced to live a sort of half-life; rather a third of a life. Each girl takes a part of the day and has to be careful in how they wear their hair, clothes, etc. One heads to school in the morning, then rushes home at lunch to switch. The third sister takes over the evening. Occasionally, they switch to accommodate illness or other issues. Needless to say, it’s kind of nuts, but they take it in stride.
The story is told by Lizzie, one of the three girls and her voice is so very authentic. I loved Lizzie. She’s smart, funny and very much a teenaged girl. Being inside her head was a little unnerving. I don’t want to do teen again! But, you know, you get it. You get HER. You remember what it was like to be conflicted, to love your sisters, but be envious of them in small ways, to be unsure and just want to fit in. This is normal teenaged girl stuff told from the viewpoint of a girl who seems very normal, but who clearly isn’t.
Things get complicated when two of the sisters fall for different boys. How do they have relationships/boyfriends and still keep their secret? Can they even have a boyfriend? I won’t tell you anymore, suffice it to say that the complications make this book incredibly interesting. You just have to know what’s going to happen.
The Originals is not just your average YA story…there is serious discussion here on moral and ethical implications of modern science, honesty and integrity. It is thought-provoking and something that will really encourage debate. I think it makes a great reader’s group/book club book (one that can handle some intense discussion).
Highly recommended reading.
Book Description from the publisher:
A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.
17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets… until they discovered a shocking family secret. They’re actually closer than sisters, they’re clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life…
Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she’s not a carbon copy of her sisters; she’s an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.
About the Author:
Cat Patrick is the author of Forgotten, which was on the Summer 2011 Indie Next List, Revived and The Originals. She lives near Seattle with her husband and twin daughters. When she’s not writing, she’s playing dress-up, exploring the great outdoors or planning for a zombie apocalypse. Visit her online on her website or follow her on Facebook.
Disclosure: A free copy of this book was furnished by the publisher for review via NetGalley, but providing a copy did not guarantee a review. This information is provided per the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission.
