Partials, by Dan WellsBalzer and Bray: New York, 2012.
ISBN: 978-0-06-207104-0
(Review ARC provided by publisher)
Kira survived a civil war with the Partials (an engineered
super-soldier race physically identical to humans) and a subsequent worldwide
plague that ravaged most of humanity.
She lives with the other survivors on the island of Long Island, where
they have created a society and even government. However, the virus that caused the plague is so potent
that no babies born have survived in the ten years since, and the government
has responded by requiring all female citizens to become pregnant starting at
age sixteen. Kira, who works
as a medic with the doomed babies, is not thrilled at the prospect, but when
her adopted sister announces her pregnancy, Kira is determined to save the
baby. She is convinced that the
DNA of the virus-immune Partials contains valuable information, if not the cure,
and convinces her friends to go on an unsanctioned mission into Partial
territory in the former New York City to catch one. Though their mission goes awry, the group succeeds in
bringing back a Partial with them, and Kira is assigned to study it. A sentient being, it has information
that makes Kira question her medical conclusions, her way of thinking, and
eventually, her society. A
slow start ends at breakneck speed with a cliffhanger in this adventurous,
high-adrenaline, post-apocalyptic, occasionally medical and political thriller.
With a thoughtfully, realistically constructed world, it is recommended to
sci-fi and dystopia fans, both boys and girls, grades 8-12 for some complex
medical wrangling and plot-twists.
While some of the characters and situations were certainly
things encountered in previous books (oh hi, leaders with other motives,
occasionally wooden dialogue, misunderstood previous enemies, conflicts of the
heart, looming love triangle, slightly ridiculous names, a bit of telling not showing), I rather liked the
main characters that I was supposed to like. I also loved that the Partials aren’t so cut and dry – as in
they aren’t robots, they aren’t zombies, and apparently, their own problems (I’m
still really curious about the following, which I might have missed: do they
eat? If so do they…you know…need toilet paper? Also, how were they made? And most importantly, what do they do
for fun? So many important questions.) And while yes, you can see some plot twists coming from a mile away,
one big one does take even a seasoned YA-dystopian reader for a bit of a
head-spin. Plus, I have to say, I
haven’t really encountered a pseudo-medical YA book since reading Peeps way
back when (and yes, I am sure there are more), so I’d be lying if I didn’t say
this aspect. The subsequent
diagnostic/logical thought processes actually made me enjoy the book more than
I thought I would. This is no Hunger Games or Divergent, but it is certainly a solid entry into the YA dystopian
publishing game (and way more uplifting than The Giver), and decidedly fun to read. I’m excited for the sequel!
Want to read a preview? Read the first 95 pages here.
*Dan Wells, if you include something about 84 being the
worst highway in America, I will probably faint from overexcitement while
reading the sequel. Incentive to
include this, I KNOW.
1 comment:
Partials is action-packed full of surprises and deceit. Kira lives in a world where each passing day the idea of freedom becomes gradually nonexistent. Teetering on the brink of extinction after being almost wiped out by the Partials and of pending war with the Voice, who are rebelling against the Senate and the Hope Act revisions that will drop the child-bearing age to sixteen. The belief is that at some point a child will survive but this a world I wouldn't want to live in, where you are required to be knocked up as much and as frequently as possible. That is crazy, and so unhealthy and emotionally disturbing. Kira is a great character with a lot of heart and she is determined to save the future of the human race. She is realistic, memorable and well developed as are all the characters. You love the ones you should love, and dislike the ones you should dislike. I really liked Samm, and look forward to more about him in the next book. Though this work is a bit lengthy, the pace flowed smoothly and the concept is an interesting twist on the posing end to the human race. Partials takes some unexpected turns that you won't expect, and things are much more complicated than they seem. What would you do if faced with the possibility of your life, your body no longer being your own, but governed by the rules of society in an effort to save the human race? Fall in line or fight back?This is a story about choice, sacrifice and courage.
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