Tankborn

Nov 17, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook-egalley, sci-fi-or-futuristic, young-adult, read-2011, 2011-favorites, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, poc, 2011-publication

"When is the DNA surely human? When is it not?"

"I speak. I feel. I laugh and cry." She broke off and looked away briefly. "Some things I want so badly I think I'll die of it. I do worship the Infinite. But to be told everyday that I'm not human..."

In the 400 years since the end of Earth, human society is a vastly different place on the Planet Loka. There are levitating cars, strange monstrous creatures, and babies that are suddenly taken by the government without any explanation. Best friends Ka...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Maja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, multiple-povs, netgalley, postcard-from-outer-space, sci-fi, role-models, ya, middle-grade, reviewed-in-2012

This is one of those very rare occasions when I feel comfortable recommending a book I didn’t enjoy myself. Tankborn is a story that raises some very important issues and manages to make all the necessary points while completely avoiding a condescending tone. It is a dystopian novel with elements of science fiction, and I think it’s safe to say that it stands out among the (too) many dystopian novels that seem to be growing like mushrooms these days.

There are three levels of society in Tankborn...more This is one of those very rare occasions when I feel comfortable recommending a book I didn’t enjoy myself. Tankborn is a story that raises some very important issues and manages to make all the necessary points while completely avoiding a condescending tone. It is a dystopian novel with elements of science fiction, and I think it’s safe to say that it stands out among the (too) many dystopian novels that seem to be growing like mushrooms these days.

There are three levels of society in Tankborn: tankborns, genetically engineered non-humans, created specifically for one purpose by adding a certain skill set (sket); lowborns, usually manual workers and certainly not rich, but with rights and control over their lives; and trueborns, nobility of sorts, who have wealth, power and complete control over tankborns.

Tankborn is told from three different points of view: Kayla’s, Mishalla’s and Devak’s. Both Kayla and Mishalla are tankborns. Kayla was made stronger than an average human and she is meant to be a caregiver, and Mishalla’s genes were altered in a way that allows her to be a good nanny and her job is to take care of children. As tankborns, neither of the girls has any rights, they are essentially slaves. Kayla is considered a freak even among her own because her GEN tattoo is on the wrong cheek. Devak is a trueborn, from one of the most prominent families on Loki. He saves Kayla and her nurture brother Jal from some boys and later Kayla gets assigned to take care of his grandfather.

While the social structure was carefully thought out and very convincing, the worlbuilding left a lot to be desired. Tankborn is set on a planet called Loka that reminded me too much of Earth in every way. I felt that the author, having decided to create this planet, should have seen it through and given the readers a little more information about it. There was a brief description of some animals on Loka at the very beginning that caused me to get my hopes up, but after that, the planet itself stopped being important.

The few mammals on Loka weren’t as hideous as the spider-creatures. The wary seycats that kept the vermin down in the warehouses sported intriguing pelts and tall tufted ears. The six-legged droms that roamed the plains had thick mottled wool and droopy noses and only one pair of large black eyes set in their camel-like heads.

Do you see now why I wanted more of that? To have one such passage in the first chapter, and nothing after, was a little disappointing.
I can’t say that I was really convinced by Devak’s feelings for Kayla. He went from not wanting to touch her and being disgusted by her to liking her a little too quickly for my taste.

Tankborn is a solidly written story about racism, hatred and survival of friendship. It’s entirely my fault that I didn’t enjoy it more, and while that information may be useless for other readers, I really can’t lie and say that I liked it more than I did. Part of my problem was that it felt more like a middle grade novel than young adult. I’m nevertheless pretty sure that fans of dystopia will be thrilled with these characters and society.

For this review and more, please visit The Nocturnal Library
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Jun 18, 2013 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: capital-l-labor, daddy-drinks-because-you-cry, grrrrl-power, monarchy, netgalley, reviewed, sci-fi, space-the-final-frontier, the-future-is-now, young-adult, grandparental-overshare

Cross-posted on Readerling

When my Grandma was a girl, she was told by a Catholic priest that Protestants had tails hidden under their clothes. Maybe they had cloven hooves too, or that might have been Jews, but either way, Protestants weren't rightly human. I don't think my Grandma ever went so far as to believe this, so I can't tell some fun story about how she was surprised by my Protestant grandfather's tail-free posterior when they married. Plus, obviously, she married my Protestant grandfat...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-or-post-apocalyptic, young-adult-fiction

Let’s just get straight to it: I loved Tankborn. If I’m being really, really honest, I wasn’t looking too forward to reading it. It’s the second to last book in my Dystopian August schedule and I had yet to come across a book that was mostly dystopian. I’ve had post-apocalyptic and science fiction, often with dystopian-type aspects (and some with none) but nothing like Matched, Divergent, The Giver or The Hunger Games – ‘traditional’ dystopian societies. The reason I was apprehensive about Tankb...more Let’s just get straight to it: I loved Tankborn. If I’m being really, really honest, I wasn’t looking too forward to reading it. It’s the second to last book in my Dystopian August schedule and I had yet to come across a book that was mostly dystopian. I’ve had post-apocalyptic and science fiction, often with dystopian-type aspects (and some with none) but nothing like Matched, Divergent, The Giver or The Hunger Games – ‘traditional’ dystopian societies. The reason I was apprehensive about Tankborn was that it looked very science-fiction-y. It is, but it’s also extremely believable. I consider it to be dystopian as the society is at the heart of the storyline.

Tankborn is set on a different planet: Loca, which, as far as I could tell, is identical to Earth. The story is told from two perspectives – Kayla and Mishalla – Genetically Engineered Non-humans (GENs) and in the society they live in, there is a strict caste system. GENs are at the very bottom of the hierarchy and once they turn 15-years-old, they are sent to be slaves to ‘trueborns’ (ranging from low-status to high-status trueborns).

The world-building is very well done: the society is clearly described and in detail; I could easily picture it and understand its social rules and the implications for rule-breaking. I did feel a chill run down my spine as one of the main characters discovers a ‘real’ book and comments on how the words are written on paper and not on a virtual screen; I read this book on a Kindle. It also introduces new terms such as “skets” (skill sets), which I found easy to grasp and learn. However, what makes Tankborn stand out is that it explores issues of class and race as this is what the strict caste system is based on. It’s extremely thought-provoking and although it is fictional and futuristic, it mirrors our own society.

Tankborn won’t get as much publicity, and therefore hype, as the above books but it is definitely worth checking out. It has traditional dystopian aspects: the police-state, the underground rebels, the control of beliefs and ideas, control of freedom and individual rights, and control over relationships; all of which may seem very fictional but are instead very real. I very much enjoyed learning about Kayla and Mishalla’s society and their individual stories so I am giving Tankborn 5/5 stars.

This book was obtained as an eGalley from Tu Books.

Dystopian or Not Dystopian? Dystopian(less)

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Sep 30, 2011 Phoebe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, young-adult, planetary-romance, intergalactic-academy-reviews, loved-it

Complete review at the Intergalactic Academy.

In Tankborn, Karen Sandler’s young adult debut with the new multicultural press Tu Books, we meet a genetically engineered girl named Kayla. She’s spending her last days of childhood living with her “nurture mother” in the overcrowded slums of her world while she waits for her job assignment. As she stresses over her eventual vocation–and for good reason; GENs like her are often sent far away from their families of origin–we learn more about Loka, and...more Complete review at the Intergalactic Academy.

In Tankborn, Karen Sandler’s young adult debut with the new multicultural press Tu Books, we meet a genetically engineered girl named Kayla. She’s spending her last days of childhood living with her “nurture mother” in the overcrowded slums of her world while she waits for her job assignment. As she stresses over her eventual vocation–and for good reason; GENs like her are often sent far away from their families of origin–we learn more about Loka, and the fascinating people who live there. Kayla is a GEN, created in the tanks of the title. Not only does she have superhumanly strong arms, but she also has an augmented brain, with an embedded clock and access to stores of professional knowledge left there by her “trueborn” engineers.

We also begin to learn about Loka’s strict caste system: the GENs at the bottom of the pyramid, disdained even by lowborn humans, and the very few, wealthy trueborns at the top. Sandler enriches these class divisions with differences in race and dress. All of this information was so richly detailed that, initially, I had trouble keeping track of it all–but luckily, Sandler’s strong prose carried me through.

Loka is a world that’s bountifully rich. As a novel, Tankborn challenges you to learn its rules and digest them, like Kayla has. An example of this is the wonderfully detailed religion that the GENs follow; it’s different than the religion of the trueborns (and different from anything we know on Earth), and it rightfully impacts Kayla’s life and decisions. You can’t understand her unless you understand her faith, but, having understood that, you’re in for a much richer experience than you are with many YA sci-fi titles that leave matters of religion, class, and race unexplored.

In this way, I strongly feel that Tankborn is just what the genre has been waiting for. There are a lot of complaints these days about cookie cutter dystopians, and authors who can’t be bothered to consider plausibility or worldbuilding. Sandler’s writing punches those complaints in the face. This is the kind of science fiction that’s timeless, even though it was (for whatever reason) much more common in the ’70s and ’80s than it is today. With the deftness of Sherri S. Tepper and Ursula Le Guin, Sandler creates an utterly plausible world.

As for the story, it’s solid, nicely paced, and thoughtful. Kayla and Mishalla are admirable girls, though their upbringing has (understandably) warped their perceptions of the world around them. Kayla’s growth is fascinating, particularly her struggles with religion. My only criticism centers around certain plot revelations that occur three-quarters into the book. Without spoiling, I can say that these twists were a bit more fairy tale than I really like. Through Tankborn‘s first half, I expected a resolution that hinges on questions of the GENs’ humanity, but the story Sandler gives us instead felt a bit well-worn.

Still, that hardly detracts from what’s done well here–and what’s done well is done very well indeed. I’d easily recommend Tankborn to any sci-fi fan who has been left wanting by recent YA dystopians. (less)

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Nov 27, 2011 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia-or-postapocalyptic, netgalley-arc, young-adult-fiction, sci-fi, 2011-reads, 2011-reviews, reviewed, arc, inventive-and-original

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Tankborn surprised me. What I initially assumed was simply a run-of-the-mill, churn-'em-out-quick young-adult dystopia, Tankborn emerges as a strong novel with compelling adult-ish themes about defining what humanity and beauty mean to every individual. Clocking in at a nice length of almost 400 pages, Karen Sandler creates a distinctive, dark and utterly readable world with her science fiction gem. I would put her indie-published Tankborn up there...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Tintaglia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galleys

Premetto che, contrariamente a quanto si legge in giro, questo NON è un distopico: è (merce molto più rara di questi tempi - oddio, non che i distopici come Suzanne Collins comanda siano proprio frequenti come margherite...) un ottimo romanzo di fantascienza per ragazzi, scritto con competenza, con una solida trama e la capacità di lasciare molte domande: non domande banali come "ma Tizio si metterà con Caia, o con Sempronia", nè "il pianeta Loka esploderà o la popolazione tirerà le cuoia per la...more Premetto che, contrariamente a quanto si legge in giro, questo NON è un distopico: è (merce molto più rara di questi tempi - oddio, non che i distopici come Suzanne Collins comanda siano proprio frequenti come margherite...) un ottimo romanzo di fantascienza per ragazzi, scritto con competenza, con una solida trama e la capacità di lasciare molte domande: non domande banali come "ma Tizio si metterà con Caia, o con Sempronia", nè "il pianeta Loka esploderà o la popolazione tirerà le cuoia per la fame o si salveranno tutti", ma domande che riguardano l'essere umano: cosa ci rende umani, se il DNA o quello che proviamo; cos'è la religione, e quale il suo ruolo (vero conforto o oppio dei popoli); se (e quali) dovrebbero essere i limiti della scienza.
Non sono domande facili, e non vengono fornite risposte, facili o meno: sebbene sia un romanzo meno complesso (e meno "filosofico") di Dentro Jenna le questioni vengono poste, e vengono mostrate le storture che nascono dal non mettersi queste domande, o dal cattivo uso che si fa dei mezzi messi a disposizione da scienza e tecnologia.

Mi è piaciuta molto anche l'ambientazione: l'arido pianeta Loka, colonizzato dopo la distruzione ecologica della Terra e abitato da una popolazione inquadrata in un rigido sistema di caste (sia questo, che gli abiti, che le varie sfumature di pelle mi hanno ricordato la società indiana - un piacevole cambiamento d'atmosfera, devo dire, rispetto alle ambientazioni WASP della stragrande maggioranza degli YA) viene reso con chiarezza, sia nell'ambiente che nella vita quotidiana; e i personaggi sono credibili nelle loro debolezze e nella forza che scoprono di avere, anche quando tutte le loro convinzioni di una vita vengono stravolte e si trovano davanti a una realtà nuova, magmatica, a cui devono adattarsi del tutto.

E mentre la possibilità dell'instant love è sempre dietro l'angolo, ho apprezzato anche come si sviluppano le storie d'amore di Mishalla e Kayla, le ragazze protagoniste; con delicatezza, con timore, e con la piena consapevolezza che il mondo stesso in cui vivono le rende impossibili: e che, forse, allora bisogna cambiare il mondo.(less)

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Jan 16, 2012 Johanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: source-netgalley, challenge-2012-ebooks

It's been a while since I've picked up a book that is mainly science fiction and enjoyed it so much. Karen Sandler introduces us to Loka, a planet that the people of Earth colonize in the future due to Earth's climate crumbling down, and in the process introduces us to a whole new vocabulary. Names of plants, animals, inanimate objects, all strange names for strange things. It is truly a fascinating new world. Fans of dystopia and a little known movie called "Avatar" will enjoy this.

Tankborn is...more It's been a while since I've picked up a book that is mainly science fiction and enjoyed it so much. Karen Sandler introduces us to Loka, a planet that the people of Earth colonize in the future due to Earth's climate crumbling down, and in the process introduces us to a whole new vocabulary. Names of plants, animals, inanimate objects, all strange names for strange things. It is truly a fascinating new world. Fans of dystopia and a little known movie called "Avatar" will enjoy this.

Tankborn is told from two different points of view, Kayla and Mishalla's. Kayla and Mishalla are childhood friends and really see each other more like sisters, nurture sisters, because they are "tankborn" or born from a tank and not a mother, or as more commonly referred to in the book, they are GENs (Genetically Engineered Non-Humans). GENs are human in every aspect of the word, except that they are not born from an actual mother, they have an extra annexed brain to which you can upload information to and download information from, and carry an elaborate tattoo on their cheek which serves as the interface with which this annexed brain can be accessed.

GENs are raised by "nurture mothers" up to age 15, at which age the GEN is assigned as a slave somewhere where they spend the rest of their short lives serving others. You see, Loka's society is not like the one we know now on Earth. Society is divided into different social statuses, starting from the High-Status Trueborns which are the richer few and born the traditional way and all the way down to the GENs which are the lowest in the social ladder. Kayla and Mishalla are two GENs who are assigned to different assignments in two different regions of Loka. Assignments that couldn't be any more different from each other, but that in reality are linked together in a very unique way. Before they know it, Kayla and Mishalla are thrown into a web of deceit, hatred, and racism while in the process finding out that they are not just any ordinary GENs as they have been told their whole lives that they are.

Both Kayla and Mishalla find love during this travesty, in the most unlikely of places. I did feel that the relationships in this book were a bit rushed and out of the blue and at the end of the book felt that the story needed to continue. I am sincerely hoping that Karen Sandler is planning on continuing the story. A sequel? I definitely hope so. I gave this book 4 stars for the well told and unique story. I would have given it 5 if the romance between the characters had been better developed.(less)

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Aug 26, 2011 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm really getting into dystopia types of books and really enjoyed reading this one. I liked the author's story of the future, DNA technology and the struggle to overcome matrix or appearance of what actually is reality.

However, I will say that it was not as an easy read as Delirium and XVI and a few others I have read. The beginning started really slow for me, and I almost lost interest. I understand the author was trying to describe the setting, but I found it really unnecessary (especially in...more

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Aug 21, 2011 ananka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, cloning, coming-of-age, friendship, futuristic, smart-girl, slavery, teen, tween

When earth became uninhabitable, the rich decided to pack up and head into space. Realizing they needed laborers to build the ships and their new homes, they brought along indentured servants creating instant hierarchy and discord. To placate the lowborn, the rich created another race to serve, these were the the Tankborn (rather than natural born). These new people were enhanced with animal dna and programmed with special skills that could help them in their labors. Kayla is a tankborn and at t...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy-sf, young-adult, arc

Initial thoughts: slow moving in the first part, but that's a good thing for this book. A lot of the book involves very important (and interesting and creative) world-building, so it needs a patient reader. It picks up quite a bit later on and throws in a lot of things I didn't see coming. I would say this is not a book for a casual SF reader, mostly because the world takes a lot of dedication to understand. You've got to really enjoy that aspect of SF to enjoy the book.

I thought the romances we...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tankborn by Karen Sandler begins with friends Kayla and Mishalla, two Genetically Engineered Non-humans, (GENs), and the futuristic caste society in which they live. Both girls live in the slumlands and are treated as vagrants because all GENs are created, modified, and born in tanks, not in a human mother's womb. Non-GENs get a choice in their upbringing and future, but for Kayla and Mishalla the future is bleak. The only assignment is that of slavery.[return][return] Kayla manages to be assign...more Tankborn by Karen Sandler begins with friends Kayla and Mishalla, two Genetically Engineered Non-humans, (GENs), and the futuristic caste society in which they live. Both girls live in the slumlands and are treated as vagrants because all GENs are created, modified, and born in tanks, not in a human mother's womb. Non-GENs get a choice in their upbringing and future, but for Kayla and Mishalla the future is bleak. The only assignment is that of slavery.[return][return] Kayla manages to be assigned to the service of an trueborn elderly man named Zul Manel as a caregiver to his family and children, and it is here that she discovers the terrible reality of what it really means to be a tankborn GEN. Especially when the children of the Manel household begin disappearing and Kayla must find out who she can trust in order to find the children before it is too late. [return][return] I received Tankborn from publisher Lee and Low Books on NetGalley and immediately loaded it into my Kindle because I had been hearing good things about it; and guess what, the rumors were true! I like a book with a strong plot, developed characters, fast-paced dialogue, and a sci-fi twist, all of which I found in this beautifully covered ebook. I recently discovered the Dystopian genre and this was a welcome addition to my collection. [return] [return] I loved the terminology as well as the use of the caste system. The rich descriptions of color, race, and class added to the beautiful language usage, especially when describing characters like Kayla, Jal, and Zul. I am a really visual person, so the more details the better. The pace of the book was well appreciated, it took me a few hours to finish, and it was engrossing enough that I was sad when I turned the last digital page and realized it was over. [return][return] Overall, Tankborn was thoroughly enjoyable Dystopian read that was put together Velcro-tight and had me wishing there was more to be read. I rate Karen Sandler's Tankborn 4.5/5 stars.(less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopias, sci-fi, space

I usually stay away from anything science fiction, but since this one was labeled as dystopian too (and I love those), I thought I should give it a try. I am very glad I did, because Tankborn has become a top favorite!

Humans left the Earth and settle on Loka, an arid planet with two suns and almost no green except in the genetically grown preserves. They survived by building a caste system, that kept everyone in its place. In an attempt to make lowborns more agreeable to high-born rule, they cr...more I usually stay away from anything science fiction, but since this one was labeled as dystopian too (and I love those), I thought I should give it a try. I am very glad I did, because Tankborn has become a top favorite!

Humans left the Earth and settle on Loka, an arid planet with two suns and almost no green except in the genetically grown preserves. They survived by building a caste system, that kept everyone in its place. In an attempt to make lowborns more agreeable to high-born rule, they created Genetically Engineered Non-Humans or GENs. Grown in tanks using human and animal DNA, they are built with specific skets (skills sets) and assigned jobs working for high borns at the age of fifth teen. They have a sub-neural circuit installed that permits the download and upload of information from their annexed brain through a dermal interface tattoo place on their left cheek. It’s like they have their own internal computer, and like any computer they can be realigned (reset). Even though there are rules against the mistreatment of GENs, they are still treated like scum.

I was a bit daunted at firs with all the jargon and big tech words, but as soon as I straightened it all out in my mind, I was immersed in the story. I found the whole world fascinating; filled with eight legged spider-like animals, micro-lev cars, wristlink communicators, holograms, and the GENs. And that is where the story starts, with a GEN girl.

Kayla 6982 of Chadi sector is a GEN with super strength in her arms and an even stronger will. She is a weird case because her GEN tattoo is on her right cheek. Close to her Assignment day she meets a highborn boy who defends her against some bullies. Bewildered by his nice treatment, she finds herself thinking about him all the time, something sacrilegious. Her Assignment turns out to be taking care of an old highborn called Zul who seems to know more about her origins and GENs like her, the ones whose tattoo is on the wrong side. Kayla will find herself falling for a boy who rules and religion dictate is out of her reach, immersed in an old conspiracy plot that can turn out to be another uprising. When she is presented with the opportunity, will she choose a new beginning for herself or will she stay and help others like her?

Devak is troubled by the sudden feelings he has for Kayla. Because even though he follows grandfather’s views, he still feels ashamed about being called a GEN lover. It’ll be some time before he realizes that GENs have feelings, have desires and dreams too. Will he have the courage to stand up for what he believes is right?

Mishalla is Kayla’s best friend. She’s a nurturer, set to care for orphan low born children. But when they begin taking the children in the middle of the night for relocation, Mishalla starts to think there’s something wrong going on. Add to that the mysterious lowborn at the market and the forbidden tech he gave to her. The only one she can trust is Eoghan, but he seems to have forgotten all about her. It will be up to her to save the children.

Karen Sandler has managed to create a unique world and filled it with even more unique characters that you can’t help but to cheer on page after page. Though the first few chapters got a bit tedious with necessary description and explanations, I found the story moved really well after that. I always like it when there is more than one character POV like in Tankborn, because when the narrator changes I’m always trying to read faster to know what happened. I was impressed how even being a YA book the plot explored issues of race, religion, and politics. The ending did break my heart but I liked that it left space for more of there is ever the opportunity. And I really hope so!

*I received this book via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
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Nov 15, 2011 Pricky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, mystery, read-in-2011, sci-fi, ya, multicultural, genetic-engineering

At some point in the future, humans colonize the planet Loka. It is here on the continent of Svarga that different caste systems exist with True Humans at the top (gestated in the womb) while "Genetically Engineered Non-humans" exist to serve those above them. These GENS are born into tanks and fused with technology, a skill set (sket) and animal DNA.

As best friends Mishalla and Kayla embark on their separate assignments, new information comes to light to either destroy them or set them free.

San...more At some point in the future, humans colonize the planet Loka. It is here on the continent of Svarga that different caste systems exist with True Humans at the top (gestated in the womb) while "Genetically Engineered Non-humans" exist to serve those above them. These GENS are born into tanks and fused with technology, a skill set (sket) and animal DNA.

As best friends Mishalla and Kayla embark on their separate assignments, new information comes to light to either destroy them or set them free.

Sandler's premise of a Genetically altered population of beings is an interesting one: What makes a human, human? Her story telling is creative and the plot moves along at a good pace.

While I enjoyed her story-telling, I felt like her themes and scientific explanations could have been further developed:
(view spoiler)

Of course, there are many topics to discuss in comparing our OWN society's distinction of class and color and stereotypes but to me, it felt like reading a history book than feeling it. Too many themes interwoven that I felt lost and had a hard time focusing on what the author was trying to convey.

Overall, somewhat entertaining; I think some details are missing and provide some holes to what could be more of a fulfilling story. It's a bit predictable. And while there were some gut-wrenching moments, I wanted to feel more for the GENs. The idea is unique and multiculturalism is great to see in a book, but I would have liked it flushed out further.

Personally, The House of the Scorpion By Nancy Farmer was a much more compelling read that also had genetic cloning and multiculturalism.(less)

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Oct 05, 2012 Yuko86 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-in-a-series, read-in-2012, utopy-distopy, young-adults

Kayla è una NGM, una non umana geneticamente modificata: concepita artificialmente in una capsula, presenta parte di DNA di origine animale. Tale DNA è in grado di dare ai soggetti che lo posseggono particolari caratteristiche: nel caso di Kayla, un'enorme forza nelle braccia. A questo punto probabilmente starete pensando che quindi Kayla sia una specie di super eroina. Niente di più sbagliato. Gli NGM del pianeta Loka sono infatti trattati in tutto e per tutto come schiavi. Privi della libertà,...more Kayla è una NGM, una non umana geneticamente modificata: concepita artificialmente in una capsula, presenta parte di DNA di origine animale. Tale DNA è in grado di dare ai soggetti che lo posseggono particolari caratteristiche: nel caso di Kayla, un'enorme forza nelle braccia. A questo punto probabilmente starete pensando che quindi Kayla sia una specie di super eroina. Niente di più sbagliato. Gli NGM del pianeta Loka sono infatti trattati in tutto e per tutto come schiavi. Privi della libertà, a quindici anni vengono sottoposti all'Investitura e viene fornito loro un compito che dovranno svolgere per il resto della loro (breve) vita. Mancano pochissimi giorni all'Investitura di Kaya e la ragazza è in subbuglio: non vuole andare a vivere lontano dalla sua madre di allevamento e dal suo fratello acquisito, Jal, ma d'altra parte quello è il destino di ogni NGM, ciò che l'Infinito ha previsto per loro. Un giorno, mentre è al fiume con il fratello, viene avvicinata da un gruppo di aristocratici. Uno di loro, Livot, comincia a tirare sassi all'indirizzo di Jal, schernendolo: Kayla interviene facendo uso della sua grande forza per portare via di peso il fratello. Ma non è questo a salvarli. Un ragazzo, un Puro, si mette in mezzo, allontanando gli altri. Ma è proibito rivolgere la parola ai Puri, e del tutto vietato toccarli, se non si vuole che la propria pelle si avvizzisca. Kayla scambia due parole di circostanza con il ragazzo, Devak, per poi fuggire a casa. Qualcosa di lui le è però entrato nel cuore e la ragazza non riesce a non pensarci. Ma arriva il giorno dell'Investitura e Kayla riceve la sua assegnazione: non sa che, in realtà, a partire da quel giorno la sua vita, e quella di molte altre persone, cambieranno per sempre.

Se state leggendo o avete intenzione di leggere Kayla 6982 vi dico subito una cosa: non fatevi scoraggiare dal primo centinaio di pagine. L'autrice infatti ci catapulta di punto in bianco nel mondo di Loka senza spiegarci nulla, riempiendoci la testa di strani nomi di animali, tecnologie e classi sociali. Una sensazione di confusione permea la parte iniziale del libro e io stessa più volte mi sono fermata, chiedendomi di che cavolo si stesse parlando o cercando di raccapezzarmi tra i vari ceti e la loro organizzazione piramidale. Piano piano però le cose ci vengono spiegate e la storia diviene più comprensibile, e da lì in poi per me è stato amore. In Kayla 6982 il mondo fantascientifico non è una mera cornice utilizzata dall'autrice per fare da sfondo a una qualche love story di dubbia insorgenza bensì è il vero protagonista. La società (che ricorda molto la tipica società distopica) che governa Svarga è crudele e corrotta. Gli NGM vengono chiamati bestie, gli Impuri vengono costretti a continuare a pagare un debito che in realtà hanno estinto da anni, i Demis sono carichi di rabbia per il loro stato intermedio e maltrattano chiunque gli capiti sotto tiro mentre i Puri, al vertice della società, ignorano bellamente gli altri e non perdono occasione per schernire e denigrare NGM e Impuri, facendo sfoggio continuo della loro ricchezza e guardando tutti dall'alto in basso. Ciò che soprattutto mi ha colpito della società di cui fa parte Kayla è la sua verosimiglianza, il suo apparire come un futuro assolutamente possibile della nostra: del resto gli abitanti di Loka sono terrestri fuggiti dal pianeta prossimo al collasso per cui hanno decisamente molto in comune con noi. Più volte mi sono sentita in colpa e dispiaciuta per come Kayla veniva trattata, per non parlare di quello che si scopre nella parte finale del romanzo, che mi ha davvero fatto arrabbiare e odiare alcuni dei personaggi coinvolti.

Ho inoltre molto apprezzato l'idea dell'autrice di creare una flora e una fauna tipiche del pianeta, solo in parte simili a quelle della Terra. Lo stesso dicasi per le invenzioni tecnologiche, molto originali: in particolar modo mi è piaciuta moltissimo l'idea della presenza di un tatuaggio sulla guancia degli NGM tramite cui controllarli, immettere o rimuovere dati con l'uso dei data pod. Una trovata intrigante e ben riuscita, davvero.

Un'altra cosa che mi ha colpito molto di questo romanzo è il continuo riferimento a temi di discussione spinosi e attuali: quali sono le frontiere dell'ingegneria genetica? Cosa rende qualcuno non umano? Basta il suo DNA differente, o in realtà l'umanità è un concetto molto più profondo, non relegabile a una manciata di nucleotidi? E la religione è solo un'invenzione dell'uomo per sedare gli animi? Davvero non c'è nulla in cui credere? Questi sono alcuni degli spunti di riflessione che questo romanzo porta alla luce, temi su sui anche ora, mentre scrivo queste righe, sto riflettendo. Mi piace quando i libri danno da pensare, da riflettere sul contemporaneo senza essere pesanti o noiosi. E questo è proprio il caso di Kayla 6982.

In definitiva, un libro sicuramente consigliato agli amanti del genere. Non indicato per coloro alla ricerca unicamente di una storia d'amore. Non vedo l'ora di poter leggere il prossimo volume, Awakening.(less)

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Sep 15, 2011 Skyla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, net-galley, sci-fi-fantasy, ya

http://happygolucky-skyla.blogspot.co...

This book was kindly provided by the publishers via netgalley.com for review.

So first things first, THE COVER! I’ll be honest and say that it was the cover that first drew me in. The girl with the funky face tattoo, the bubbles with babies in them, the wash of turquoise all over (which being my favorite colour, instantly drew my eye to the book on netgalley’s list). Plus I was intrigued by the summary given on Goodreads.com.

The book opens with a map that l...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best friends Kayla and Mishalla were born GENs, or Genetically Engineered Non-humans, making them the lowest class in their society’s strict caste system. Because they don’t have entirely human DNA, they are viewed as essentially good for nothing except the jobs to which they are Assigned at age 15. Neither girl is ready to come of age and leave all they know behind, but they have no choice. They’ve both resigned themselves to dull if productive Assignments, but they’re both about to find themse...more Best friends Kayla and Mishalla were born GENs, or Genetically Engineered Non-humans, making them the lowest class in their society’s strict caste system. Because they don’t have entirely human DNA, they are viewed as essentially good for nothing except the jobs to which they are Assigned at age 15. Neither girl is ready to come of age and leave all they know behind, but they have no choice. They’ve both resigned themselves to dull if productive Assignments, but they’re both about to find themselves in the midst of a larger conspiracy. Kayla is Assigned to care for Zul Manel, the patriarch of an important trueborn family who holds the key to many of their society’s greatest secrets, including the true origin of GENs. Farther away, Mishalla struggles to work as a nurturer, while some of her children are being taken away in the middle of the night. Both girls are caught up in a plot much larger than themselves, one that will test their faith, their strength, and all that they know—one with the potential to tear their society apart from the inside out.

Tankborn is a thrilling dystopian novel that is sure to thoroughly entertain readers as well as challenge the way they think. From the very first page, Sandler thrusts readers into a world wracked with a myriad of underlying social problems, the very least of which is a caste system. Sandler’s fantastic worldbuilding makes Kayla and Mishalla’s world feel so realistic, despite technological peculiarities that separate their world from ours. This makes for a complex and fascinating backdrop for what proves to be an increasingly gripping story that is full of dark secrets, plot twists, and, of course, forbidden romance. What makes the story in Tankborn even better, though, is its ability to provoke questions about the ethics of everything from genetic engineering to rigidly enforced social classes to the various uses of technological advances. Without a doubt, Tankborn is an exciting story that is sure to stay on readers’ minds for a long time.

Tankborn appeals to readers who also enjoyed Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien and Dark Parties by Sara Grant.

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Nov 29, 2011 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, teen, e-books, netgalley

Kayla is a GEN, Genetically Engineered Non-Human. Each Gen has a special skill they were engineered for and they are treated more like commodities than living creatures. Kayla’s GEN is strength. She is assigned to work for a trueborn, or wealthy, family as a caregiver for a mysterious elderly man, Zul. Surprisingly she starts becoming friends with his grandson. Meanwhile her close friend Mishalla is working in a nursery. Every few days someone comes and takes some of the children away in the mid...more

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May 20, 2013 Ian Wood added it

A complete review, with spoilers appears on my blog.

I started out not liking Tankborn! It features a hellacious info-dump in first ten pages, yet despite this, too many questions remain unanswered. If it’s like this for the whole 372 pages methought 'twill be a long day's journey into night. It immediately depressed me with all the hallmarks of a bad fantasy romance: the flawed girl (Kayla), the perfect boy (Devak) who comes to her rescue and it’s instadore! Guess where Kayla's assignment will b...more A complete review, with spoilers appears on my blog.

I started out not liking Tankborn! It features a hellacious info-dump in first ten pages, yet despite this, too many questions remain unanswered. If it’s like this for the whole 372 pages methought 'twill be a long day's journey into night. It immediately depressed me with all the hallmarks of a bad fantasy romance: the flawed girl (Kayla), the perfect boy (Devak) who comes to her rescue and it’s instadore! Guess where Kayla's assignment will be?!

There's far too much overly cute and unnecessary re-branding of things: 'bedroom' is, for no reason whatsoever, 'sleeproom', for example, but 'blankie' remains unaltered! Speaking of altering, the genetically engineered non-humans (GENs) are physically engineered for specific tasks, but not mentally engineered? Why? We're not invited to know.

Tankborn is set on a planet called Loka (as in Loca!) in a different solar system from ours. Apparently this is a colonized planet, but there's no explanation as to how or why humans are there (other than the obligatory Earth is polluted and globally warmed - yet people still live there). Colonizing planets light years from Earth makes little sense, given the expense and distances involved - not when Mars and Venus are right next door. The most glaring omission is an explanation as to why these colonizers breed low-caste people in tanks for menial work instead of building robots. This is a hugely hi-tech society, but there's not a single robot to be found.

Nor do we learn why the upper born overlords and all-around abusive slave drivers then trust these marginalized, ill-treated, ghetto-confined GENs (who happen to have darker skin) to raise their children! In the same way that "white" novels all-too-often exclude darker-skinned people, this novel evidently excludes light-skinned people. Again, the way to fix that errant pendulum is not to swing it all the way to the opposite side from where it offended, but to trap it firmly in the middle.

LOL sentence: "In the last week before her birthday, Kayla's monthly courses started with a vengeance." At first I thought this was some sort of training regimen to prepare her for her obligatory assignment - the lifelong task for which she was "bred"! But I very quickly realized that Sandler is talking about Kayla's menstrual cycle. Now why would GENs have periods? Did Sandler mean to say "curses' instead of "courses"?

I have to say I was a bit disappointed but still willing to rate it worthy. The story becomes a bit muddied and weak at the end. The weakness comes from the revelation that the original DNA brought from Earth is running out so they can't make any more GENs? What? DNA is running out on a planet where every GEN, lowborn, and trueborn is stuffed with it? This makes no sense at all, but it's used as the pretext for the plot which is that lowborns are being abducted from their families and "converted" to GENs. This is the biggest weakness in the story because I can't buy this at all. I can't buy that they don't have robots, and even setting that aside, I can't buy that they're running out of DNA.

Props to Sandler for not giving a trite ending, but shame on her for not bringing more justice to her finale! The ending was unsatisfying not because it didn't have a happily ever after ending (which it didn't), but because justice wasn't served. The ending unfortunately screams sequel, but I can't rally myself to want to read it. Who knows, maybe I'll one day find myself enmeshed in a book crisis and be desperately searching for something to read, and be forced to give it a chance, but other than that, I'm done with this series. The book was acceptable, but not edge-of-seat tell-me-what-happens-next-or-the-adorable-darling-puppy-gets-it gripping!(less)

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May 16, 2013 ValeD. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Avevo grandi aspettative per questo libro, ma purtroppo non è andata così, non totalmente per lo meno.

La storia parla degli abitanti del pianeta Loka, la nuova Terra, dove esiste una gerarchia sociale ben distinta. In cima abbiamo i Puri, i ricchi, poi abbiamo i Demis,quelli di ceto medio, poi abbiamo gli Impuri, coloro che non hanno abbastanza denaro per essere Demis o Puri, e poi ci sono gli NGM, i Non-Umani, creati da incroci genetici atti a potenziare determinate qualità secondo quello che u...more Avevo grandi aspettative per questo libro, ma purtroppo non è andata così, non totalmente per lo meno.

La storia parla degli abitanti del pianeta Loka, la nuova Terra, dove esiste una gerarchia sociale ben distinta. In cima abbiamo i Puri, i ricchi, poi abbiamo i Demis,quelli di ceto medio, poi abbiamo gli Impuri, coloro che non hanno abbastanza denaro per essere Demis o Puri, e poi ci sono gli NGM, i Non-Umani, creati da incroci genetici atti a potenziare determinate qualità secondo quello che un giorno sarà il loro lavoro. La protagonista è una NGM di nome Kayla 6982 che, arrivata ai 16 anni aspetta la sua investitura cioè il suo futuro lavoro, entriamo così nel difficile mondo nei Non-Umani che sono visti come delle “bestie” persino dagli impuri.

Il libro è anche interessante, belle le ambientazione, l’inventiva dei nomi e di tutto ciò che è dietro alle usanze, alla religione e alla tecnologia del pianeta, ma il problema è che per circa ¾ del libro non succede “assolutamente” nulla di interessante a parte ciò. Le scoperte, la resa dei conti, le troviamo tutte negli ultimi 3 – 4 capitoli, ma nei restanti la storia è come bloccata, come arrivare al clou??? La Sandler sembra rispondere: nel modo più lento possibile!

Non fraintendetemi, il libro è scritto molto bene, arrivata alla metà non mi sono annoiata per i nomi difficili o altro, ma solo perché i personaggi facevano sempre le stesse cose, certo alcuni erano impossibilitati a fare qualcosa, ma SEMPRE LO STESSO??? Poi arriviamo alla parte finale dove succede di tutto, la verità su Kayla, perché alcuni bambini Impuri sono stati rapiti, chi c’è dietro tutto ciò??? Ma queste parti non sono, come speravo, piene di suspance e azione, per lo meno quello che ho percepito io, era tutto minimo.

Conclusione: la Sandler descrive con abilità una realtà scientifica davvero stupenda, seppur difficili i paroloni per spiegare certe procedure, sono state davvero convincenti. Sarebbe stato un libro davvero bello se non fosse andata troppo per le lunghe, ma forse c’è un disegno dietro a tutto ciò? Il bello deve ancora venire??? Lo scopriremo con il secondo libro di questa nuova serie in pieno stile sci-fi :)
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May 07, 2013 Cactuar_tamer rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm about 60% finished at the time I'm writing this review.

The book is heavy with unexplained jargon, and though this was not an issue for me personally, it might be good to keep in mind if you don't like that sort of thing.

I find the writing to be kind of, hmm, amateurish. I don't mean that as some kind of insult, just as a bare descriptor. Personally, I tend to enjoy worldbuilding, and if I'm given an interesting world and society to mull on, as feel I have been with Tankborn, I can forgive...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Bianca Cataldi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pianeta Loka. Kayla ha quindici anni, tutta una vita davanti, sentimenti ed emozioni da provare, come qualunque quindicenne. Tuttavia, qualcosa di terribile separa Kayla da ogni ragazza umana: un numero, quel 6982 che segue il suo nome e che la marchia indelebilmente con l'appellativo di "schiava". Kayla, infatti, non è umana, bensì una NonUmana Geneticamente Modificata, e appartiene alla più umile classe sociale del pianeta Loka. Sono stati gli uomini a rendere Kayla - e chi come lei - schiava,...more Pianeta Loka. Kayla ha quindici anni, tutta una vita davanti, sentimenti ed emozioni da provare, come qualunque quindicenne. Tuttavia, qualcosa di terribile separa Kayla da ogni ragazza umana: un numero, quel 6982 che segue il suo nome e che la marchia indelebilmente con l'appellativo di "schiava". Kayla, infatti, non è umana, bensì una NonUmana Geneticamente Modificata, e appartiene alla più umile classe sociale del pianeta Loka. Sono stati gli uomini a rendere Kayla - e chi come lei - schiava, nel momento in cui hanno invaso il pianeta. Il compito che spetta agli schiavi NGM consiste nell'onorare, servire e rispettare i Puri e gli Impuri, ovvero i gradini più alti della società. Kayla non ha altre possibilità, non può ribellarsi, non ha una famiglia che la sostenga e, al minimo cenno di dissenso, rischia di essere eliminata e di tornare nel nulla dal quale è nata.In questo sistema crudele - di una crudeltà orwelliana, quasi - il lettore riesce a scorgere, però, lampi di luce. Infatti, nonostante il suo inferno quotidiano, Kayla scoprirà che il suo cuore di NGM è talmente umano da potersi innamorare. Quest'amore, però, non la lega ad uno schiavo come lei, ma ad un uomo libero, un umano che è, per giunta, imparentato con uno scienziato. Cosa resta, dunque, da vivere? cosa può offrire un pianeta nel quale sono proibiti le emozioni, la libertà, l'amore?

Questo libro mi ha sconvolto. Parto da un presupposto: non è il mio genere. Proprio per niente. E allora perché mi è piaciuto così tanto? Perché Karen Sandler è un genio: è riuscita a trasmettere ai ragazzi messaggi - o forse sarebbe meglio chiamarli "avvertimenti" - che ho trovato solo in 1984 di Orwell e in pochi altri libri. Com'è possibile scrivere un romanzo YA su un tema così complesso?, mi chiedevo durante la lettura. Eppure l'autrice ne è stata capace, e ha intessuto una trama complessa ma di svolgimento lineare che accompagna il lettore attraverso la storia di Kayla e di Mishalla, nella luce tenue dei due soli che illuminano il pianeta Loka. Già, il pianeta Loka. Sembra lontanissimo eppure, in quei Puri e Impuri, in quella divisione sociale, in quella bramosia di potere e di ricchezza ritroviamo il nostro pianeta Terra, identico a come lo conosciamo.Un romanzo fondamentale, questo. Un romanzo che dovrebbe essere adottato come libro di narrativa nelle scuole, secondo me, perché annoierebbe molto meno dei soliti libri moralistici sul tabagismo e sul bullismo giovanile e, attraverso un pianeta fittizio, aprirebbe una finestra sul mondo reale.
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Oct 21, 2012 Roberta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

La Terra non esiste più e gli umani si sono trasferiti su un altro pianeta dove, grazie a tecnologie futuristiche, hanno ricreato palazzi e colture. La popolazione è suddivisa in caste, in cima alla piramide vi sono i Puri, poi gli Impuri che lavorano al servizio dei Puri ed infine gli NGM, ovvero Non-umani Geneticamente Modificati: quest'ultimi vengono trattati come schiavi, offesi, beffeggiati e umiliati continuamente... Kayla è una NGM e per il suo quindicesimo compleanno viene mandata a serv...more La Terra non esiste più e gli umani si sono trasferiti su un altro pianeta dove, grazie a tecnologie futuristiche, hanno ricreato palazzi e colture. La popolazione è suddivisa in caste, in cima alla piramide vi sono i Puri, poi gli Impuri che lavorano al servizio dei Puri ed infine gli NGM, ovvero Non-umani Geneticamente Modificati: quest'ultimi vengono trattati come schiavi, offesi, beffeggiati e umiliati continuamente... Kayla è una NGM e per il suo quindicesimo compleanno viene mandata a servire presso una famiglia di puri. L'incontro con Zul e il nipote Devak cambierà la sua vita e la porterà a scoprire, insieme all'amica Mishalla, la verità sulla sua gente...

Una trama futuristica che descrive un futuro che nessuno vorrebbe, ma che rispecchia le brutture della società attuale, dove chi ha i soldi vive spesso in modo egoistico..
Ci ho messo un po' a comprendere questo libro e inizialmente la lettura mi è risultata pesante, sia per i termini particolari usati dall'autrice sia perché per almeno metà libro vengono introdotte le due protagoniste e la loro vita. L'autrice ha cercato di far conoscere meglio Kayla e il suo esser NGM, quel malessere che questo status le provoca e come lo affronta... Nella seconda metà del libro ci si appassiona alla storia, ci si schiera al fianco degli NGM e si diventa partecipi della lotta contro i Puri e gli Impuri che li trattano come animali d'allevamento.
Kayla e Mishalla sono le due protagoniste di questa storia, saranno loro a ribellarsi al sistema con l'aiuto di alcuni Puri e Impuri: da ragazzine quindicenni che accettano senza protestare il proprio destino da schiave, che sopportano gli insulti e la cattiveria degli umani piano piano diventeranno donne, guerriere decise a cambiare la propria vita per sentirsi finalmente libere e soprattutto non più diverse.
Intorno a Kayla e Mishalla ruotano alcuni personaggi il cui ruolo è fondamentale nel compiersi della storia, tra tutti però quello meglio caratterizzato è l'anziano Zul, il "padrone" di Kayla che è anche colui che continua da anni a lottare per i diritti degli NGM e per far finire i soprusi su questa razza.
Un libro questo definito un Young Adult, ma che in realtà è perfetto per qualunque età: la storia narrata da infatti molti spunti su cui riflettere e focalizza l'attenzione su argomenti che sono attuali come il razzismo, la divisione in ceti e il potere dei soldi...
Un libro che consiglio e che infiammerà i vostri animi, portandovi al fianco degli NGM e facendovi emozionare, arrabbiare e sognare!(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Erin Mccall added it

The year is 300, meaning 300 years since the day people left the weather-devastated Earth for Loka. The social ladder is a steep and oppressive one, and how you’re born, and who you’re born to determines your fate in society for the rest of your life. As far as tankborn Kayla, her status is and will always be that she’s a Genetically Engineered Non-human, at the servitude of humans for life. From a young age, GENs go to school where they learn how best to enhance their sket (skill set, created...more The year is 300, meaning 300 years since the day people left the weather-devastated Earth for Loka. The social ladder is a steep and oppressive one, and how you’re born, and who you’re born to determines your fate in society for the rest of your life. As far as tankborn Kayla, her status is and will always be that she’s a Genetically Engineered Non-human, at the servitude of humans for life. From a young age, GENs go to school where they learn how best to enhance their sket (skill set, created with one strand of animal DNA depending on the skill set. Kayla’s is strength and the origin of her enhanced DNA is probably a gorilla) until at 15 years old they’re ready for their Assignment. While she never particularly questioned her role as a GEN growing up in the GEN sector and learning how to best apply her sket to her future Assignment, once she’s out interacting with high status true borns, she begins to question why she is deemed less human despite having emotions and a soul.
This dystopian science fiction features a scientifically dense yet comprehensive world, setting- and character-wise. There is a strong character arc present throughout the novel as Kayla’s growing struggle with her identity as genetically altered gives way to the discovery that she was actually born human. While her physical identity becomes more of a mystery to her, Kayla feels more in tune with her inner self than ever. Tankborn’s overall pace is set in building suspension through characterization and the slow, discreetly significant daily activities of Kayla and her best friend Mishalla.
One very distinct characteristic that sets Kayla apart from other dystopian characters, like Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen is her innate optimism, which overshadows her dystopian world. Kayla was born an outcast in society and an outsider even within her community of GENs because of the skin grafts on her arms. Her spirituality taught her from a young age that the Infinite “whispered his plan [for her] to the prophets” that created her, and even when Zul insists the religion was made up solely to keep GENs in line (Sandler, p. 311-312). Kayla questions the social classes, but accepts her fate regardless. This inherent faith and optimism, not to be mistaken for passivity, is what seems to drive her to selflessly offer Mishalla the last treatment, forgoing the opportunity for a normal, human life. I was truly heartbroken when Kayla did this, letting Mishalla live a normal life and marry the boy she wrongly fell for as a GEN. But this was true to Kayla’s nature and if Kayla had accepted the treatment she probably would have felt guilty of betraying her best friend for eternity.
Tankborn is not an introductory young adult science fiction novel. Much of the world is described rather technically which made it hard for me to get into it and left me with many questions I wanted to ask. But the text worked really well as a follow-up to Ship Breaker in that it seemed to build off the world that Paolo Bacigalupi created and further indulge in the science and mechanics offered by the concept of a demolished Earth.
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Oct 01, 2012 Ste80 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Da www.sognipensieriparole.com

"Kayla 6982" è uno degli ultimi romanzi distopici che farà innamorare i giovani lettori, nato dalla penna della californiana Karen Sandler e da poco pubblicato dalla Casa Editrice Giunti nella collana Y.

Distopico particolare ed originale che cattura l'attenzione del lettore ed appassiona dalla prima all'ultima pagina.
Romanzo che oltre ad entusiasmare apre la mente e fa riflettere perché i problemi "razziali" del futuro creato dalla Sandler non sono poi così diversi...more

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May 25, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This combination science fiction/dystopian novel deals with culture, race and moral issues, and tackles the difficult supject of what makes a person human. Envirnmental disasters sent populations fleeing Earth to a new planet where a rigid caste system has developed, Trueborns (all human DNA, wealthy, and with skin colored the right shade of brown), Lowborns (all human DNA but poor) and GENS (Genetically Altered Non-Humans) as the lowest of the low, who contain a tiny bit of DNA in their genome,...more This combination science fiction/dystopian novel deals with culture, race and moral issues, and tackles the difficult supject of what makes a person human. Envirnmental disasters sent populations fleeing Earth to a new planet where a rigid caste system has developed, Trueborns (all human DNA, wealthy, and with skin colored the right shade of brown), Lowborns (all human DNA but poor) and GENS (Genetically Altered Non-Humans) as the lowest of the low, who contain a tiny bit of DNA in their genome, a tattoo on their face used as in interface between their brains and machines used to extract and plant information, as well as to wipe out their memory and personality, and are considered literally untouchable.

The heroine, Kayla and her best friend, Mishalla, are assigned to work for Trueborns when they become fifteen. Kayla, bred for strength, goes to work for a member of the highest caste, a Highborn-Trueborn. Mishalla, bred to be a nurturer, is sent to work in a nursery holding Lowborn children who are dropped off or taken away in the middle of the night.

Kayla has dreams of something impossible, a mother she could never have had because everyone knows Gens come from tanks where DNA is mingled to provide them with their different skill sets. She falls in love with her employer's grandson Devak while he struggles with the idea that eveything he has been taught about himself and the lower castes could be a gigantic lie. Together they embark on a mission to overcome a catastrophe his grandfather unintentionally caused, and to rescue the Lowborn children being used in a game meant to prop up the falling caste system at any cost.

This book quickly brought me into Kayla's world. Race plays an integral part of the action, thisis a world where the optimum Highborn has brown skin. Too light or too dark can push one into a lower sub-caste. She is "the color of sand", but the tattoo on her face takes precidence, announcing her Gen status to everyone who sees her. Kayla has a hidden problem, her arms are splotched in a kaleidoscope of colors that she keeps hidden. Kayla discovers that GENs were never meant to be a slave race, and that Mishalla's assignment is a front to a conspiracy aimed at perpetuating non-human misery.

My heart sank at the end when Kayla is forced to make an unbearable sacrifice. She chooses with intelligence and serenity, and love for both her best friend and Devak.

Naturally, I am aching to get my hands on the sequel.(less)

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May 09, 2012 MaryBookSwarm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Science fiction can be difficult, especially with the required worldbuilding but Karen Sandler does a nice job creating an Earth-like world on a distant planet. Set 400 years in the future, after we've used up our resources, TANKBORN follows the separate paths of Kayla and Mishalla, both "non-humans"--people created in tanks and enhanced with animal DNA. They're the lowest of the low, without even the most basic of rights.

This "date" is with Kayla, who I feel is the star of the book. She's a str...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Kimberly Pauley rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's kind of funny...in reading through the other reviews of this book, everyone is all "O dystopia!" and the reason I was excited to read it was because it's a science fiction book and I cut my teeth, so to speak, on science fiction. And, in the interest of disclosure, it's also published by the publisher of my new book (Cat Girl's Day Off), which is how I came by my copy.

On a planet settled by people who had fled Earth some years before, society is rigidly divided into castes (based on the ca...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

The energy behind Tankborn’s intriguing story had me glued to the pages from the beginning. We are introduced to a world where Genetically Engineered Non-humans, or GENs, are produced to perform designated jobs. In reality, they are slaves that are obligatory into subjection and at the mercy of a brutal caste system putting them at the very bottom. Karen Sandler’s very detailed and well thought-out society and the two different religions to which humans and GENs follow were very fascinating. The...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Cindy Fesemyer rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: ages 12 and up

Tankborn is one of the first efforts put out by the new imprint of Lee & Low Publishers, Tu Books. Tu Books is an imprint to watch. Here's a snippet from their website:

"Fantasy, science fiction, and mystery: these genres draw in young readers like no other. Yet it is in these genres that readers of color might feel most like an outsider, given that such a large percentage features white characters (when they feature human characters). It is the goal of Tu Books to publish genre books for chi...more

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Tankborn (Tankborn #1)

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