Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Replication: The Jason Experiment

by Jill Williamson (Goodreads Author)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 429 ratings · 199 reviews

When Your Life Is Not Your Own 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 i...more

Hardcover, 294 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Zonderkidz (first published December 19th 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Clean teen fiction (Christian)

9th out of 368 books — 264 voters

Amazing YA/New Adult Books You're Probably Not Reading, BUT SHOULD BE!

38th out of 286 books — 382 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,510)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 01, 2012 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I was hooked from the first page. I was a bit disconcerted, however, because this is the first book that I can recall reading where pure biomedical science fiction and Christian fiction are so intertwined. I waited awhile to read it because I couldn't wrap my brain around the subject matter. I'm rather picky and have to be in just the right mood for certain books.

There were a few places where I felt the character, Abby, lost her voice. Martyr's vo...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Replication: The Jason Experiment
Author: Jill Williamson

A copy of this book was provided courtesy of the publisher Zondervan for review purposes.

This is a book I was excited to begin reading as soon as I read the summary! A suspense novel in which science and religion collide! Imagine shortly after your mother’s death being uprooted from your home and moved all the way to Alaska. to soon discover that things are not how they appear. Meet Abby Goyer the seventeen year old daughter of Dr. Goyer, t...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 17, 2012 Britta rated it 2 of 5 stars

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 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 d...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Reena Jacobs rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, 2012-reads, reviewed

This review also posted July 7, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2012/07/n...

Replication had two story lines. The first centered around Abbey, a gal who's moved into a new school from DC to AK after her father landed a new job. I have to say, I wasn't at all impressed with this portion of the novel. Abbey came off as snobby and a goody-goody. I'm not quite sure what her problem was. I will say her attitude did nothing for the storyline. When she wasn't snubbing...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 11, 2013 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't so sure that I would really enjoy this one, but I honestly did. Its kind of sci-fi advance genetics but also seemed a bit dystopian in style to me too, which was great. There's mystery, nail biting suspense, action and even murder in this book, as well as a little awkward teenage romance. How long did it take me to read this book? Just three sittings, I truly did not want to put it down. I loved the character of the clone J:3:3 or Martyr as his fellow clones call him and the guards nick...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Stephanie Morrill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-or-mg

I had never read a book about cloning and had no idea what to expect, but I love Jill Williamson's fantasy series and was eager to read this. I expected it to be full of adventure - which it was - but I was caught off guard by the sweetness of the story. I really loved Martyr's world view. His character tugged my heart strings. Abby is a wonderful heroine, feisty and tough, but also big hearted. I loved how she cared for Martyr. I finished this book satisfied, but the characters have stuck with...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, novel-teen

When Martyr, a clone, escapes from the lab to see the sky, he acidentally goes to one of the doctor's house and meets his daughter, Abby, who tells him the truth of the world and leads them to try to figure out how to free the other clones. All I can say is... AWESOME! READ THIS BOOK. Thank you.

In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free through Team Novel Teen. Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other po...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Christian Fiction Addiction rated it 5 of 5 stars

In a small town in Alaska lies a shocking secret of an underground facility named Jason Farms.

When Abby Goyer moves to Alaska with her father, she is focused on trying to fit in at her new high school and attempting to avoid the unwanted attention of popular jock, J.D. Soon after the move, she starts having suspicions about Jason Farms, the facility where her father has been newly hired. When a boy with a familiar face appears in her room one afternoon, Abby is confronted by a truth she at firs...more In a small town in Alaska lies a shocking secret of an underground facility named Jason Farms.

When Abby Goyer moves to Alaska with her father, she is focused on trying to fit in at her new high school and attempting to avoid the unwanted attention of popular jock, J.D. Soon after the move, she starts having suspicions about Jason Farms, the facility where her father has been newly hired. When a boy with a familiar face appears in her room one afternoon, Abby is confronted by a truth she at first struggles to believe, that her father is involved in a facility creating clones. Her attempt to hide the boy, named Martyr, leads to a confrontation with the owners of the facility, one that results in shocking outcomes for Abby, her father, and the clones who are awakening to the reality that everything they've ever been told has been based on lies.

Jill Williamson has written a fantastic book for young adult readers with characters easy to relate to, well-crafted suspense that hooks the reader from the beginning, and a plot that is, quite simply, captivating. Although a completely different genre than the fantasy books she is so well-known for, Williamson has shown that she is a master of her craft, weaving together sci-fi, suspense, and even a touch of romance. Martyr is one of the most interesting and entertaining characters to come along in a while, and discovering the world through his eyes was fascinating. Jill has also done an admirable job of weaving in themes of the reality of God and what he accomplished through Jesus, without it being forced or bogging down the story. Martyr's discovery of God is handled naturally and in a highly believable manner, and yet will expose readers to profound truths.

I highly recommend this book for teens and adults alike, as it is likely to appeal to a broad base of fans, and award it 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Zondervan, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

Jeremy (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, ya, science-fiction

Ever since her first day of school after moving to Fishhook, Alaska, Abby has been fending off the advances of J.D. Kane. He may be the best looking guy in school…maybe even the smartest, but he’s far too aggressive for comfort. So when she finds a boy who looks just like J.D. –minus his hair – in her room, Abby is stunned, angry, and little afraid. But those emotions will only grow as she comes to realize that this boy, called Martyr, will complicate her life and expose secrets others are willi...more Ever since her first day of school after moving to Fishhook, Alaska, Abby has been fending off the advances of J.D. Kane. He may be the best looking guy in school…maybe even the smartest, but he’s far too aggressive for comfort. So when she finds a boy who looks just like J.D. –minus his hair – in her room, Abby is stunned, angry, and little afraid. But those emotions will only grow as she comes to realize that this boy, called Martyr, will complicate her life and expose secrets others are willing to kill to keep hidden.

You expect there to be a lot of crazy things in science fiction. It’s a given of the genre. What shocked me about Replication was how easy it was to believe in the crazy. Between the cover and the first few pages of the book, it’s not really a spoiler to call this a book about cloning. The concept of cloning already has one foot in reality, so perhaps that is why the events of Replication felt so disturbingly real. I can completely buy into the idea of an underground cloning facility hidden in a rural Alaskan town. The lies fed to the boys to keep them under control and underground sound almost plausible, and, if it wasn’t for Martyr’s curiosity, there didn’t seem to be any reason for Jason Farms to fail.

The characters are this story’s strongest point. For such a secret organization to exist, function, and remain hidden requires a certain kind of a person. Each scientist and his motivation was clearly and clever drawn. From ego to evil, each man fit together into the backbone of the lab. Martyr himself made for one of the most compelling characters I’ve met this year. Both innocent and intuitive, he is spectacular picture of humanity at its most basic level. My favorite scene in the book is when, following Abby’s earlier example, Martyr prays for the first time. His complete acceptance of God from the moment he heard about Him is beautiful. Abby is skillfully drawn as the teenage daughter of a brilliant scientist who inherited her fair share of brains. Unable to leave things alone and far less sneaky than she thinks she is, Abby brings a great deal of humor to what could have otherwise been a fairly dark book. Lately there have been more and more calls for strong female characters in science fiction and fantasy, and I think Abby more than fits the bill.

While the story is told from the eyes of two teenagers, the content of this book is actually very mature. From the awkwardness that ensues from Martyr’s lack of socialization, to J.D.’s blatant attempts to seduce Abby, to conversations about a rape, I feel the content warning on this book is higher than most people might expect from young adult science fiction. All of the above are handled very tastefully and exist to serve the plot rather than for shock value, but this definitely isn’t a good candidate for anyone younger than late teens.

Reblogged from my site: myrdan.com
My thanks to Zondervan for providing me a review copy of Replication, in return for my honest opinion of this book.(less)

like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Kerry Nietz rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, what happens when an author noted for her fantasy novels attempts to cross into the realm of science fiction?

In the case of “Replication,” what happens is a fairly solid story. I thought the premise was great, and different enough from other tales with similar premises—the film “The Island,” for instance—that it felt unique. Worthy of telling.

The characters of Marty and Abby were well drawn, and for me kept the page turning. I wanted to know what would happen to them. (Tis a strength in Jil...more

like · see review

Dec 11, 2012 Fred Warren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

Jason 3:3, nickname, “Martyr,” lives in a tightly-controlled underground facility supervised by a team of scientists, in a community of other genetically-engineered boys. Within their blood lies the antidote to a toxin that has rendered the surface of Earth virtually uninhabitable. They believe they are humanity’s last hope. Martyr is nearly 18 years old, his DNA-encoded expiration date. He is content to die, knowing his sacrifice will enable the survival of thousands, though his fondest wish is...more Jason 3:3, nickname, “Martyr,” lives in a tightly-controlled underground facility supervised by a team of scientists, in a community of other genetically-engineered boys. Within their blood lies the antidote to a toxin that has rendered the surface of Earth virtually uninhabitable. They believe they are humanity’s last hope. Martyr is nearly 18 years old, his DNA-encoded expiration date. He is content to die, knowing his sacrifice will enable the survival of thousands, though his fondest wish is to see the sky with his own eyes, just for a few moments. One day, an opportunity for escape presents itself, and he impulsively seizes it. What he discovers beyond the facility will reveal a terrifying truth, and a desperate hope.

Meanwhile, Abby Goyer is less than pleased about her biologist father’s new job, which has unceremoniously whisked them away to a little jerkwater town in the Alaskan countryside. She’s coping as best she can. The standoffish locals have her feeling like a freak, and she’s caught the unwelcome attention of J.D. Kane, the boorish, unfairly handsome captain of the football team. Just when she thinks her life can’t get any worse, Abby finds a strange boy hiding in her bedroom, shivering and bald, acting like he just dropped in from another planet.

And he’s a dead ringer for J.D. Kane.

Replication – The Jason Experiment, is a near-future tale of suspense in the spirit of The Island and Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, written by Jill Williamson, author of the award-winning Blood of Kings young-adult fantasy trilogy.

It asks a lot of profound questions along the way. What might happen when a person who is nearly a blank slate confronts a complex world that is nothing like he’s been led to believe? Is destiny governed by heredity? What is it that makes each of us a unique individual? Does morality impose limits on scientific experimentation, even for a noble cause?

Williamson moves the story along at a nail-biting tempo that kept me turning pages from beginning to end over three hours of a graveyard shift at work, no small feat. As in her other works of my acquaintance, she displays a knack for creating appealing characters. Abby is a smart, resourceful, and likable heroine, though I found her incessant mental gushing over boys a bit tiresome and stereotypical. Martyr was more three-dimensional, and I found his portrayal both believable and gripping.

This is also Christian fiction, and I thought Williamson did a good job organically integrating faith issues into the story via Martyr’s natural curiosity about the outside world, his own purpose in life, and Abby’s confident Christianity. That thread of the story didn’t feel preachy or overwrought.

Most of my gripes were minor and involved implausibilities in the story’s setup and some inconsistencies which would probably bother jaded old science fiction fanboys more than its intended teen audience. If you’re curious or have read the book and want to discuss this further, hit the comment box.

I think Replication strikes the heart of the envelope for teen fiction, though genre fans of any age would probably enjoy it. There’s some mild violence (and one horrific incident that happens offstage and is referenced indirectly), painful scientific experimentation on human beings, and a bit of chaste kissing, but nothing that would offend most parents or any teens in my neighborhood.

>>This review is based upon a copy of the book provided to me free of charge by the publisher, a courtesy I appreciate, but which does not guarantee my recommendation. I strive to evaluate every book I review purely on its intrinsic merits.<<(less)

like · see review

Sep 21, 2012 Alexandra george rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such an exceptional book.
It tackles the theme of cloning and the significance of the human soul and the human life with a vengeance.
And it is filled with action and romance in the tradition of the best of YA fiction.

Martyr is a clone, raised in a "farm" below the ground, among other clones. He has never seen the sun or the moon. He is told he will "expire" on his eighteenth birthday, but in a crazy moment he decides to make a run for it. You see, he wants to see the sky.
He doesn't get...more

like · see review

Jul 26, 2012 Kelly Knapp rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: every high school student, sci-fi buffs

Recommended to Kelly by: Goodreads Firstreads giveaway

Replication: The Jason Experiment
This book was great. It really contrasted the moral issues of cloning and what should be done to save man from himself. The story was intense, the characters vivid, and the themes timely.

The idea that Abby’s father was not a believer was surprising, but fit the story so well. His uncertainty at Martyr staying at the pastor’s place was realistic, not wanting to bring others into the mess that was brewing. Dr. Kane is monstrous, but not everything he does/did is ev...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Mad rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I think the most interesting part of this book would be what happens after the ending.

The main characters are difficult to connect with. Abby is a condescending teenage girl that berates her father at almost every opportunity. She is incredibly self-righteous and although the author takes great pains to emphasize how smart Abby is, this intellect is never reflected in her thoughts or actions in the book. The other main character, Martyr or J:3:3, is altruistic to a fault and can do no wrong. He...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Author, Jill Williamson, renders a full line of dilemmas in her novel, Replication. When Abby’s father, Dr. Goyer, agrees to a new position at Jason Farms, situated on a remote location in Alaska, she will have to adjust to her new surroundings. If being homesick was not enough, she will have to make new friends at her new high school. She meets the local jock but strongly refuses any of his advances. Since moving, her dad has been acting strange. Troubled by her father’s behavior, she follows h...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Theresa by: goodreads

Shelves: arc-s-favorites, giveaway-favorites, favorites, 2012-reads, first-reads, 5-stars

I won an ARC of Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson in a giveaway for free on Goodreads First/Reads* 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- I've added this one to my favorites shelf on goodreads. Great writing from Jill Williamson. A likable main character~ and an awesome evil character. This will be a favorite of 2012 for me. Thank You!!! Reesa***

1 like · like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't even know how to start writing this review, because Replication was breath taking. At first, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't quiet understand the synopsis, and I had no idea what it was talking about. I just started it, and it definitely welcomed me with many surprises. Jill Williamson created an amazing story that is about 1 of the 55 clones whose name is Martyr. All the clones have the same face, and are being fooled by the doctor's, thinking that their purpose i...more

like · see review

May 17, 2012 Pricky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cloning, 3rd-person, female-lead, library-owned, multicultural, read-in-2012, reviewed, romance, sci-fi, ya, male-lead, christian-views

Are all cloning stories based on the same idea? If I hadn't already read The House of the Scorpion or watched Ewan McGregor in The Island, I may have been more impressed by a story of (view spoiler). Granted this one was about 1 individual being cloned multiple times...but, wait...wasn't that like The House of the Scorpion?

But--as the character Abby would so often point out: there are pros and cons to everything so here's my list for Replicatio...more

like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Alexa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

Is this book serious? Really, it's not simply Christian fiction. It's laughably inaccurate anti-science propaganda. When one character says that stem cell research isn't unethical, Abby, a main character, dismisses him as an "extremist liberal."

Just to be certain that my Northeastern roots weren't responsible for my having a warped view, I looked it up. Sure enough, the majority of Americans (almost 75%) believe that "scientists should be able to use stem cells for biomedical research." click he ...more Is this book serious? Really, it's not simply Christian fiction. It's laughably inaccurate anti-science propaganda. When one character says that stem cell research isn't unethical, Abby, a main character, dismisses him as an "extremist liberal."

Just to be certain that my Northeastern roots weren't responsible for my having a warped view, I looked it up. Sure enough, the majority of Americans (almost 75%) believe that "scientists should be able to use stem cells for biomedical research." click here for link to article

Meanwhile, the plot, which initially had me hooked, slides into an oversimplified and misleading anti-cloning/anti-stem cell research (it seems to regard the two as parts of the same process) diatribe that rests on the notion that, given the right technology, it would make perfect sense for one scientist to create, raise, educate, feed, house, control, and enslave over 55 clones for the purposes of doing pharmaceutical testing to cure his own personal case of lupus.

Which, given the huge overhead involved in such a secret project, makes perfect sense. Of course.

But it's not just this wildly implausible idea that bothers me. The book is, after all, fiction, and is perfectly within its rights to rest on an unlikely plot. What bothers me is the idea that this scientist, as well as the multiple doctors he hires, would be convinced that, given that they are clones, the 55 Jasons are less than human--so much so, in fact, that it is perfectly reasonable to kill them when they turn 18.

Given that identical twins are, genetically speaking, clones of each other, the idea that a medical doctor or scientist would casually dismiss a clone as being less than human is ludicrous. That such a doctor would only discover the error of his ways after his religious daughter begged him to see the light is equally nutty.

One could argue that, given that this book has a completely different worldview than my own, there is no reason for me to read or review it--just as I would say "live and let live" to people who would ban Harry Potter for promoting the occult. However, since Replication takes great pains to hide the fact that it is religious fiction, and then flagrantly misrepresents the science it is attempting to discredit, it seems fair to point it out.

Since no other reviewers have said it, I'm going to: This book is complete and utter nonsense. It is not simply "not my cup of tea." It is propaganda.
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2012 D.M. Dutcher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, thriller, young-adult

Not a bad book, but just a little too preachy to be great. Abby is a smart girl interested in science whose researcher father has just moved her to out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, Alaska. Little does she know that he is involved with a secret cloning lab, and one of its subjects called Martyr wants to see the sky.

It's an interesting plot, and the POV from the clones is nicely done. Abby is a bit too competent for my liking, and needed to be a little weaker to be more believable. Usually a girl on...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Amanda Marasco rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's getting to the point that any book that's strange or different than the "normal" world, I have to read. Once I read the description for this book, I requested it right away. I can't resist book like this and I was excited to get into it.

I only have one really size-able complaint about this book, and it's the same as some other people have had. This would be the religion pushing. I really understand how it would come into play in the book, because the ethics part always goes with religion wh...more

like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Wow, I read that quickly! I downloaded this as my first e-book and read it over the course of two nights. I couldn't wait to get home yesterday and get back to it, and I didn't stop reading until I was finished. I really liked this book quite a bit. Well, I LOVE the concept and I love the characters! It's got a ton of similarities to my own book... yeah, yeah, I am obsessed with reading stories that are in the same plot-family as mine, but I can't help it!... and I was concerned b/c this is the...more Wow, I read that quickly! I downloaded this as my first e-book and read it over the course of two nights. I couldn't wait to get home yesterday and get back to it, and I didn't stop reading until I was finished. I really liked this book quite a bit. Well, I LOVE the concept and I love the characters! It's got a ton of similarities to my own book... yeah, yeah, I am obsessed with reading stories that are in the same plot-family as mine, but I can't help it!... and I was concerned b/c this is the first book about genetic engineering that I've read that delves seriously into the religious angle as well as the science part. That's something I am doing with my book in a big way, but fortunately, mine isn't just like this one. (I'm writing my book with a bent that's concerned with spirituality and religion in general, not just Christianity and the Bible, which is the angle "Replication" takes, so far as to quote Bible verses and stuff.)

The reason I give this 4 and not 5 stars is because the last several chapters felt "off" somehow. They were fast-paced, full of action and it kept my attention, but the action got confusing and sometimes things happened too conveniently. For example, I liked that JD came to the Farm and posed as Martyr, but it somehow didn't WORK. His idea to "sacrifice" himself came too quickly and the reader didn't get a chance to witness that change in his thinking. I also couldn't get a real feel for Dr. Kane (or Dr. Elliott, other than he is a sadist) because he still sounded too much like a stereotypical Mad Scientist, even by the end, spilling details to his "son"... I almost expected him to howl, as the police carted him away, "And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for all you meddling KIDS!"

That criticism aside, I was quite touched by Martyr's POV and how naive and innocent he is. He and Abby together are a wonderful, exciting couple and I loved reading scenes with them together--I couldn't WAIT for them to meet, and that's what kept me turning pages faster and faster to finally get to that point. As with some of my favorite books, I'm really thinking about it after I finished, and I find myself wondering how their lives will unfold from this point on... I'm rooting for them. Abby is an intelligent, moral girl and I think she makes a good role model for any young people reading this book. Embrace science! But remain ethical! :-)
(less)

like · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Sarah Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC from Zondervan publishers.

Replication is a young adult novel that focuses on J:3:3, or Martyr, one of many clones who has been raised locked in a facility and told he will "expire" on his 18th birthday. Marty escapes so he can see the sky before he dies and ends up meeting Abby, the daughter of a new doctor at the facility. Abby is shocked that Jason looks just like a boy at her school and is determined to save Martyr and the other clones so they are not unethically killed.

I...more

like · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, middle-grade, young-adult

Currently reading this book. I’m on page 177 at the moment and although I can tell it is not really my kind of book, I am going to keep reading. I should have noticed that it was published by Zondervan….but I didn’t. This book is a perfect sci-fi/genetic/religious book. Williamson tackles the big issue of using embryonic/stem cells and cloning. I personally don’t hold the same viewpoints and feel at times that the book is preachy and definitely conservative/right-wing. Will write a better review...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first read about this novel , I was excited as I love novels about Genetics and Modification but then when I discovered that Zondervan were publishing it , I was intrigued as to what the novel would be about and how captivating it would turn out to be.
In Replication , we meet a series of people who have been genetically made and are called the Jasons . They have been bred and taught that they are saving Mankind from the toxic air that breathes outside in "our world" . Replication follows...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2012 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-library

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson is an exciting read. The central issue presented in the book is human cloning and their status in the human world.

The premise is the intersection of worlds between a cloned teen who has been raised in a secret underground lab, called Jason Farms, along with fifty-four replicas like himself and an overachieving Christian teen who takes a strong stand on ethics. The cloned teen, Martyr, escapes his prison—not knowing it is one—and discovers more...more Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson is an exciting read. The central issue presented in the book is human cloning and their status in the human world.

The premise is the intersection of worlds between a cloned teen who has been raised in a secret underground lab, called Jason Farms, along with fifty-four replicas like himself and an overachieving Christian teen who takes a strong stand on ethics. The cloned teen, Martyr, escapes his prison—not knowing it is one—and discovers more about life in one day of freedom than he has been exposed to in the last eighteen years. Abby is the 17-year-old daughter of a molecular biologist. Abby's father has been newly hired at Jason Farms and refuses to tell his daughter anything about his new job, except that they must move to Alaska for his work. He is not a Christian and is at odds with his daughter on virtually every issue. His deceased wife had battled with him on many of the same issues and was a Christian, the inspiration for Abby’s faith and her determined stance on the ethical and humane treatment of humans and animals.

As Abby and Martyr learn about each other’s worlds, Abby determines to save Martyr and the rest of the clones. The question is—Will her father help her or turn Martyr in?

Williamson is an engaging storyteller, as her tremendously successful Blood of Kings trilogy shows. She does just as amazing a job with science fiction as she does with fantasy. Her characters are well developed, the plot compelling, the subplots many and varied but not overwhelming, and the dialogue superb.

There is one story element that I would caution parents about letting their young or immature teen read. Martyr witnesses a brutal attack on a female scientist that is employed at Jason Farms and tells Abby about it, later retelling it to another character. Although the description is not detailed or gory, it is a disturbing scene to imagine and may bring up questions that the younger teen may not be ready to process.

The clones are experimented upon for drug research and subjected to many cruelties, but Williamson keeps these aspects of the story in the periphery (as much as such issues can be), focusing more on the interweaving of young, innocent lives with the horrors that unethical, uncompassionate adults impose on them.

Overall a great read with the caveat mentioned earlier for younger teens. This is definitely an up-all-night story!
(less)

like · see review

Feb 24, 2012 Margaret Mcgaffey rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 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 s...more 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 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.
(less)

like · see review

Feb 02, 2012 Melanie Dickerson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Replication is a great story, full of exciting and dramatic twists. If you like suspenseful, meaningful stories, you will love this one.

Abby Goyer is a high school student who is dealing with the death of her mother and also with the fact that her father has been involved in some unethical research practices at work. Now that he's moved them to Alaska, things really get weird. Especially when she discovers a kid who looks exactly like the creepy jock at her school. And then she finds out that he...more

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2012 Brianna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Replication by Jill Williamson is a story about a clone nicknamed Martyr who just wants to see the sky before he “expires.” He then runs into a young woman named Abby Goyer. Soon, they unravel the mystery behind Jason Farms, the place where Martyr comes from. The story gets more intense once they are on the run from Dr. Kane, the founder of Jason Farms. Martyr will now have to choose between serving the purpose for which he was made by Dr. Kane, or to serve God`s purpose.
The characters are jus...more

like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Shellie Neumeier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jill Williamson exposes a host of quandaries in her latest release, Replication. When Dr. Goyer accepts a new position at Jason Farms in remote Alaska, his daughter Abby is faced with the grueling task of making new friends in a high school that is nothing like the one back home. And between the odd way her father is behaving and the unwanted advances from the local jock, Abby misses her deceased mother desperately.

One day, Abby decides to follow her father into work where she explores the deso...more

2 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 50 51 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Contemporary Chri...: Replication by Jill Williamson Giveaway	1	9	Mar 12, 2012 12:29pm

combine
Other Editions

Videos About This Book

Pitching my novel: What I should have done

2 comments

Genres

Young Adult

40 users

Science Fiction

28 users

Christian

18 users

Science Fiction > Dystopia

13 users

Romance

11 users

Christian Fiction

10 users

Mystery

6 users

Fantasy

6 users

Religion

4 users

Contemporary

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words
by Rachel Coker
Song of the Ovulum
by Bryan Davis
Sneak
by Evan Angler
Candlewax
by C. Bailey Sims
The Wishing Pearl
by Nicole O'Dell

About Jill Williamson

Jill was raised in rural Alaska. Alone with her thoughts and the moose, daydreaming was a favorite pastime. As was reading.

She always loved reading. She started out with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, the Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. She loves just about every genre out there, but her all time favorites are fantasy and suspense.

Jill met Brad in college and they...more Jill was raised in rural Alaska. Alone with her thoughts and the moose, daydreaming was a favorite pastime. As was reading.

She always loved reading. She started out with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, the Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. She loves just about every genre out there, but her all time favorites are fantasy and suspense.

Jill met Brad in college and they married after graduation. Her dreams of becoming a fashion designer dragged the couple to New York City for one year. After that, Brad’s dreams of directing movies dragged them to Los Angeles. They both worked really hard for people who weren’t very nice.

A few years of torture passed.

Brad started volunteering with teens at their Burbank church. They had their first son, Luke, moved to a house, Jill got out of the fashion industry (woo hoo!), and Brad became an ordained minister and full time youth pastor (double woo hoo!). God is good. All the time.

Jill started writing a book. It seemed like a good idea at the time. She didn’t have a clue what she was getting into. All she knew for certain was that it was really fun. With two babies at home, it was a neat way to pass the time.

Writing was something Jill never really did before then. Daydreaming and plotting, however, were familiar old friends. So now Jill writes…everywhere. At home, in the car, at church (only notes, I promises!), in line at the grocery store, at the park, while walking, in the shower… (TMI?) and she loves it. She finds creating characters and taking them on a journey an amazing experience. She never knew what it could be like until she met Spencer, Nauja, Martyr, and Achan. Writing was a whole lot of fun. Plus, she couldn’t get in trouble for forgetting to add a rosette onto a K-mart costsheet and costing the company a loss of $5,000. (True story…) And, she can’t get yelled at when the line of evening gowns she shipped via Fed Ex doesn’t reach the showroom in New York in time for Market to open. (Was it really her fault the plane got snowed in?)

No. Jill has no bitter memories of the fashion industry at all. (Can we say The Devil Wears Prada, anyone?)

But yes. Writing is something she loves. Writing is something she could do forever, if God allows it. (Please, God? Pretty please?)

May He do with Jill what He wishes.(less)

More about Jill Williamson...

Books by Jill Williamson

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Replication: The ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Replication: The Jason Experiment
avg rating	preview: Replication: The Jason Experiment Goodreads rating: 3.80 (429 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12078469-replication?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1325182785l/12078469.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12078469-replication?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson[/url]

Replication: The Jason Experiment

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website