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Origin (Origin)

by Jessica Khoury (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 3,688 ratings · 767 reviews

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

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Hardcover, First Edition, 394 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Razorbill

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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7th out of 183 books — 261 voters

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Aug 13, 2012 Steph Sinclair rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sci-Fi fans

Shelves: young-adult, penguin, 2012-release, ebook, e-arc, netgalley, 2012-reads, 2012-favs, 2-am-or-later, best-characters, i-didn-t-see-that-coming, i-need-to-buy-this-book, i-really-enjoyed-it, original-and-creative, sci-fi, surprised-me, to-buy-soon

There are a lot of things I expected from Origin. Mystery, a jungle backdrop and even a bit of romance. But, wow. I did not expect to be grabbing the edge of my seat, turning page after page in anticipation. However, this novel is not for the faint of heart due to a few shocking scenes. But carefully placed gentler moments are woven in with the call of the jungle. Between the bitter-sweet blossom of first love and the nail-biting storyline, I was robbed of precious sleep... I was captivated.

The...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Phoebe added it

Shelves: intergalactic-academy-reviews, science-fiction

Full review (and giveaway!) at the Intergalactic Academy.

There are books you respect for how well they’re crafted–their pace, strong voice and vivid characters. There are novels with themes you believe in, which expand your thinking on a subject in a new and thrilling way. And then there are certain books that do one, or the other, but not both; there are novels you admire, but don’t very well like because what they say about the world is abhorrent to you. For me, Origin is one of those novels.

F...more Full review (and giveaway!) at the Intergalactic Academy.

There are books you respect for how well they’re crafted–their pace, strong voice and vivid characters. There are novels with themes you believe in, which expand your thinking on a subject in a new and thrilling way. And then there are certain books that do one, or the other, but not both; there are novels you admire, but don’t very well like because what they say about the world is abhorrent to you. For me, Origin is one of those novels.

For the good: this is one of the most immersively atmospheric young adult novels I’ve read in a long time. The pacing, breathlessly engaging, and easily matches Beth Revis’s Across the Universe, one of my favorites. Debut author Jessica Khoury presents one of the most distinctive and perfectly realized characters in Pia, an immortal girl raised by a team of scientists in a secret lab in the Amazon rainforest. Khoury’s prose is lovely and lyrical, drawing a vivid picture of Pia and her environs. She’s a confidant writer.

I just can’t get behind what she wrote about.

The overwhelming message of Origin is “the thirst for scientific knowledge makes scientists do evil things.” To be fair, this is a somewhat classical message in science fiction, one that’s understandably been with us since Hiroshima. And it’s been particularly popular in recent pop sci-fi. Lost, for example, which Origin both evokes and conspicuously lifts certain plot points (one female scientist’s backstory perfectly matches Juliet’s) seemed to have at its heart an anti-science argument. Those behind Lost have since gone on to create other media where scientists are bumbling or evil: Fringe is in many ways the story of one scientist’s atonement for evil acts. Prometheus presented a world where scientific curiosity leads inevitably to ruin. In fact, in interviews, Damon Lindelof stated that he felt science fiction fundamentally is a cautionary tale. As suggested in Lost itself, we should just have faith, and stop asking questions.

Khoury takes a slightly different route in portraying science as evil. She simply chooses to make the scientists in her story the evilest evil people ever. They raise Pia with a wealth of scientific knowledge, but none about the outside world. They tell her that she will be a scientist, and implore her to embrace a method of cold rationality which includes murdering kittens. I am not making this up. In fact, the scientists are portrayed as so flatly evil that, when characters allude to a mysterious catalyst which make immortality possible, I said to myself, “these scientists are so evil, I bet it comes from eating babies.” I wasn’t far off.

(To be fair, there are two mildly good scientists. It was not enough to counteract the EVIL SCIENCE IS EVIL message for me.)

I recently attended a con panel on dystopian YA fiction; there, it was suggested that modern YA dystopias are dark because teens live in uncertain times. I understand that Khoury, fairly young herself, coming of age in an era when the evils of, say, stem cell research are frequently in the news, but when it comes down to it, her scientists are nothing like the passionate, curious, engaged, kind scientists that I know in my own life. The message, and its lack of nuance, felt close to an affront.

There are other ways in which Origin reminded me of Lost, particularly in the inexplicable cageyness of certain characters. There was a scene where Pia shouts at one to tell her information and he tells her over and over again that he can’t. But he could. The deflection only served to postpone the reveal of information to where it was most impactful, but it didn’t make much sense.

But still, this is a finely crafted novel, and Khoury is a powerful writer. I just don’t agree, personally, with what she wrote about. Those who enjoy sci-fi as a cautionary tale (I’m looking at you, Damon Lindelof!) will find quite a bit to like here.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, science-fiction

Reminiscent of Lost, Origin takes place in the Amazon Rainforest where scientists are experimenting, and Pia is their most prized subject. Born and raised in a small secret village, Pia has never left the compound, has never seen anything other than the same old faces, the same old sterile labs and homes... until now.

Fascinating in itself, this story is told in a wonderfully vivid setting that sets the perfect mood for the reclusiveness of this secret scientific project. I can't say that I'm ve...more Reminiscent of Lost, Origin takes place in the Amazon Rainforest where scientists are experimenting, and Pia is their most prized subject. Born and raised in a small secret village, Pia has never left the compound, has never seen anything other than the same old faces, the same old sterile labs and homes... until now.

Fascinating in itself, this story is told in a wonderfully vivid setting that sets the perfect mood for the reclusiveness of this secret scientific project. I can't say that I'm very familiar with that part of the world, and I think this fact played a large part in how mesmerizing it was for me. Exotic animals, plants, and cultures create an atmosphere that is both unique and enchanting. The jungle is not just the setting, it's an ambiance with sounds, smells, visualizations that come alive when you're reading this book. Then, when you add hidden laboratories and secret experiments, it compels you even further. When I wasn't immersed in the beauty of the Rainforest, I was contemplating the secrets and lies that run rampant within it. This encompasses immortality, science, magic, forbidden romance, betrayals, conspiracies, and evil plans, which are sure ways to create an exciting plot; Origin is definitely no exception.

Fast paced and energetic, the plot in Origin is set at just the right pace to keep you vigilant, while letting you absorb and savor the atmosphere. Pia, our protagonist, is a very peculiar character; her evident naiveté, lack of experience, and -- surprisingly for someone immortal -- vulnerability, would usually make for an unlikeable character, but because of her circumstance I found her quite compelling. Although I won't admit to being completely in tune with her, she provoked a lot of wonderment and thought about her situation and what it would be like to know you will outlive everyone you love. Soon, she meets a native outside the fence - a boy named Eio (do not ask me to pronounce this, it sounds like I stubbed my toe O_O). Raised in the jungle, Eio is much more suited for the outdoors than Pia; he's resourceful and strong. I liked him as a character. I didn't find he and Pia had a whole lot of chemistry flowing between them, though. They develop a relationship that progresses fairly quickly; before I had time to register their attraction for each other, they were already falling in love. I never felt it, this alleged burning affection. Still, it was cute, it was definitely cute, maybe even sweet.

Overall, with an incredibly beautiful and imaginative setting, Origin's enticing premise is sure to captivate fans of science fiction/fantasy. Plus, it's all in a fabulous standalone self!

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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15 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 Kat (Le Pauvre Cœur) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: pretty-cover, disappointment, horrible-love-interest, insta-love, le-sigh, lust-and-love-are-not-the-same, not-worth-the-hype, stupid-heroine, sucky-writing, wtf, waste-of-paper, animal-murder, watch-for-flying-tables-everybody, take-yo-sexist-ass-out-of-here

It's done? It's finally fucking done?

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Thank god.

Now, die book.

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Wanna know why I despised this book so much? Check my status updates below for more info. Nearly everything that I hated about it is there.

12 likes · like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Elle (Ligia) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, must-read, oh-my-heart, own-ebook, read-in-2012, reviewed, romance, sci-fi, stand-alone, dystopia

Goodness! This was… Whoa!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Origin was… pretty spectacular!

It is hard to believe now, after I’m done, to think that I wasn’t even planning on reading it anytime soon. In fact I was completely skeptical towards it. I don’t know what it was, really, that made me hesitate. All I know is that after I saw the book trailer I thought: why not? I could give it a try. In fact, damn! It was a good book trailer, alright? It caught my attention and it got me to read the book, and I’m so very g...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2013 Rebecca ♥ Ash, Jem, Warner ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Matched and Wither

Shelves: young-adult, romance, dystopian, own-physical-copy, sci-fi, memorable-men, reviewed

I really enjoyed this book although a lot about it made me very uncomfortable. The lengths people would go for science. It was really disturbing and nearly nauseated me at times when they really explored what the scientists had done.

It definitely had a dystopian feel above all else, although its set in modern day. But within the world of Little Cambridge, the research facility hidden in the depths of the Amazon, there are so many secrets and hidden evils, it easily overshadows every aspect of t...more I really enjoyed this book although a lot about it made me very uncomfortable. The lengths people would go for science. It was really disturbing and nearly nauseated me at times when they really explored what the scientists had done.

It definitely had a dystopian feel above all else, although its set in modern day. But within the world of Little Cambridge, the research facility hidden in the depths of the Amazon, there are so many secrets and hidden evils, it easily overshadows every aspect of the story. It was a very interesting world and setting.

Pia was a very unique heroine. She was created by scientists, and has never been outside of the fence. She is expected to become a scientist herself one day soon, and continue their work. But Pia cant help but wonder what is on the other side of the fence, and beyond the jungle. The scientists avoid talking about the outside world around her, but once in a while a word slips. "San Francisco." "Shakespeare." This only makes her wonder more and more. Until one night, when a thunderstorm takes down a tree, and its roots push up the fence enough for her to crawl underneath. The scientist inside her knows that she shouldn't, but that is only what the other scientists want her to be, not who she really is. She spends the whole book struggling with the two versions of herself inside, waging their internal battle. And that is how she meets Eio. Whenever "Wild Pia" has the upper-hand, she sneaks out of the compound and meets the gorgeous jungle boy, and she has to decide between the only life she has ever known, and her feelings for Eio which she doesn't even understand.

Eio and the romance between him and Pia was beautiful. It was slow, but deep, and true, and... beautiful. The comparison to Matched and For Darkness Shows the Stars is perfect in that regard. Eio was a wonderful character who loved Pia and never saw the differences between them. He was so utterly dedicated to her and her safety and happiness. There is a scene in chapter 26 when he picks her a passionflower from behind a waterfall, and he just seemed like a miracle. Pia was the one that was told that she was perfect her whole life, but Eio is so beautiful and perfect inside and out, it nearly took my breathe away. I cant understand how Pia did what she did next, instead of throwing her arms around him and never letting go.

"Then he's here, emerging from the water like some kind of myth, some fabled Ai'oan god, his hand smoothing his wet hair back from his face, his chest and shoulders gleaming with water and moonlight. Behind him, a pale shimmering trail of blue light marks his passage through the water. His wet shorts hang a bit lower on his hips than they usually do, tempting my imagination. He extends the flower, which I take with trembling fingers.

He smiles a small, crooked smile, and I think he knows exactly how tightly he's bound my tongue in knots. I suspect fetching me the passionflower was only half his purpose in swimming through the glowing pool."

In the end I had a lot of anxious feelings, after discovering the truth about Little Cambridge, and not knowing if things would be ok. But the ending was great and there was a twist I didnt see coming. I wish I could see more of what happens to them next, but this was a stand alone and they got their HEA.

I feel like I need to push this up to at least a 4.5/5, which is the same rating I gave Matched. Although the story is more well organized and fully developed compared to Matched, certain things in it made me too uneasy to fully enjoy myself. But then I remember Eio and I want to give it several more stars. :P Jessica Khoury is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 21, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

You guys, I have been so excited to read Origin. Unfortunately, just because I think a book sounds awesome does not mean that it actually will be. Sadly, I found Origin to be an entirely disappointing read for me, full of mistreatment of animal, bitching, and unsurprising plot twists.

Origin kicks off with animal torture. Yup. They believe in animal testing in Little Cam, the scientific community where Pia has lived all of her life. In the first chapter...more

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 03, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-publication, september, penguin, young-adult, sci-fi-or-futuristic, ala-2012, poc, read-2012

3.5 stars Liked this one overall, though I wish some things had been fleshed out a little better. Also, if you're going to have a pet jaguar, I think you should at least ride him at some point. I would!

Review to come.

20 likes · like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Jenn Cunha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, bea-2012

4.5 but I'm rounding up. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I still can't get over how much I loved it. The beginning was a little slow for me which is why I'm giving it 4.5 and not 5. I think what I loved most about this book is that it is stand alone. These days, authors of YA fiction have been dragging out stories, which is great because it gets teens to read, but at the same time, it's very hard to commit to an entire series. Origin was great because it was excellent in its ow...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2012 River rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, yawn, instalovetm, fantasy, arc

If you've been keeping up on my reviews you'd know I am notoriously hard to please... I was not wowed by this book, and I was expecting to be. But at least it didn't make me want to throw it across the room :).

This book has nothing to do with science, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Any "science" in this book needs to be like I just did it, in quotes. THIS BOOK IS A FANTASY. 100% pure fantasy. Go into this book with that in mind, and you might enjoy it quite a bit more than I did.

I rec...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 10, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Amanda by: Stephanie Norman

Shelves: favorite, young-adult, thought-provoking, fantasy, science-fiction

Read through it again! The final print version is so amazing! It is so much more than just a story about boy meets girl!
....
I was lucky enough to be a BETA reader in the earlier stages of this book. Within the first few pages of the book I knew it was something special! I can't wait to read the final version of the book! This is going to be the next big thing in Young adult fiction!!! This book is truly original; you won't find any cliches here. Make sure you start reading when you can read th...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Melanie Atkinson rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, I came across Jessica's query letter sample on a writer's forum and I remember reading her query (awesome, by the way) and thinking, "Wow, I have to read this book!" So, I'm quite excited to see it coming out soon and this is definitely on my list of must reads. Great premise! I can't wait for this to come out.

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 26, 2012 Missy Frye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, ya, fantasy, 2012-reads

It’s been quite some time since I stayed up late reading a book because I couldn’t wait to find out how it ends. Origin hooked me from page one; so few books do that these days. For some reason, writers think they have to set things up with unnecessary exposition.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her sevente

...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Renae M. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, debut-2012, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic, magic, published-2012, science-fiction

Sometimes, even the most well-intentioned books can go awry. Origin by Jessica Khoury presents a unique premise and an interesting story. Initially, it didn’t engage me at all, but I pressed on in hopes that better things were to come. I was mistaken. In the last quarter of the book, I was moved out of boredom to fury.

Let me be quite clear with this. Women are not possessions to be claimed and owned by men. You are not “truly, madly, deeply in love” after three days of acquaintance, no matter h...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Yael Itamar rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Other than the prose, there is only one element of the book that was well-done: Pia. Her thoughts and emotions came across as very real, and never once did her actions feel forced.

But as for everything else? Ugh, where to begin? We'll start with Eio--a romantic hunk and too stupid to live. Sure, I get that he's in love, but some of his actions are just bona fide idiotic. (view spoiler)...more Other than the prose, there is only one element of the book that was well-done: Pia. Her thoughts and emotions came across as very real, and never once did her actions feel forced.

But as for everything else? Ugh, where to begin? We'll start with Eio--a romantic hunk and too stupid to live. Sure, I get that he's in love, but some of his actions are just bona fide idiotic. (view spoiler) And his conversations with Pia? The progression of dialogue is far from realistic. And it doesn't help that his community is full of the archetypical noble savages. None of the Ai'oans actually felt like real characters. Outside of their relationship to Pia, the scientists, and the mythical immortality-granting flower, these characters hardly seemed to have any identities of their own. Oh yeah, and the way they welcome Pia into their community as a savior, despite the fact that she's an outsider? They knew about the scientists' experiments on immortality flowers, as well the deep, dark secret behind that immortality. Their response to meeting her shouldn't have been "Oh, hey, an immortal girl came to save us!" I'm thinking something more along the lines of "Fuck, fuck, fuck. This girl was made immortal by crazy scientists who discovered the deep, dark secret!"

Oh, and speaking of crazy scientists, what's the deal with all of these books portraying researchers as cold, emotionless wannabe robots? Or at least that's what I thought by the end of the first chapter. But by the time I finished the book, it was very clear that the scientists here go beyond simply "cold." In fact, in order for Pia to become a scientist in the Immortis project, she has to pass what are called Wickham tests, which basically measure how much of a sociopath you are.

Some background on real-life scientists: We're not sociopaths. We're not emotionless eugenicists. We have quirks, feelings, and familial affections, and yes, we listen to music. Some of us are religious, and believe it or not, we even have morals! (Two of the principle investigators I have worked for were vegetarians, even though both worked in labs that performed research on animals.) And although we do kill and maim animals, we try to do it painlessly, and with a greater good in mind.

The scientists in Origin claim they follow a similar "ends justify the means" philosophy, but while the book makes it very clear what the "means" are, I'm a little hazy on the "ends." From the sound of it, all the Immortis project is meant to accomplish is to prove to the world that SCIENCE IZ TEH AWESOME. They will not be saving lives, curing diseases, or even making any money. (And this also brings up the question of why they need to create a whole race of immortals? Isn't just one immortal enough to suit their purposes?)

I expected this blog post to come out very angry like my Insurgent review did, (at least Insurgent tried to show examples of decent scientists) but the anger has passed and now all I'm left with is a feeling of puzzlement. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that somebody actually wrote this.

But while I'm at it, let me point out two more things: a) What's with delaying the big reveal? Sure, it's more dramatic, but would the characters actually do that? When I want to warn someone of great evil and impending doom, I don't get all cryptic about it. I give them the details, and I do so as quickly as possible. b) Pia can't bleed, but she can bruise--which doesn't make any sense, because bruises are caused by internal bleeding. c) I'm fairly certain Jessica Khoury has no idea what cerebral palsy is--a problem that could have been fixed with a two-minute Google search. (If you're really going to throw in a token fatal disease without doing any research, just use cancer.)

Don't waste your time on Origin. Or, if you insist on being masochistic, just get a copy from the library rather than spending actual money on this anti-intellectual tripe.(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 KM added it

Shelves: sci-fi, 2012-debuts, signed, penguin, globe-trekkers

Similar Books: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, Altered by Jennifer Rush, Stung by Bethany Wiggins

This was a book that I originally wasn't that excited to read - I'm not usually into soft sci-fi (where there's no space or aliens, just something techy happening on Earth), but then I saw that this author lived in Georgia and was going to be at Decatur Book Festival. Plus, she's a 2012 debut and will be featured on Penguin's Breathless Reads Tour. And while this wasn't my favorite read, I thought it...more Similar Books: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, Altered by Jennifer Rush, Stung by Bethany Wiggins

This was a book that I originally wasn't that excited to read - I'm not usually into soft sci-fi (where there's no space or aliens, just something techy happening on Earth), but then I saw that this author lived in Georgia and was going to be at Decatur Book Festival. Plus, she's a 2012 debut and will be featured on Penguin's Breathless Reads Tour. And while this wasn't my favorite read, I thought it was still interesting.

What I liked most about the book was how different it was than other YA. Sure, the issue of immortality isn't something new, but the way that Khoury explores it is. I really liked the issues raised in this book - creating life, morality in science, playing God, etc. In that way, it reminded me of the TV show "Fringe" in that the scientists have to decide what they're willing to sacrifice for their craft and how far is too far.

I also really liked the setting. I don't think I've ever read another YA book set in the Amazon before. So cool! And Khoury does a great job of grounding us in that setting, with all of her vivid descriptions. I don't know if she's ever been there or not, but if she hasn't, she did a crazy amount of research, and it shows.

As for the characters, I never felt truly connected with them. The supporting characters are fairly one-dimensional, besides maybe Aunt Harriet (who was probably my favorite character overall). Pia was annoying at the beginning, but she has a good character arc. You've just got to push through the first half, where she constantly refers to herself as "perfect." (But hey, at least we don't have another YA MC who doesn't see herself as beautiful or talented. lol)

I've read some negative comments about the love interest Eio, based on one comment that he makes at the beginning of book about how Pia needs a man to show her through the jungle. Honestly, I wasn't offended at all. I thought it fit with his character; he's grown up in a culture which has kept its ancient practices and mindsets - he's going to have some ancient ideas, including ones on gender roles. If he had been this super progressive thinker, I wouldn't have believed him as a character. Besides, he goes through development, as well, so it's not like he's this chauvinist the whole book or something.

Also, I've read some criticism about the animal cruelty in the book. I guess I'm not sure why Khoury is being criticized for it when she's obviously showing it in a NEGATIVE manner. She's not telling people to go kill kittens; she uses the death animals as a representation of Pia's desensitization to the scientific world she grows up in. And I thought this was well done. But I guess if you get really offended by the portrayal of mistreatment of animals in general, then this book isn't for you - even if you agree with the message.

Really, I think I didn't enjoy this book more because I just wasn't into the premise. And I didn't find it like "Lost" at all, which is one of my all-time favorite shows. I wasn't engaged in the story, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I didn't connect with the plot or characters. Khoury's writing is solid, and I really did love her setting.

I also appreciated that this is a clean read, aside from a few minor curse words. (view spoiler) And I think it had a positive message overall, so I'm definitely an advocate for this book, even if it wasn't my thing.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dft, read-2012

More like 3.5 stars, but I like it enough so it's getting a GR 4 star from me.

Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales.

Origin by Jessica Khoury is a part of Penguin’s Breathless Reads. Khoury has created a world within the jungles of the Amazon rain forest, holding secrets beyond our imagination. I was excited to receive this book, not only for the gorgeous cover, but for what the synopsis has promised the reader. The Amazon is a large place, and to have a secret lab within it? Amazing! Origin scream...more More like 3.5 stars, but I like it enough so it's getting a GR 4 star from me.

Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales.

Origin by Jessica Khoury is a part of Penguin’s Breathless Reads. Khoury has created a world within the jungles of the Amazon rain forest, holding secrets beyond our imagination. I was excited to receive this book, not only for the gorgeous cover, but for what the synopsis has promised the reader. The Amazon is a large place, and to have a secret lab within it? Amazing! Origin screams science fiction and dystopia, and I couldn’t wait to start reading it.

Deep within the Amazon is a secret laboratory called Little Cam. Little Cam is a compound that self-sustains enough resources to minimize outside contact. Little Cam holds one of the best kept secrets known to man – Pia. Pia is an immortal, perfect in every way. Years of scientific study has brought her to life, and she has perfected human flaw in so many ways. The scientists within Little Cam still need to test Pia, ensuring perfection to carry on the research as well as to mimic immortality to future subjects to come.

In the middle of the Amazon, a flower contains the elixir of Pia’s immortality and perfection. What they don’t take into account is human emotion. Pia longs to be outside of the electric fences of Little Cam and away from isolation, and on a special night, she finally gets her wish. Once outside of the compound, she learns the truths that the Amazon has to offer and the ugly lies that is the center of her universe.

Pia was raised in seclusion, only knowing her mother, father, and the scientists of Little Cam that is her family. She is the only young habitant of the compound, and is the only one who everyone constantly observes. I feel that there was a lot going against Pia, living her life under a microscope, waiting for the hope of perfection to be taken away. I admired who she was, and what she became. Pia was strong willed, and maybe naive at times, but I couldn’t blame her for that. She matured as best as she could, with the parents and guardians that she had.

There are so many wonderful supporting characters, some that I absolutely loved and some that I loved to hate! I won’t give out specifics to limit spoilers, but I will say that every scientist has a flaw. Aside from Pia, Khoury really showcased humanity and the flaws that are brought by our morals and emotions. I enjoyed how Khoury had the characters deal with topics as serious as morality, scientific research, and the decisions that someone inexperienced might make. I enjoyed the somewhat dark nature of the story as well as the balance that Khoury brought to the story.

I loved how Origin took place in the Amazon. There are so many wonders and secrets within the real Amazon that it translated beautifully onto paper. Khoury took creative license creating her own version of the Amazon, but with adding realistic elements. Khoury’s world was detailed, allowing my imagination to step foot into the Amazon. I mean, I was there. I could hear the sounds, I could smell the fresh air, and I could easily have lived in Little Cam as much as Pia did.

It was fascinating to see how Khoury created her world, taken after a real place, and manipulate and change it to cater to her story. I adored the balance of good and evil that she placed within Origin, and I really loved the spectrum of characters that she included. While I may not have emotionally connected to every single aspect of Origin, I still feel that this was a great read.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 Natalia Belikov rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult, arc

Read more of my reviews at Dazzling Reads

Vividly Imagined, Compelling and Highly Refreshing!

Wow, where should I start? Jessica Khoury's debut novel impressed me to the core! Origin is unique and marvelous story where science, magic, reason and emotions intertwine to deliver a well-thought-out story with moral and philosophical content.

Origin takes place in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Here, a group of scientists have establish a small community in order to find the flower containing an...more Read more of my reviews at Dazzling Reads

Vividly Imagined, Compelling and Highly Refreshing!

Wow, where should I start? Jessica Khoury's debut novel impressed me to the core! Origin is unique and marvelous story where science, magic, reason and emotions intertwine to deliver a well-thought-out story with moral and philosophical content.

Origin takes place in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Here, a group of scientists have establish a small community in order to find the flower containing an elixir capable to give immortality. However, only after more than a century after constant research and studies, scientists have finally been able to create the perfect first immortal, Pia. Here in the middle of the Amazon, Pia is isolated from the rest of the world. She has never been taught about other countries or anything that could raise her curiosity and make her want to live the scientific research camp... until on day she is able to make it out of her "cage" and goes into the jungle for the first time and meet with the first boy around her age she has ever seen.

Origin is a thoughtful well thought-out story and I was gladly surprised to have find a great deal of philosophical content on this novel. The fact that Khoury approached immortality in such a thoughtful way is what I love the most about Origin. What if we could get rid of sickness and mortality? what if we could create a raze of perfect and immortals human beings? What is perfection? What would it mean to become like God? Khoury brilliantly approaches all of these questions through the raw emotions of Pia. In addition, Pia is an unforgettable character whose reason keeps forcing her to obey, yet her heart never cease to question her captivity and origin. Pia's emotional side brings many other themes into this novel that wonderfully contrasts the scientific side of the story. Freedom, love, family, lies, and sens of belonging are some of the themes that Origin wonderfully deliver through Pia's life.

There is no doubt that Jessica Khoury is a highly talented writer with a vivid and exclusive imagination. Origin 's setting is marvelous and terrifying at the same time. The presence of the powerful elements and raw and wild rainforest took my breath away countless of times. Also, the amazonian people (the Ai'oans) are the delightful addition to the story that brings magic and mythology that beautifully intertwines with the scientific content.

Origin is a vividly imagined, compelling and highly refreshing debut that provides much more than just entertainment to its readers. Needless to say that the Epilogue alone will leave readers staring into space for quiet a while after they turned the last page.
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Aug 19, 2012 Stephanie Diaz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: This review is based on an advanced copy of the book.

WHAT I DISLIKED:
I wished Eio were a stronger character--some of his decisions were difficult to believe. The Ai'oan people also felt largely one-dimensional. And sometimes the whole "science is evil" thing was a bit too much.

WHAT I LIKED:
Pia is lovely, as is Khoury's writing. The book, surprisingly and refreshingly, is stand-alone. The plot is largely a fresh one, which brings important issues of morality into play. The jungle sett...more

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May 19, 2013 Sharons Bücherparadies rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bei diesem Buch habe ich mich sehr gut und schnell reingefunden. Der Schreibstil war recht einfach und es ließ sich flüssig lesen. Es handelte sich um eine romantische Fantasygeschichte im Dschungel mit viel Spannung und Dramatik.

Pia lebt in einer wissenschaftlichen Forschungsstation mitten im Dschungel! Der Ort nennt sich "Little Cambridge". Dort ist sie mittlerweile schon siebzehn Jahre und hat noch nie einen anderen Teil des Dschungels, außer diesen gesehen, denn sie ist eine Unsterbliche, we...more

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May 01, 2013 Alyssa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book deserves 6 stars, based on plot, which is why it received 5 stars from me (I took a star off personally because of some slight errors).

Good things first:
We are given an exotic, yet pretty much realistic setting. There is definitely a possibility (and even a likelihood) of there being secret test facilities in the Amazon.

We are given a heroine who is mostly likeable, and even somewhat relatable (though her issue is a bit larger than most of ours).

Khoury has out an enchanting, unbelieva...more This book deserves 6 stars, based on plot, which is why it received 5 stars from me (I took a star off personally because of some slight errors).

Good things first:
We are given an exotic, yet pretty much realistic setting. There is definitely a possibility (and even a likelihood) of there being secret test facilities in the Amazon.

We are given a heroine who is mostly likeable, and even somewhat relatable (though her issue is a bit larger than most of ours).

Khoury has out an enchanting, unbelievable, page-turning style, method, and plot in this book. I started it at 5 pm and read until 3:15am. I couldn't put it down, it just wasn't possible. Half the time I was sitting in dread, expecting the coming terrors and foreseeing the endings, and then I was on adrenaline rushes, as what I expected (or not) happened, became reality. This was the best feature of the book.

Now the cons:
Pia was not a fully developed character. This is a major no-no because she is the main character. Growing up in the center of Little Cam's universe should have made her selfish, rude, obnoxious, and egotistical. Khoury tried very hard to make this an ongoing theme, having Pia repeat over and over, "I am perfect". But we obviously don't believe it. We are drawn to Pia, we like her more than we should at the beginning. This wouldn't have been a fundamental error if it were another character, but we never see the huge character shift as she turns from selfish to good (I'm going to assume it's when she agreed with Paolo to go with him to spare Eio). This left out a foundation of the book. It was ok though, because the adventurous plot saved it.

Science. Khoury tried to make Pia, Paolo, and Dr. Klutzs all about it. It was the central theme of the book, apparently, with Pia's supposedly largest crisis in life being between science and love. But science is misrepresented, shown in wrong manners, and the scientific method is complete BS. There are two examples that show this best. #1 is Roosevelt's death. They take an immortal rat, one of their most precious subjects, use him in a test, and when they finally have results, throw him away. What kind of a scientist does that? His cadaver should have been kept, studied, the specific effects of elysia easily identifiable even then. It was a no brainer. The second worst example is the ants. If you had carnivorous ants in a room, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't keep them in a glass terrarium in the center of the floor. The scientists definitely had plastics and other non-breakable materials nearby, so using glass is a major plothole.

And the last major error: the burned out B wing. I don't know if any of you have seen a burned out building before, but I have. The windows are broken and the walls and roof are stained black with smoke. There are usually major structural damages sustained, and the building would most likely collapse on itself, especially in bad weather. Pia obviously knew what fire was because she had torches at her birthday party and visited the Ai'oans campfire several times, so she should have understood in the most basic sense that there was never a fire there. Also, when exploring the B wing and sniffing "that metallic smell", she would have known it to be blood. After all, she is a scientist, and has no doubt worked with blood before.

While I know the plot holes may seem much more elaborated on than the amazing parts of this book, they don't make it any less perfect. I loved the book, and I loved Khoury's writing, and I can't wait to read her next book the moment it comes out.(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was going to write a review about this sooner but the book brought up so many emotions, that I decided to wait till they settle down before writing anything.

I picked up this book because of its trailer, which indicated that it's going to be an interesting lecture. That turned out to be 100% true. Plot is very unpredictable. I had some moment, while reading it, that I thought: "Oh I know what will happen next" or I was starting to get a little bit bored. And then BOOM! there was a turning point...more

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Mar 31, 2013 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Origin is a science fiction novel set in the lush green atmosphere of the tropical rainforest. Hidden deep within the forest is a laboratory filled with scientists and laborers conducting top secret research. The natural environment provides a great contrast to the science lab which is the central location for the novel. Pia is a seventeen year old girl created by the scientists in the lab to be the first in a race of immortal beings. She knows she is immortal and she desires for more of her kin...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Ms. Newman DHSlibrary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia, sci-fi

A coming of age tale about a girl who cannot die. She is a wonder of science that through five generations of experimentation has been created to have impenetrable skin and heightened senses. She lives in the jungle in a compound that has many secrets, including how she came to exist. No one is even allowed to talk about the outside world, so Pia has always believed that they are all that exist. Until a new scientist arrives and she begins to question her world.

This story has a great plot idea a...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: not-quite-realistic-fiction, sci-fi, the-great-escape

Origin is an excellent book, totally worth every one of the stars I labeled it with. It follows Pia, an immortal girl raised by scientists deep in the jungle, who have been searching for the secret to immortality. Pia is their first success--the only immortal human.

On her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electrified fence that keeps the outside world from coming into the compound. She's never been outside, and she can't resist going out.
In the jungle, she meets Eio, a member of...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Jesse rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: tca

Origin Book Report

Origin, by Jessica Khoury is a book with an exotic setting and an excellent point/idea, but is fairly lacking in execution. The overuse of certain motifs, a cliché obsession with love, and a story that moves too fast to understand and too slow to keep you interested are what keep it from being the book that it could be. While some leeway must be given, as this is the author’s first book, there was just too much nonsensical blabbering on and on about the same things that stil...more

Origin Book Report

Origin, by Jessica Khoury is a book with an exotic setting and an excellent point/idea, but is fairly lacking in execution. The overuse of certain motifs, a cliché obsession with love, and a story that moves too fast to understand and too slow to keep you interested are what keep it from being the book that it could be. While some leeway must be given, as this is the author’s first book, there was just too much nonsensical blabbering on and on about the same things that still left the problems unsolved. The main character does not go through any growth until the very end. She takes only one step forward and everything is fixed. The book was just another recycled girl-meets-boy love story. Not much happens during the bulk of the book and the ending comes so swiftly, that it leaves one wondering if the author just did not know how to wrap it up. Overall, I am very disappointed with Origin, because it had the potential to be so much more than the reversed Pocahontas story that it came to be.

The basic premise of the book is actually particularly interesting. It is set in a secret laboratory compound, known as Little Cam, deep in the rainforest. The scientists working there are all dedicated to one thing: Pia, the world’s first immortal. She is the first of a race of immortals in the making. The list of her attributes is as follows: there is no material known to man that can even break her skin, she is immune to any and all diseases, she has a genius level intellect and perfect memory, she has super enhanced senses, reflexes, and athletic capabilities, her cells regenerate at an insanely high-speed rate, and once she turns twenty years old, she will stop aging for good. The book has some sort of suspense lingering in the air because of the scientists doting on Pia as the achievement of mankind. She is perfect. Just this alone can get one exited about what is to come, whether that be, demonstrations of her dominating invincibility or showing the hogwash that is the word perfect.

The book could go many different ways from this point on. Unfortunately, it turned into a copout love story about her and one of the native villagers. She is attracted to him because she met him on the outside and is a new type of being to her, who has lived with middle-aged to old scientists her whole life. The rest of the story goes from there. She decides that she wants this guy more than her current way of life, and long story short, her and the young man’s tribe, drive out the scientists so that they can live in peace without their inhumane experiments. They all lived happily ever after, oh and Pia loses her immortality, the end.

What is more upsetting to me, rather than the hackneyed plot, is the fact that, the suspense that is prevalent throughout Origin does not fit the solution to all the mystery. It was predictable, unimaginative, and left much to be desired. If I had to pick one main literary device that the book was lacking, it would be plot twists. It sounds as if the author just went with whatever came first into her mind. The problem with that is that the readers will think the same thing, and the readers are not impressed with an ending that they can predict even from the first few pages. I for one do not want to read a story that I myself could come up with. It takes all the fascination, all the glow out of the book. Origin gets a generous six out of ten from me in honor of what it could have been. If one wishes to read this book because of the idea like I did, then I would warn them that it does not live up. If, on the other hand, they are attracted to cheesy love stories, then by all means, read Origin. It might be a refreshing change from all the striking originality that they are used to by now.
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Feb 28, 2013 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Origin
By Jessica Khoury
Book Review By Andrea Feider

She has always known her destiny. Ever since Pia was born, she was meant to start a whole new race of humans who will bring an end to death. A whole line of immortals. That is the only reason that she was born and genetically engineered to live forever. She has been raised deep in the dark jungle of the Amazon Rainforest in Little Cam, a secret laboratory, by scientists. Pia always has had a longing to start this race of immortals and meet all...more Origin
By Jessica Khoury
Book Review By Andrea Feider

She has always known her destiny. Ever since Pia was born, she was meant to start a whole new race of humans who will bring an end to death. A whole line of immortals. That is the only reason that she was born and genetically engineered to live forever. She has been raised deep in the dark jungle of the Amazon Rainforest in Little Cam, a secret laboratory, by scientists. Pia always has had a longing to start this race of immortals and meet all her expectations and dreams. But on her seventeenth birthday, she finds a hole in the electrified fence and sneaks out into the dark night of the forbidden jungle.
Throughout the story Pia meets a boy named Eio who she soon falls in love with. As she uncovers the secrets and mysteries of the jungle by her frequent visits, she also starts to uncover the history of Little Cam. Pia is discovering new things every day and has mixed emotions. Sometimes she feels that she just wants to leave Little Cam forever and run wild and free in the jungle with Eio but other times she is dedicated to her scientific research and her immortal mission. But as she discovers more secrets of her scientific history, Pia starts to wonder which is the right choice and why she is the only one who is never allowed in on all the information.
I really liked this book. It was probably one of my favorites! I loved how there would be some suspense when Pia was about to get in trouble or get caught but she always found a tricky way out of things. It was a very good sci- fi book and I loved how it took place in the Amazon Rainforest. I thought that was very unique. Origin was a very exciting page turner and I really liked it because the book started off interesting and made me want to stick with it.
I loved the character of Pia. She is very smart although she is unaware of what was going on in the outside world, she finds ways to figure things out on her own. She is very adventurous. I really liked how she kind of had two sides to her. A focused determined scientist and a wild free teenage girl. She really had quite an interesting character. I really loved this book and I absolutely recommend it!

Read Origin
if you are a 12- 16 year old girl, some guys would like it too.
if you like love stories mixed into thriller sci- fi.
if you like suspense and creepy scientific genetic engineering.
if you like to read about a setting in the Rainforest and maybe learn some new and interesting facts about it.
if you like a book with a heroine.(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Bonnie McDaniel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction

This is definitely in the science-fiction wing of the young adult spectrum. A teenage girl with impenetrable skin who doesn't bleed, doesn't age, and won't die, hidden away in the Amazon rain forest. There are many heavy themes touched on here: mortality, immortality, playing God, and what it means to be human...or not.

Having said that, I think the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Pia seems a shallow character to me, and the conceit of her falling in love with (conveniently) the first b...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Denise Dykstra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Denise by: Alice Jean

I may change this review to four stars. We'll see if it sticks with me.

I have never heard of this book and was given it to read for our library. I knew nothing about it going in.

There isn't anything I did not like about the book - except the snake scene. Seriously, I fear snakes greatly and here one comes up and strangles her to eat her and I am totally freaking out so I had to read through that part only to have her have a flashback so I had to read more of the book to get past that and then I...more I may change this review to four stars. We'll see if it sticks with me.

I have never heard of this book and was given it to read for our library. I knew nothing about it going in.

There isn't anything I did not like about the book - except the snake scene. Seriously, I fear snakes greatly and here one comes up and strangles her to eat her and I am totally freaking out so I had to read through that part only to have her have a flashback so I had to read more of the book to get past that and then I was nearly done with it so I just finished it up at one in the morning.

The story follows Pia who is "perfect" and immortal. I really liked how the author dealt with a lot of big issues - immortality, perfection, morals, family, value of life, etc - in this story. And she did it all exceptionally well.

If you are looking for a teen book for a girl, this one I would highly recommend. There was some swearing in this book but more a mention of a curse than swearing outright. It's a clean read, an enthralling story. The last chapter wraps up the story and it ends strong.

I always read the writer's acknowledgments. And this one was great...

"And ever and always, my family: Papa, for your undying enthusiasm and staunch support, whether that means driving ten hours to see my soccer match or telling complete strangers every detail about Origin. Grandma, for driving all the hours on the Southwestern road trip so that I could sit in the back writing this book. Daddy, for showing me how to love reading practically before I could walk. Mama, for ordering me so many years to stop thinking about writing - to sit down and do it instead; it all started with you. Katharine and A.J. and LeslieAnn and Madelaine, for shining with so much life and love. And my Benjamin, for believing, for teaching, for cooking, and for letting me be myself and loving me anyway. I love you forever. And most of all, my God, for inspiring me and blessing me far beyond my worth."

The book also singled in on my word for the year - Hope. That couldn't have been planned.

I'll pick up any other book this author comes out with. She weaves together a great story. (less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Barbara Ehrentreu rated it 4 of 5 stars

At first, Origin seems like your typical super person scenario. Pia is as perfect a human being as is possible and besides being immune to disease and incapable of cuts or bruises, she is immortal. Yet she feels alone and wants someone like herself to fill the gap. She lives in a glass room in the jungle and she is training to be a scientist so she can create more like herself. Maybe even a male. However, one night she escapes into the jungle and meets Eio, a boy of the jungle whose father as it...more

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About Jessica Khoury

Jessica Khoury is 23 years old and was born and raised in Georgia. She attended public school followed by homeschooling, and earned her bachelor's degree in English from Toccoa Falls College. She lives in Toccoa, Georgia with her husband Benjamin, two terrible dogs, and an abundance of books, shoes, and sweet tea. When not writing, she's usually directing stageplays or coaching soccer. Origin is h...more

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Quotes from Origin

“That your eyes are like bits of sky seen through the leaves. And that, like the rain washes the mud from the leaves, you... how did he say it? Oh yes. That you wash the darkness from the world.” — 23 people liked it

“No one should live forever," I whisper. "Isn't that how it goes? There must be a balance. No birth without death. No life without tears. What is taken from the world must be given back. No one should live forever, but should give his blood to the river when the time comes so that tomorrow another may live. And so it goes.” — 14 people liked it

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