Genesis Girl

Blank Slate #1

by Jennifer Bardsley

Eighteen-year-old Blanca has lived a sheltered life. Her entire childhood has been spent at Tabula Rasa School where she’s been protected from the Internet.

Blanca has never been online and doesn’t even know how to text. Her lack of a virtual footprint makes her extremely valuable, and upon graduation, Blanca and those like her are sold to the highest bidders.

Blanca is purchased by Cal McNeal, who uses her to achieve personal gain. But the McNeals are soon horrified by just how obedient and non-defiant Blanca is. All those mind-numbing years locked away from society have made her mind almost impenetrable.

By the time Blanca is ready to think for herself, she is trapped. Her only chance of escape is to go online.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Romance

Paperback

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Jennifer Bardsley believes in friendship, true love, and the everlasting power of books. A graduate of Stanford University, she lives in Edmonds, Washington with her husband and two children. Jennifer’s “I Brake for Moms” column has appeared in The Everett Herald every week since 2012. She also writes Young Adult Paranormal Romance under the pen name Louise Cypress. When she’s not writing books, or camping with her Girl Scout troop, you can find Jennifer walking from her house to the beach every chance she gets.

Reviews

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Really enjoyable and unique story. I have been thinking about it for the past day and how to best describe it but it really is super unique. This idea of a set of people in society with not virtual footprint is SO INTERESTING! I loved the take on this dystopian/ futuristic world. I really enjoyed the romance that grew through out the novel, also the MYSTERY AND THRILLING EVENTS IN THIS BOOK ARE SO GOOD!

I recommend this book HIGHLY!

[ȷαεlα · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, yeah.. this happened.

It started perfectly perfect. I was so amazed by the beginning and the synopsis, but somehow, along the way, this book lost its magic.

I liked so much Blanca at the beginning. She looked like a strong girl, ready to face everything. This lasted for about 1/3rd of the book. Then she sounded totally like another person. She was influenced so easily by everyone and kept changing her opinions, thoughts and decisions very often. It made her look so immature. She ended up looking like a spoiled teenager.

I liked Seth and his father. They made this story finish-able.


The idea about this book was very unique. Kudos to the author. I'm not sure I want to read another book in this series, though. Blanca is such a boring and often annoying character. The romance didn't convince me either. Too forced and unnatural.

[Laurie Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some days, I feel kind of horrified by the influence technology holds over my life. I’m joined at the hip with my phone. My fingers are glued to my tablet. My iPod is on full blast. So I was immediately intrigued by the premise for GENESIS GIRL, which is set in a future where the aftermath of a brain cancer epidemic brought on by cell phones scared parents though to entrust their children to a leader who would keep them safe and technology-free. These children would grow up to be Vestals, and would have no Internet footprint. This makes them extremely valuable. Companies want them to advertise their products, knowing there is no chance that a Vestal could have a sordid backstory traceable online.

The main character in GENESIS GIRL is Blanca, a Vestal who is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Except instead of being on billboards and magazine covers selling soap, Blanca’s buyer, Cal, has a different idea. He wants her to act as his daughter, and help him gain a relationship with his estranged son, Seth, who is the total opposite of Blanca—technology-addicted and the operator of an online blog intent on exposing Vestals. But even though she’s fundamentally opposed to everything he stands for, Blanca finds herself falling for Seth, although she’d never admit it. When she starts to learn more about the Vestal leader and the secrets of her past are brought to the surface, Blanca must tap into the courage to do what she’s never been able to—think for herself, and make her own decisions.

Fast-paced and action-packed, this was a book I had a hard time putting down. I desperately wanted Blanca to claim the life Cal wants her to have, complete with freedom and the ability to do the things she wants to do. As a main character, she’s very intriguing—because of how she was raised, she has no idea what she wants in life or how to achieve it. Her journey to find herself is, for me, the most fascinating part of the story.

I love how completely original the concept of the story is. Jennifer Bardsley has envisioned a future wherein technology isn’t just at one’s fingertips, but in them, in the form of finger-chips. Blanca is disgusted with how dependent people are on technology. Having never been online, she’s at the opposite end of the spectrum. It's a commentary on our society today-- how sometimes, it's almost impossible to disconnect from our devices.

A thought-provoking, imaginative, and totally unique story—I’m looking forward to the sequel!

[Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁ · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 4.5 Stars *****

Many years from today, people all over the world will be connected to the internet with a chip in their thumbs. No more cell phones. Cell phones are not only obsolete, but no one uses them because of the cancer epidemic. Yes... cell phones caused a cancer epidemic...

Anyways, some genius thought it would be a good idea to start a school where children would be protected from technology. When they grow up, they would have no digital footprint. Their blank history made them valuable, and companies would bid for 'vestals' during the harvest. The vestals would then be used in their advertisements, and people all over the world bought whatever they were selling because they were just mesmerized by these higher beings.

Blanca isn't just any vestal. She's the most desired girl, and her bidder pays a fortune for her. When she arrives at his mansion, she learns so much more than she ever did back at her school. She tackles on a lot of new feelings and thoughts. Add a boy to the mix, to make her mind even more confused.

Seth is a 'virus.' He's basically a blogger/journalist, always searching for the truth. He's got tattoos, rides motorcycles, and looks super hot. Seth is also the son of the man who purchased Blanca. Does he make the cut to be my YA boyfriend? Yup!

Genesis Girl satisfied my YA craving. I wasn't sure if this was going to be for me, but I ended up LOVING it. There's plenty of mystery, young romance, and even some action. I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait for book 2!

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...the internet is addicting. It tears users apart from the people they love."

What an interesting concept! Can you imagine having never had access to the internet? How would you go not being able to have the use of a mobile phone? I can remember when the technology that we have, and take for granted today, was first introduced to me. I was blown away by the internet and what became available to me at the touch of a button. The same goes for mobile phones. I never for a minute thought that I would ever become reliant on the technology that we have today, but I'd be absolutely lost without it!

They had castrated my virtual identity for the promise of a better life.

Blanca and her fellow students at Tabula Rasa have lived their whole lives sheltered from cyberspace. That makes them very valuable. Upon graduation they are sold off to the highest bidder who utilise them for promotion and sales of their products. But the man who purchases Blanca has other ideas for her.

I am loyal. I am discreet. I follow the rules.

I think the thing that I liked most about Genesis Girl was the growth of Blanca. For most of the book she really struggles to think for herself and make decisions. That's how she's been raised. But as things develop and situations are brought to light, Blanca finally begins to think for herself. She learns that she's more than what she's been raised to believe, and she also doesn't just blindly take as oath everything she's told.

I also really liked Cal, who was the one to purchase Blanca, and his son Seth, who runs a tabloid blog. Although there were times that I wished that they'd communicate better with each other, I really liked where things ended up for them. Despite Seth's tough exterior, he really had a soft, caring heart.

I did think that occasionally things moved a little too quickly and could have been a bit better fleshed out. However, I do really look forward to gaining a greater connection with the characters in the next book though. A quick and intriguing read, Genesis Girl certainly had me thinking about different aspects of the media and the ways they go about gaining a story. If you're looking for an original storyline, then Genesis Girl is definitely that.

3.5/5 Stars.

[Jennifer]

Internet access is now a part of everyone’s life and it’s hard to determine what would happen if we were forced to give up our precious technology. For this reason, the concept of Genesis Girl fascinated me. I loved the way the author explores both the good and bad of technology and presents two extremes – the Vestals (who have no online presence) and the Viruses (whose lives revolve around technology). I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series and finding out if there’s a middle ground for Blanca and Seth, as well as the entire imagined society.

Aside from the intriguing premise, this book was just plain fun to read. The pacing was extraordinary. Blanca’s voice was fascinating. She started out as someone who’d been brainwashed. But, out in the non-Vestal world, she needed to learn to rely on her own instincts in order to survive.

I’m also a huge fan of Jennifer Bardsley’s s writing style – her books are addictively readable. It was hard to put this book down and I found myself staying up late into the night to finish. Genesis Girl is a must read for 2016!

[Doug Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short book, probably more of a long short story. I was entertained. The writing is sharp and easy to read. I was in the mood for a quick YA story and that's just what I got.

The world portrayed makes me think of the kids being raised by strict polygamist families in Southern Utah, Canada and maybe still in Mexico. Keep the women and kids away from the horrors and pollution of real life, Television and the internet so that they can serve the men in various ways.

Three stars means I liked it.

A credible job of creating a futuristic world.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2016/04...

I received a free ebook copy from Month9Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Month9Books and Jennifer Bardsley!

When I first started reading Genesis Girl I wasn't sure about it. The beginning was a little odd and confusing to me. Once I got adjusted to the world then it got so much better and the rest of the book just flew by.

At the start of the book I was not sure where the story was going to go, but I was pleasantly surprised at where it did go. I was not expecting Genesis Girl to raise some important questions about how addicted we are to technology, but it did. I say this as someone who is too attached to my iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and all other things technology related. I just love technology, but how much is too much? At what point does the addiction take over our lives and what should/could be done about it?

That's where Genesis Girl comes in and why it's such a fascinating read. Blanca is a blank slate with no virtual footprint and that makes her very valuable in a world overcome with tech addicted people.

I was not sold on Blanca's character at first, but as the book went on she had some great character development. She went from a very naive and dull character to an intelligent and entertaining character. I loved the parts with her and Seth together. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next!

Overall Genesis Girl is a captivating story. It's a well written and very intriguing read for this day and age where we are so focused on our technology.

I recommend Genesis Girl for fans of thought provoking YA sci-fi novels.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a YA author event hosted by the library. I sure miss those! This was a quick, fun book.

About 40-50 years in the future, Blanca is a Vestal, part of an elite group raised in isolation. With no digital footprint, members of the group are generally purchased by corporations for advertising purposes. They are valuable because they have no embarrassing tweets or drunk pictures that might harm the company’s image. Blanca is purchased by a person—pretty unusual but not unheard of.

It’s pretty fast paced. When you think you’ve gotten used to the world, it suddenly shifts. Eventually there is mortal peril; very exciting. The book has great characters and an easy-going writing style. There’s kind of a love triangle, but it’s not the typical kind. It was a lot of fun and hard to put down.

Language: Occasional strong language
Sexual Content: Implied only
Violence: Some moderate violence, not super graphic
Harm to Animals: None
Harm to Children: Implied abuse
Other (Triggers): Isolation, brainwashing

[Melanie McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately pulled into Blanca's world, where technology overruns the lives of most (known as Viruses), except a select few raised apart from society (known as Vestals). But of course, corporations find a way to profit from Vestals, auctioning them off to the highest bidding corporation to be used as pure advertisements in a world filled with imperfections.

The majority of the novel takes place in the McNeal manor, and this is carried out perfect. Never once did it seem limiting.

The characters are developed wonderfully, even in Blanca's "breakdown" period, she never seems whiny or fussy, always abiding to her Vestal rules.

Saying any more would give away too much. This unique and insightful novel shows the fallout of two extremes in our society's growing dependence on technology. Don't miss out on this action packed novel.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Sometimes a synopsis hooks you in, but doesn't deliver.
That is not the case this book.
This story is completely unique and unexpected, taking a reality that is easy to comprehend and twisting to pure fantasy.

Have you ever gone a period of time with no technology? No phones. No internet. No social media. If yes, did you have an inch to log on? This book explores our obsession to the point of addiction with technology, taking it one step further. Those addicted to the internet are called Viruses. By their standards, I, as a blogger, am a Virus. Building the obsession for information. On the flip side are Vestals, with no tech footprint. They are isolated from society for a period of time, until the Harvest, when companies, or individuals bid on them to represent their brand, or in the latter case, to become a Geisha.

Blanca is raised at Tabula Rasa, their training school. Right before the Harvest, her picture is captured by a Virus, Seth, who unknowingly changes the course of both of their lives.

Until about two minutes ago, I was a Vestal postulant. A blank slate. An Internet virgin.

From there she receives the highest bid, becoming a Geisha to Calum McNeal. But things are not as seedy as they might seem. Cal has other interests that require Blanca's assistance.

From the moment Blanca enters Cal's home, her vulnerability is exposed. She literally cannot think for herself. She expects, based on her training, for Cal to tell her what to do. At first this is fine, but with time, her lack of direction becomes seriously worrisome. Thus begins a downward spiral.

I should have done better. I should have lived up to my platinum cuff. I should have embodied what it means to be top pick.

I liked Blanca's characters, and although she is weak, it is merely who she is trained to be. As she struggles to adjust to her new world, it exposes how ill prepared she is for taking control of her life. However, several people reenter her life that make her begin to question things.

There's something twisted about a guy who would leave me lying here in bed to go look at stuff online.

I've probably given more away than I should, but I can tell you that this book will stretch your brain. It's wildly creative and entertaining. I could easily see the story on the big screen. It's no surprise that I trusted the Viruses more than the Vestals, but didn't always like their tactics. Seth being the exception. He's very protective of Blanca, and pushes her to think for herself.

If you are looking for something different, that will get you thinking about the role technology has in your life, then I'd highly recommend this.

*An ARC was received for an honest review.

For more reviews, visit

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such an odd read. The concept is really cool and interesting but I had such a hard time relating to the main character.
I really loved Blanca's character development. I thought was nearly spot on and I'm curious to see what development she has in the next book. However, she was so... dramatic. She came across as brain washed and plain and boring. I felt bad for hating her because she was brain washed but I couldn't help disliking her. I couldn't relate to her at all and because of that, I couldn't become invested in the story. Tabula Rasa School is very cult like and I don't remember it being addressed how awful it is. I don't remember the whole auctioning-people-off-like-property thing being addressed either. Hopefully all that will be addressed in the second book.
The writing style was okay. I feel like it could have been cleaner and edited better.
Overall, Genesis Girl has a really cool concept but troublesome issues weren't addressed and I wasn't a fan of the main character. I'm very curious to see what the next book brings to the table.

[Liza Wiemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So unique! Haven't read anything like this—students (Vestals) growing up in a place protected by the Internet.
It's nearly midnight, so FRTC, but I am deeply impressed with the futuristic world Jenny Bardsley created! Love Blanca, Seth, Cal, and Lydia. Love Fatima and Beau.
Yes, technology definitely has its evils, but there's a lot of good. This novel will open your eyes and see it through different lenses.

If you're looking for something different: sci-fi, futuristic, thriller romance, definitely check out GENESIS GIRL!

[Bridget Hodder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanca knows that the way of the Vestals is the best way. The clean way. The correct way. She's untouched by the crazed culture of implanted internet addiction that rages in the world around her walled sanctum. She's grateful to be a Vestal--one of the select few people, both male and female, who are raised to have no digital footprint. The beauty and purity of the Vestals, and their mystique, means that though they shun the media, the media will always keep trying to penetrate their secrets.

Blanca's been trained, like the others, to obey without question. So she doesn't question a lot of things...including why Vestals raised to never be photographed, to never take part in the voracious media madness, would suddenly, when they reach the right age, be auctioned off to the highest bidder and become the media faces of huge global companies.

But when a media hound breaks into the Vestal compound and manages to get a photograph of Blanca, he sets in motion a chain of events that forces Blanca to face the truth right in front of her eyes...and to discover truths even more dangerous that have been carefully hidden.

Exciting, action-packed, full of suspense. I found that this book didn't cleave to a predictable, routine format, so I was constantly being surprised by what developed. I even had suspicions of certain characters, who turned out to be different than I supposed. The author uses the filter of Blanca's naive and inexperienced point of view to make certain plot twists even more effective. Then Blanca begins to learn and change, so the reader can discover how things really are, right along with her.

What a thrill ride! I love this kind of speculative fiction--it makes us question the way we behave in the Now, in light of how these things might play out in this generation or the next. You read it and say to yourself: "Oh, things could never get that bad, we would never go that far.." and then you wonder "....or would we?" So I think if you loved books like Kate Jarvik Birch's PERFECTED (like me), then you'll also love GENESIS GIRL (like me).

I finished it fast, and I'm still thinking about it. I had two questions at the end: When is Book 2 coming out, and when will there be a movie?!!

(I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

DNF @ 33%

Okay where do I start with this one. First of all, I was really confused. It felt like the beginning was told out of order almost. There was a "fast paced introduction" that was followed by some random introductions and an info-dump. But even the info-dump didn't tell me anything that cleared up my confusion.

I was also really uncomfortable with how this whole process was explained and being treated. I feel like there was potential to go in a completely different direction that was just overlooked. And it also felt like the whole auction thing was just a plot device rather than an actual situation.

Blanca was an okay main character but being in her head was confusing because she was over excited about some things and shrugged other things off. She was inconsistent with her attitude towards things and I feel like she just agreed to whatever the author thought would be the best way to move the plot forward. And don't get me started on the instalove. And the tech hate. I just. No.

Anyway, I tried and was going to finish just to finish but then there was a shoot out and I thought "nope" and here I am. Hopefully I actually finish my next read.

Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

[Karen Fortunati · Rating 5 out of 5]

MC Blanca is a cyber virgin known as a Vestal in the future world setting of Genesis Girl. Groomed in isolation with other Vestals from birth, she is taught to be obedient, unthinking and compliant. In this future world, society is tech-consumed with hardware now implanted into fingertips. Vestals, because of their cyber-purity, are the new celebrities and purchased at exorbitant prices by corporations to advertise. Well, that's the goal. In Blanca's case, a paparazzi-tech manages to get a photo of her before she is "harvested" - i.e. purchased by a corporation. Forced to take a decidedly different path ahead, Blanca is offered a freedom she never envisioned. And with this freedom comes a chance at love and the possibility of exposing the Vestal System for what it truly might be.

This is a story that makes you think about the impact of technology and how it is changing the very way we act and interact. What's scary is that it isn't all that hard to imagine a future scenario like Genesis Girl. Excellently written, fast paced and provocative, this is not a book to miss!! Can't wait to see where Book 2 takes us!

[S.M. Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genesis Girl grabbed my attention from the first time I'd heard about its unique premise: The main character holds the highest value in a technology-obsessed society because of her lack of an online footprint. I'm happy to say that the book did not disappoint. Bianca is a Vestal, a person who is raised to bear no digital footprint and keeps a clear distance from the media—until she is unexpectedly forced into the media spotlight. Without giving too much away, this book was full of suspense and kept me guessing about who the real villains were. When Bianca begins to see the truth of her society, the reader follows her in this discovery. I’m not typically a reader of speculative fiction, but I am so glad I bought this book!

[Amber Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genesis Girl (Blank Slate) by Jennifer Bardsley This story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I feel in love with the character so easy and quickly, usually it's just a couple of characters I love and want to know more about but I have to say I was drawed into every character! From the main character to her headmaster!!! I can't wait to read the next book, I'm hooked!!!

[Laura Shovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't review books, but I do blog about them.

Read my post about GENESIS GIRL here: http://laurashovan.com/2016/04/lauras...

[Serap · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aslında her bakımdan o kadar kusurlu bir kitap ki ama akıcıydı ve okudum🙊çevirisi de çok sorunluydu...
Ikinci kitap bitti ve coook gereksiz okumayın, uzak durun...

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made a mistake with this book. I started it as I was in bed ready to sleep thinking I'd just read a chapter. Well, a chapter turned into two hours and being halfway done with Genesis Girl. I finished it the next morning and was amazed.

Genesis Girl follows our main girl Blanca and her journey with the "tech" world. It is set in a future where technology and the internet have affected the human race negatively-- causing brain cancer because of cell phones. So it's been upped and people WORSHIP their tech. Doesn't sound futuristic at all if we remove the brain cancer part.

So, there's a school, Tabula Rasa, where children raised there are 100% tech and internet free. They are called blank slates and once they graduate they are sold off to the highest bidder. The highest bidder is usually a company who will use their blank slate to sell their product. People trust the blank slates since they have no fingerprint online so they buy whatever it is they are selling. Blanca doesn't get sold to a company, she goes geisha. Geisha meaning she is sold to a person and not a company. Cal MacNeal buys her for a very personal reason.

I love the growth of Blanca in Genesis Girl. She starts off as a literal blank slate and kind of catches Cal off guard. But, he pushes her to find herself and that was kind of amazing to see through. His son, Seth, (the reason Cal needs Blanca) is her complete opposite yet she starts falling for him! I can't say too much without giving anything away but overall the plot, the characters, and the story were on another level of good!

This book shames you and captivates you altogether. Yes, I am attached to my phone 24/7, but tech can't be bad right? All in all Genesis Girl makes you THINK while enjoying a totally unique and interesting read. I can't wait to read the next installment in this Blank Slate series!

http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2016...

[Anne Huart (Books & Tea) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Well, the storyline was promising, but I must say I was not convinced by the execution.

The idea of a future world composed of people addicted to social medias is really not so far from reality. And a part of the population decimated by brain cancer due to excessive radiation is a frightening but plausible hypothesis.

The main character, Blanca, is part of what is considered an elite in this over-connected world : Vestals. Kids raised without any contact with the Internet, and an online social blank slate. This idea of purity would have been interesting to me if it had developed to serve a higher purpose, but I found it disappointing that it was used only for commercial purpose.

The first scene was promising (Blanca defending herself against the Virus), but I think it was incompatible with what I read about her next. I can't imagine someone fighting in the first scene of a book and not being able to think for herself next.

But what was mostly disturbing to me was I was not able to connect with Blanca, at all. In general the first person narrative helps me connect with characters, cause I know what they think and most of all what they feel. It allows me to relate to what they're experiencing. But the narrative here was somewhat emotionless, and I was not able to care about her.

I thought the love story was hard to believe, and kind of instalove (at least from Seth's point of view), and though their opposition later was kind of interesting, it wasn't enough for me to compensate the flaws and inconsistencies of the book.

[Ruth Lehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky me! I received an ARC of this 2016 YA novel. What a creative, imaginative debut! At the beginning of the book, Blanca is about to be auctioned off for her ability to be a virtual blank slate--no web presence, no digital life, no implanted finger chips, nothing. She also has the disability of having been brought up in a cult-like environment which has kept her personality and her ability to think for herself a blank slate too.

With shades of Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, and a bit of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Bardsley creates a fast-paced, original story. I'm thrilled it will be out in the world in September 2016!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes our modern-day obsession and monetization of social media and flips it on its head. In Blanca's world, the most valuable commodity is privacy and the lack of an internet footprint. As a Vestal, she's remained "pure" and sold to the highest bidder. She's also been brainwashed into accepting such a fate. When she starts falling for a technophile paparazzi (AKA a Virus), things get complicated. To live a life where she's free to choose who to love and what to believe, she must find her own voice and claim her own power.

[Elisa Dane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. The story grabbed my attention from the first page and never let me go. I read the book in one sitting, which is something I haven't done in quite a while. I could not put it down. Really loved Blanca's strength and courage. I love a bad boy, so of course I fell for Seth right away. I mean, c'mon. Tech savvy, swoony, and tatted? Totally my type. Highly recommend!

[J. Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!! So freaking good. Full review to come soon.

[Britta Böhler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah, so disappointed. The premise of the book sounded really intriguing, but the story was flimsy, clichés everywhere, and the writing was not too good either. Bummer!

[T.Y. Mazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, o da yazar cidden o robotik hissi harika betimlediği içindi. Ana karakter dışında kimseyi sevemedim. Seth’den daha fazlasını beklerdim. Kitap daha uzun olmalıydı. Bazı konular daha derin olmalıydı. Çok yüzeysel anlatılan kısımlar vardı. Yani muazzam bir konu varken işleyiş böyle hafif kalmış gibiydi. Bir de kitabın finali fazla düzdü. İkinciyi merak etmedim mesela.

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hundreds more reviews like this one at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: This book officially wins my "biggest surprise" award. When I received Genesis Girl for review from SLJ, I really wasn't looking forward to reading it. I put off reading it in favor of other titles I was more interested in. When I finally started it, at about 30% into the story, I was seriously struggling to keep going. I just did not buy the premise--why would a corporation find someone without a digital footprint valuable? What corporation values digital virginity over acting talent for making commercials? It is well-known that the graduates are purchased at auction. Where are the civil rights activists protesting the fact that these kids are slaves?

But I made myself keep going, and I am so glad I did. No, this book is not perfect. There are major flaws in plausibility, and Blanca is about as infuriating a character as I've seen. The problems between Seth and his father seem like they could have been worked out easily without Blanca's help. But...I really cannot argue that the story is interesting. It's fast-paced, and I honestly wanted to know what was going to happen next. By about halfway through, I stopped noticing what page I was on and really got into the story.

The idea that cell phones cause brain cancer is also an interesting one, and I do like how the book addresses digital addiction. I know I am addicted to my phone and laptop. I can't remember the last time I was tech-free for an entire day. It's probably been years. I loved the way characters have "chips" in their fingers that enable them to type and post online in thin air instantly. Sort of like in Minority Report (the movie). I wouldn't be surprised if that actually happens in the future.

I do think this will be difficult to booktalk. It's hard to summarize without a lot of explanation.

I have read an enormous number of teen dystopia books, and over time, I have become quite critical of plausibility. The best books are able to make me believe the unbelievable. This one unfortunately did not do that, but I enjoyed the ride all the same.

THEMES: digital addiction, internet, family, thinking for oneself

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don't believe the story? Just go with it and enjoy the ride.

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I'm not sure if I'll get this. There are many better dystopias, but digital addiction will definitely speak to my students.

RATING BREAKDOWN:

Overall: 3/5--I didn't love it, but it ended up being better than I thought
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Engrossing: 4/5--much better in the second half
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 4/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5


CONTENT:

Language: medium-high--includes three F-bombs, 14 sh**, 7 damns
Sexuality: medium--kissing, references to sex (adult characters, not the teens), past adultery, allusions to one adult female "taking care of the needs" of a male adult character, teen pregnancy, discussion of female sterilization
Violence: high--a man gets shot, hostage held at gunpoint, person's head bashed in by garden hoe, torture via starvation, references to past "whippings"
Drugs/Alcohol: none--technology is the real addiction here

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy YA read with a unique plot and lots of twists. I wonder what will happen next!