Diane Ferbrache's Reviews > The Clone Codes

By the year 2170, human clones and cyborgs are commonplace. Clones have been created to act as slaves for their “firsts” (human owners) and have very specific laws that must be followed. Cyborgs (humans with more than 3/5 of their parts replaced) are also held under similar constraints, although not as severely as Clones. When Leanna’s mother is arrested as part of a treasonous group, the Liberty Bell, Leanna discovers something surprising about her past and embarks on a harrowing escape from the authorities. With the help of some virtual “Custodians” (Ben Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt & others), Leanna learns some harsh truths about the world she lives in.
This is an interesting adventure from the McKissack family that should appeal to young readers. Older readers will quickly tire of the way too obvious comparisons with racism and slavery in the US. But the action is swift and the characters likeable. It’s the first in a series, so look for a follow-up featuring Houston, the cyborg. This is a nice sci-fi story for younger readers, but I quickly bored of the way too obvious message here.