SOLVED. Children's/YA Sci-fi about genetic engineering/cloning. [s]

[Ozzy]

I believe I read this book between 1999-2002, so I have a feeling it's a book from the 90s.

What I remember is that it had a female protagonist living in a world with genetic engineering and/or cloning. There were people who hadn't been genetically altered known as "Originals", and I recall that you could tell them apart because they spoke with hand movements like most people in reality do.

Another plot point I recall is that this society was ruled by a woman who was continuously cloned, and the current ruling clone would groom the younger clone to taker her place. I believe they were called "Matrinas" or something like that? I remember that at the end, both the ruling clone and the younger clone killed themselves.

This is one of those books that just comes into my thoughts every few years and no matter what I search for, I can't seem to find a match. Did I just make this up?

Thanks for any help!

[Rainbowheart]

Blueprint?

Star Split?

Amy, Number Seven?

[Ozzy]

@Rainbowheart - Star Split sounds like it could be it! I may have combined two books that I read at around the same time, but I won’t know until I read it. Thanks for the help!

[Rainbowheart]

Glad to help!

I couldn't find a full preview on Google Books, but there is a snippet view. The people who haven't been genetically altered are called "Originals" and the current ruling clones are called "Primas."

[Ozzy]

You definitely found it! Marking this as solved. Thank you for solving this mystery!

[Rainbowheart]

You're super welcome!