Kat Zhang

What's Left of Me

"Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else-- two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't. For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-- hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet-- for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything"--Publisher's web site.

the hybrid chronicles

What's left of me

sash.

I'm not sure what words to use to describe this book that is so unlike anything I've ever read. Imagine a dystopia where North and South America are one whole country known as The Americas, and again the prevailing force of war rifts human beings apart based on prejudice and discrimination. People are born with two souls in their body and eventually one fades with time. 

But...what happens when one soul stays behind, lurking behind the thoughts of the other more asserting soul controlling the one body they're born in. 

It'll make you question:

1)What does it mean to be 'human' really at the end of the day?
2)What exactly is a soul anyway?
3)Where do souls come from and where do they go if one 'vanishes'?

This was a very unique read and I hope to be able to reread it so I can analyze Kat Zhang's Hybrid world a bit more closely.

Also, the characters were very easy to fall in love with. Ryan and Eva, Kitty, Peter, and all the kids were easy to empathize with and relate to. There are also a lot of ethical questions that come up for me with regards to human experimentation and the effects it can have on children.

As I said, very unique and worth the read. 4/5 stars!

Melissa Railey

What's Left of Me provides a very unusual concept. That of two souls residing in one body. Stephanie Meyer approached it in The Host but in a different way. Here either Eva or Addie is supposed to override the other one and become the dominant soul. But it turns out that they're able to co-exist and Eva hides underneath Addie's soul. But by co-existing, they are setting themselves up for being sent off and treated. I enjoyed this story a lot. I had issues at times following the dual personalities and keeping straight who was in charge but, all in all, this is a fantastic and creative book.

Brittany Reynolds 

It was different which I enjoyed. Didn't know it was a series when I read it. I don't think I like it enough to pick up the next one. Only because it read a little too young for me, but that's just personal preference.

Cindy Lee

You can also read this review here.

I don't have much to say for What's Left of Me. I guess this one is just okay. 

In the beginning, you meet Eva and Addie who haven't settled yet. They pretended that they settled but really, Eva is still there. Now Eva can only be in Addie's mind while Addie controls everything. Sucks to be her, right?

Now Eva has a chance to move again, to smile, to speak. She did everything she could and risked it. Now they're taken away from their parents and stuck in a clinic that probably wants them dead.

This one was pretty okay for me. Not bad, not good. There were some points I got really bored.. They were stuck in the clinic and I felt like they could've taken action sooner and get out. But nope, you had to experience every horrifying scream and image and it's just crazy.

The pace of this book was too slow for my taste. But this book was also good enough that I would pick up the second book to see how it ends :)

Morgana

** spoiler alert **
           In una marea di YoungAdult praticamente identici e che si copiano l'uno con l'altro, questo almeno si differenzia un pochetto.
Ho trovato originale la storia di Addie ed Eve che sono due anime in un corpo ( come tutti almeno nell'infanzia ) che non si stabilizzano, ma alcune cose mi sono sembrate "sempre la solita minestra riscaldata". Esiste un mondo "noi" ovvero l'America, senza ibridi (o quasi) ed un "loro" ovvero tutto il resto del mondo, esiste il solito gruppo di ribelli che vuole cambiare le cose, esistono i cattivi-cattivi pronti a sacrificare anche dei bambini e senza nessun rimorso, ora condiamo il tutto con una storia d'amore chiara fin dalle prime pagine ed ecco il libro.
In realtà il libro si legge bene e,come ho detto fin dall'inizio, è abbastanza originale ma anche abbastanza prevedibile in certi punti. 
Il fatto che loro due siano due anime in un corpo per forza creerà problemi, ora che sono piccole forse no, ma dopo? La fa facile Jackson a dire che mentre una limona con Ryan l'altra si può "assentare" e quando una rimane incinta? L'altra si assenta per nove mesi??
Per quale motivo poi in America abbiano deciso di togliere a tutti la seconda anima ancora devo capirlo, visto soprattutto che dai racconti finali sembra che il resto del mondo (in cui tutti sono ibridi praticamente) sia molto più avanzato di loro.

Emily

** spoiler alert **
           There wouldn't be much wrong with this book if it was the first dystopian you'd ever read. However, I've read my fair share of dystopians, so this one was very predictable.

It hits nearly all the major plot points of your standard dystopian: introduction to the world, brief history/info from a new character, being captured by the government, and then discovering a rebel group to escape. 

The concept itself was more unique, but the characters fell a little flat. However, at least some important topics such as racism were discussed when addressing a few of them (Hally/Lissa and Devon/Ryan). Nothing too in depth, but a good amount for a kid to read about and learn from. 

I don't have much else to say, but the main takeaway here is that if I read this when I was little having read no other dystopians, I bet I would have loved it. But me now, someone who's read countless, found it to be a little bland.

What's Left of Me

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