\\ About the Book \\ Martyr—otherwise known as Jason 3:3—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to "expire" in less than a month. To see the sky.Cloning. Playing God. Stem-cell research. Disease. Finding your purpose. Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson deals with these issues and more, all within a less than 300 page YA novel. (Or is it fewer than 300 pages?) Williamson balances the sides of each issue pretty well, and—though nothing is discussed at extreme length—she hopefully provides in Replication a jumping off point for more research and more discussion. And the fact that this is all wrapped up in a neatly-written, intriguing story line makes it that much better.
Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.
As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures-the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known.
I don't think I've ever read a novel that had to do with cloning. I'm sure there are probably some out there, but none have reached my bookshelves. I like that Williamson chose to tackle the subject while writing for a teenage audience. (At least one author isn't underestimating teenagers' mental capacities.) Though at times it is difficult to see all of this working out in the way that it does and some conversations seem rushed and lack information, I think she did an efficient job.
First, Replication is obviously biased. What writing isn't? A human author wrote it (supposedly), and human authors always have their own opinions. I think it would be impossible to write a piece of fiction about a subject such as cloning without being biased. One would hope at least one character has an opinion on the subject; if not, the story would be wholly un-entertaining. And though I personally agree with what Williamson had to say on the subject, I can see many people pointing to the book as an example of evangelical misguided beliefs in regards to medical research. (Probably the same way evangelicals would bash a secular, pro-clone novel.) But I'm sure most would agree that Williamson isn't trying to push this book into the hands of major scientists worldwide. (Though it'd be pretty cool if some read it.) This is YA fiction, and most of the arguments the characters in Replication make are very base and use very little explanation, at least for my inquisitive taste. That's why I think this book is a great jumping off point.
Second, Williamson crafts an imaginative story that seems oh-too-realistic. How far away are we really from cloning human beings? What would stop someone like the fictional Dr. Kane from creating a whole lab of identical, replicated people? And why wouldn't scientists argue that clones aren't really humans, just scientific endeavors? It doesn't seem like a long-shot. Thus we have the case for J:3:3, or Martyr, as he's usually called.
Third, if such a thing happened, who would stand against it? I was especially touched by Abby Goyer's character in one particular scene when she screams at a couple of police officers (who really have nothing to do with anything) until she's hoarse, pleading for someone to stand up for the innocent. I think some of us could learn a lesson from that. The only thing I didn't really like about Abby was her flip-flop attitude. Most of the time she's making mental pro-con lists (something I can so relate to) and the next minute she's impulsively (and perhaps unwisely) attempting to save her fragile world on her own, not waiting for help. I guess that shows Abby's age—seventeen—but maybe it's simply demonstrating her humanity and her strong emotions against injustice.
Replication is an exciting read that offers an opportunity to think and act. The story line drew me in, but the characters kept me reading, and I love fiction that is more character-based then action-based. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of action. Thankfully, though, the quality of the characters isn't sacrificed, and the two can coincide happily. This is the first book of Jill Williamson's that I've read (more like devoured within 24 hours), but it won't be the last.
\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\\\ About the Author \\ Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. She writes stories that combine danger, suspense, and adventure for readers of all ages. Her first book released in April 2009 from Marcher Lord Press. By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, Book 1) is a medieval fantasy. Jill has served alongside her youth pastor husband for the past ten years and loves working with teenagers, especially to encourage young writers. She gives writing workshops at churches and schools. You can learn more about Jill on her Web site at www.jillwilliamson.com.
Title: Replication: The Jason Experiment
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication date: January 1, 2012
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780310727583
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!
