Have you ever sat and worried about the effect of GMO's - Genetically Modified Organism's? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if the only people alive were themselves GMO's? Ok, neither have I. But that really is the premise of Adrianne Finley's magnificent novel YOUR ONE & ONLY.
As all human beings on earth were dying of The Slow Plague, a group of scientists and researchers established a community in a remote part of Costa Rica where a group of genetically modified clones survived. Nine different proto-human types were cloned in generations of 10--each identical replications of the other. They lived and developed in peace--evolving through the careful process of modifying the genetic code of each successive generation to make more perfect examples of Homo Factus--the self made humans.
So the question is: what might happen when the same genetic material is used over and over again in each successive iteration for 300 years? What degradations of the genetic code might occur? Add into this the addition of an artificially created fully human being named Jack, and you have the crisis that makes up the story's plot. And then Jack--a human--develops a deep connection with one of the clones--Althea-310.
The question Adrianne Finley addresses in this poignant novel is: what is it that makes you and I human? Is it merely the genetic coding within our cell structure, it is it something more. Over the course of the novel we discover a Jack who demonstrates the uniquely human capacity to empathize, the demonstrate mercy and compassion, and ultimately to love.
This wonderful novel is categorized as a Young Adult novel, but it should not be pigeonholed too quickly. This book offers a chance to look at our 21st Century through a new lens, asking ourselves--as Sam and Inga did (Jack's "parents"): What is it that we in our own society have lost? And what ought we to be trying much harder to rediscover.
I am much richer for having read this book, and recommend it highly to anyone who will pause long enough to listen to me praise it!
Thanks, Dr. Finley, for sharing your blood, sweat, and creative juices to create this novel. I look forward to your future books!
As all human beings on earth were dying of The Slow Plague, a group of scientists and researchers established a community in a remote part of Costa Rica where a group of genetically modified clones survived. Nine different proto-human types were cloned in generations of 10--each identical replications of the other. They lived and developed in peace--evolving through the careful process of modifying the genetic code of each successive generation to make more perfect examples of Homo Factus--the self made humans.
So the question is: what might happen when the same genetic material is used over and over again in each successive iteration for 300 years? What degradations of the genetic code might occur? Add into this the addition of an artificially created fully human being named Jack, and you have the crisis that makes up the story's plot. And then Jack--a human--develops a deep connection with one of the clones--Althea-310.
The question Adrianne Finley addresses in this poignant novel is: what is it that makes you and I human? Is it merely the genetic coding within our cell structure, it is it something more. Over the course of the novel we discover a Jack who demonstrates the uniquely human capacity to empathize, the demonstrate mercy and compassion, and ultimately to love.
This wonderful novel is categorized as a Young Adult novel, but it should not be pigeonholed too quickly. This book offers a chance to look at our 21st Century through a new lens, asking ourselves--as Sam and Inga did (Jack's "parents"): What is it that we in our own society have lost? And what ought we to be trying much harder to rediscover.
I am much richer for having read this book, and recommend it highly to anyone who will pause long enough to listen to me praise it!
Thanks, Dr. Finley, for sharing your blood, sweat, and creative juices to create this novel. I look forward to your future books!