What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Because of the Hunger Games, Science Fiction, and especially
books about Dystopias are very popular right now. Some of the new dystopian
novels feel like “read-alikes.” They’re very similar to one another. But What’s Left of Me is so unique and so
interesting that it’s certainly a “must read.”
What’s Left of Me takes
place in an alternate universe. It’s the United States, but it’s not as we know
it. The US was once at war with the rest of the world and now it is a very isolationist
country with no contact with other countries. This is interesting, but
it’s not the most interesting thing about What’s
Left of Me. In this alternate world, you see, everyone is born with two
souls.
It’s normal to be born with two souls, each of which is
named separately and has their own personality. It’s expected that at around
the age of five or so, however, that one personality will become dominant and
the other will naturally fade away. This is called “settling” and those who
settle are normal while those who do not are considered mentally ill and
potentially dangerous. No one knows what happens to the other soul that
disappears. It often feels in the story that while it’s considered normal to
settle, it’s also very sad that it happens, too.
The main characters are Addie and Eva who share a body.
Addie is the dominant soul and Eva was supposed to fade away—but she didn’t.
The book is narrated by Eva who watches the world out of Addie’s eyes,
conscious, alive, but unable to control anything in the world around her. Eva
and Addie have convinced most of the world that Eva is gone. The two soul
sisters talk to each other, share dreams, occasionally bicker and always help
one another.
Addie and Eva’s secret is revealed by a schoolmate who has also
secretly not settled. She has both of her personalities and so does her
brother. They get Addie and Eva involved in helping Eva gain more control of
their body and her future. As Eva grows stronger, both she and Addie are put
into more and more danger.
While many aspects of What’s
Left of Me may seem initially confusing, Zhang explains and describes the
world in the book well enough that the reader can identify and understand
everything. The struggle for identity and fighting the loss of self is a theme
that we can all identify with. The characters are likeable and realistic.
This book is the first part in a series, but there isn’t a
cliff-hanger at the end. If you’re looking for some new Sci-Fi with a
distinctive twist, this book is for you.
Check out the downloadable eBook at the El Paso Public Library.
Check out the downloadable eBook at the El Paso Public Library.
