Friday, September 15, 2017

Friday #Review - The Equals by Daniel Sweren-Becker #YALit #Science #Fiction

Series: The Ones # 2
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages 
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Imprint 
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult \ Science Fiction

In this sequel to The Ones, a seventeen-year-old girl fights for the survival of genetically engineered teenagers after society deems them dangerous.

After the fallout in book one, The Ones—the one percent of the population who were genetically engineered in vitro—are rounded up and subjected to a vaccine that will reduce their brain function just enough to level the playing field.

Cody, heartbroken over a recent discovery, grows closer to a radical group of Ones who’ve fled to a compound in the woods. But once she’s welcomed into the trusted inner circle of rebels, she slowly uncovers clues that point to the existence of a mysterious genetic program—and a conspiracy that runs deeper than she could’ve imagined. Torn between loyalty to her first love and the exciting rebel who shares her cause, Cody will have to choose how to forge a new world.

With breakneck action and high stakes, The Equals is a page-turner until its dramatic conclusion.




The Equals is the second installment in author Daniel Sweren Becker's The Ones duology. In the authors world, we are not all created equal. Just ask Cody Bell who was told that she was one of the lucky ones randomly selected before birth to receive genetic engineering. Sanctioned by the National Institute of Health (NIH), one percent of the population, or 1/100 newborn babies, was chosen to be genetically modified via lottery. Known as the Ones, this one percent of the population is healthy, beautiful, and talented. 

Then there are those who claim the Ones have an unfair advantage in life. The Equality Movement is so hateful and spiteful towards the one percenters who were given no voice in how they were born, that their case ended up in the Supreme Court which handed down a stunning decision to make genetic engineering illegal in the country. Cody has faced stunning brutality & hostility at the hands of a group led by Agent Norton as well as her fellow students. The same Norton who heads the Equality Task Force which has rounded up Ones into camps against their will, and are willing to use the Vaccine to level the playing field. 

As the story picks up, Cody has found a curious connection to a radicalize terrorist group known as the New Weatherman and their unofficial leader Kai. Thanks to Edith Vale releasing the list of names of those who are Ones to the public, Cody's theory that she was one of them was crushed. But, she hasn't given up hope of helping Ones escape their current situations. Meanwhile, Cody's boyfriend, James Livingston, sacrificed himself to allow Cody, Kai, and another member of the group to escape being rounded up. James sacrifice is the driving force behind Cody's actions in this book. It is Cody who has to find a way to convince Kai's group to break James out before it is too late. 

Even though Cody isn't one of the Ones, she has chosen to take their side in this issue that has divided the country and forced families to make difficult and hard choices. The group isn't ready to go quietly into that good night without making some major noises and causing issues for the Equality Movement, especially Agent Norton. Que Edith Vale and the Ark where Ones are supposed to be able to feel safe and secure. Edith has something up her sleeve, and if it is allowed to go forward, society as we know it will fundamentally change forever.

You can argue with me over semantics, but when you pick up arms and make threats against others, including the government, you are in fact a terrorist. We can argue semantics about this story or genetic engineering pros and cons. The author has chosen to unravel the novel idea of genetic engineering which has led to designer babies. Don't believe this to be happening in this country? Just ask Kim Kardashian. Even though a majority of American's are against Designer babies, the rich of this country have gotten away with it for years. I don't think we, as the public, know enough about the technology yet to allow this to become normal. We should be very careful how we proceed unless we are using our own DNA to find a cure for incurable diseases. 





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