Brave New Girl

Gr 6 Up—Vincent weaves elements of various dystopian classics with thrilling, jaw-dropping moments and just enough romance to produce an immensely satisfying albeit derivative novel. Lakeview's inhabitants belong to clone cohorts, each one engineered for a specific purpose. Dahlia, 16, belongs to the Dahlia cohort, thousands of girls genetically engineered to be hearty and smart and to work for the good of the Lakeview community. Any thoughts or desires contrary to the principles Management deems important are flaws. Flawed clones are exterminated. Imagine Dahlia's terror when she experiences the stirrings of romance (a flaw, romance being an "obsolete biological imperative") after being trapped in an elevator with Trigger, 17, a soldier. Trigger's training has prepared him for subterfuge and risk-taking, which he encourages in Dahlia. Her orderly life soon crumbles, and while not unpredictable, what unfolds is thoroughly entertaining. The pair's secret dalliances endanger their lives and lead the heroine to a horrifying realization: she is not flawed; Dahlia was designed perfectly for another life in another city—which leads to an even darker discovery. Shallow character development presents the biggest weakness, yet plot-driven readers will be pleased. Genetic engineering is a hot-button issue, and this work could lead to some interesting discussions.