Origin by Jessica Khoury
I love reading books. However, for the past two years I had been stuck in a bit of a rut with books, as, due to multiple reasons, I only re-read books and never finished a new book. So this summer, it was my goal to read some new books, and by doing so FINALLY get out of the book rut I was in. I started off by reading Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher, which was slightly out of my comfort zone when it comes to books (being the very typical post-apocolyptic novel loving teen) but I surprised myself by actually really enjoying it. After finishing that book, I actually felt some sadness that it was over, and so reworded myself with reading a new book that was in my comfort zone: Origin. I didn't know anything about this book other than that the main girl was Immortal and that she found a way to escape into the jungle (from what I had no idea).
Storyline: 4.5/5
Now, I am guilty of loving books that have a strong female lead anyways (**Cough** Hunger Games, Divergent, The Testing **Cough**) so that part immediately gripped me. I don't know if its the fact that I can relate to them because I am a similar age and the same gender or what, but I really enjoy books with that element in them. Another part of this book that was so refreshing to me was that it was a Young Adult Teen Sci-Fi Alternate Universe (you get what I mean) book, but it WASN'T PART OF A SERIES. I was becoming so sick of always having to read 3+ books before I find out what ends up happing to the main character in the long run, and so reading Origin made me super happy. Don't get me wrong, I think that the aforementioned books are partly so great because they go so in depth with the plot and characters, but every once in a while you need to just keep it short and sweet. Now upon further investigation, there are more novels by Khoury about the same world Pia (main character) lives in, but they are "accompanying novels, not sequels or prequels". This means you can read more if you like, but if you are done, the story is too.
Anyways, onto the actual storyline. The story is about Pia, a girl who was bred to be immortal by a group of scientists in the Amazon rainforest. One day, she meets someone who is not from her compound, and, seeing as she is not allowed to know anything about the outside world, is huge. That is where I will leave it for the plot, that should be enough to get anyone hooked. The storyline moves at an satisfyingly appropriate pace, not fast to the point where you are unable to follow, yet at the same time not slow so that you are bo-hoooored. The reason why it is half a point away from being 5/5, is that, although exciting incidents happen throughout the book, the large large event happens relatively close to the end. The storyline is perfect for this book, it's just that I am used to many different big events happening at the beginning or middle of a book (the choosing of the factions in Divergent, or the start of the Hunger Games for example). The plot is gripping, exciting, and, without too much effort, makes you think of what you would do in that position.
Writing: 5/5
Quality of writing I find is so, so subjective, and where adults usually find the hate for young adult books. If a book is made for young adults, then obviously the language used and way of writing will be aimed at teens. Khoury did an excellent job on writing from a teen girls perspective, one that really isn't shallow but grown up, as she is kind of a super human raised by and only surrounded by adults. This maturity shows not only in her actions, but also in her way of speaking and thinking, and it is something I very much appreciated in Origin. Katniss, for example, can be very immature and speak and think so, whereas Pia is the opposite, whilst still maintaining the voice of a young woman.
As this novel is set in a scientific compound in the Amazon, Khoury also does an excellent job of incorporating jargon from their world (the binomial nomenclature of native animals and plants, scientific methods, and an I believe fictional language of a native Amazonian tribe) and still making it easy to read for normal people like me, without making me feel stupid or have no idea what is going on.
Would I read it again and recommend it?
Yes, and yes. In fact I already have recommended it to I think most of my friends. The easy-readness of it combined with a plot that everyone will find interesting to some degree is what makes the book so great. I may venture into the other books about the same world, and if I like them as much as I liked Origin, you will certainly hear about it.Let me know if you liked reading book reviews, and if you have any books you think I might like, leave them down below.
'Till next time!
Adrianna
