Goodreads Overview:
Lyra
From a distance, the Haven Institute, tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida, looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, it is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed.
But when a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape. As they make their way through a new and menacing environment, they meet a stranger named Gemma, who has embarked on a perilous quest of her own. And as Lyra tries to understand Haven’s purpose, she uncovers earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls.
Gemma
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals her whole life. A sickly child, she has grown into a lonely adolescent whose life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April.
But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two human models, or replicas, 24 and 72—and a completely new set of questions. As Gemma tries to unravel the mysteries of Haven, she learns terrible truths about herself and her family that will threaten to destroy everything she loves.
Two girls, two stories, one novel.
While the stories of Gemma and Lyra mirror each other, each contains revelations critically important to the other story. Their narratives can be read separately or in alternating chapters.
From a distance, the Haven Institute, tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida, looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, it is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed.
But when a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape. As they make their way through a new and menacing environment, they meet a stranger named Gemma, who has embarked on a perilous quest of her own. And as Lyra tries to understand Haven’s purpose, she uncovers earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls.
Gemma
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals her whole life. A sickly child, she has grown into a lonely adolescent whose life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April.
But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two human models, or replicas, 24 and 72—and a completely new set of questions. As Gemma tries to unravel the mysteries of Haven, she learns terrible truths about herself and her family that will threaten to destroy everything she loves.
Two girls, two stories, one novel.
While the stories of Gemma and Lyra mirror each other, each contains revelations critically important to the other story. Their narratives can be read separately or in alternating chapters.
Review:
I picked up a copy of this book at BEA several years ago and just now got around to reading it. I had already read Oliver's Delirium series, Panic, and Rooms, so I was familiar with her work. This is quite different from anything else I have ever read because it is essentially two stories in one.
I decided to read it by alternating between the two stories. I definitely think that is the way to go because the stories overlap. I think it would have felt redundant to read the second story after completing the first when you already know what is going to happen. There is additional detail, which makes it worthwhile if you alternate chapters, but it just as easily could have been condensed and had alternating narrators like many authors do. As it was, you had to read one chapter, mark your page, flip the book over, read a chapter, mark your page, etc. The book ended in the middle of the physical book when the two stories converged.
This book explains what was going on at Haven, the history behind the research, and shows how the children were impacted and treated in the facility. They were nothing more than a number and were not given the emotional and physical support a child needs to grow and mature. They were locked up on an island and had no idea what existed in the rest of the world. When the facility is destroyed by an explosion, Lyra and 24 are forced to work together. They cross paths with Gemma, who looks exactly like another replica Lyra knows, but she doesn't seem to realize this and has clearly been living outside of Haven. None of them trusts each other, but Gemma wants answers she hopes the replicas can provide and the replicas do not have the skills or resources to survive on their own.
The scientists will do anything to keep what was going on at Haven a secret, but Gemma is determined to uncover the truth and get the replicas to safety. We don't really get to see what happens after the initial escape, so I am excited to see there is another book in the series. While this isn't my favorite book by Lauren Oliver, it was still entertaining and I am invested enough in the characters to continue with the series.
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