Cloned Humans

 Replication: The Jason Experiment

 by Jill Williamson

  Genre: Christian YA Science-Fiction

"Martyr-otherwise known as Jason 3:3-is one of many clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that the has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to 'expire' in less than a month. To see the sky. 

"Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars. 

"As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures-the one for which he was produced, and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known." 

I had a difficult time as a pre-teen and teenager finding 'Christian' novels that weren't cheesy, filled with bad writing/plots, or boring. I didn't want to saturate my mind with the godless, hormone-driven, cussword-filled teenage books that one often (though not always) finds on the book-shelves. But it was just difficult to find specific Christian books that looked entertaining and deep. Has anyone else had this problem? 

Replication, however, is a cute, humorous book that I wished I could have enjoyed when I was younger. Williamson keeps the cheesiness/superficiality to a minimum, although she does have God talk at one point. Why do Christian authors often do that? I've never heard the Lord speak clearly like that before, but all these characters just happen to hear him so well. Anyways, Abby is fun and real, and Jason stole my heart with his sweet innocence. There is also plenty of adventure/mystery in this novel, even though most of it couldn't have happened in real life (probably). The author does a good job of portraying the world as a clone would see it and using (or not using) words the clone would know. 

The characters in this novel face real, deep issues without the author preaching at anyone, and while keeping its lightness. I didn't find any major flaws with the book, and it was a delight to read. It's suitable for children 12 and older, and I give it a 3.5 out of 5. 

What I learned: It's important to know that not everyone sees the world like you do, and we shouldn't take the little, beautiful things for granted.