Kind of preachy and predictable. Still a fun read, because I like YA lit and I like scifi. Will probably seek out the forthcoming sequels. ( )

I like the story idea but the book needed more info and less hammering of the same idea over and over. Oh and what the hell are the rocks? Really? ( )

In the year 2170, clones are created to do specific jobs and basically treated like slaves. They are created bald, with skin colors, like purple, orange, and silver and referred to by number. These measures serve to dehumanize them and make it easy for people to spot a clone. In addition to clones, there are cyborgs; a person becomes a cyborg if they have artificial or bionic parts (due to replacements from accidents or illness). Cyborgs are considered three fifths of a person.

The book opens with Leanna attending virtual school and experiencing the Underground Railroad with Harriet Tubman. The reader quickly sees the comparison between slaves and the clones & cyborgs. At the start of the book, Leanna sees the clones and cyborgs as less than people also; 99% of society does. But, Leanna is about to discover some secrets that will rock her world.

This is a compelling story and Leanna goes through a significant transformation. Students should read this book when they learn about slavery in U.S. history. It could lead to thought-provoking discussions about slavery, cloning, and society.

I do have to admit that the "secrets" Leanna discovers are pretty obvious from page one, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story. At the end of the book, the authors compare fact to fiction. At 165 pages, the book is a quick, enjoyable read that also teaches some history. This is book one of a trilogy, which I will end up reading I'm sure. ( )

What a great plot. And I do understand all the parallels but I felt I was reading more history than fiction. Maybe the next 2 books will be better in that respect. ( )

Leanna is fresh from a virtual field trip, escaping slavery via the underground railroad with Harriet Tubman, when their home security system is breached and her mom is arrested for treason. Slowly the truth comes out: her mom is part of the Liberty Bell Movement, an organization devoted to freedom and liberty for all. "All" currently includes clones, and Leanna, like everyone else in the world, knows that clones aren't human, so why do they deserve freedom? Leanna is quickly whisked away to safety, but there's a bounty on her head, and new information that will change everything she knows and understands about her world, her mom, and herself.

Lots of action won't make up for the expository lectures about the history of slavery and emancipation, and the Big Reveal of Leanna's family connection to cloning is heavily foreshadowed from the beginning. It's a rare reader who will stick with this didactic novel to the unsatisfying conclusion to this first book of a planned trilogy. Time-travel sci-fi stories can bring history to life; the preaching here is more likely to turn readers off further exploration. ( )