Falls the Shadow

Gr 8 Up—Cate Benson lost her big sister Violet at the age of 12. However, in a future world devastated by war and disease, some are fortunate enough to secure their children's legacy through cloning. So, shortly after her funeral, the new Violet comes home complete with Violet's memories. In fact, because of her heightened clone abilities, New Violet may be even better than the girl she replaced. She may also be a murderer. After four years, Cate is used to covering and making excuses for her replacement sister, but this time, Violet has vanished and the paparazzi and the anti-cloning faction are having a field day. Cate sets out to find her, accompanied by her crush Jaxon, and Seth, his best friend. Soon, they get too close to a secret that threatens the entire way of life that Cate has come to know. This nail-biting thriller explores the moral and philosophical ramifications of cloning, with a fair share of action, and the requisite romantic angle. The four teen characters are fairly well developed, though the primary male protagonists ring a bit too similar. Readers will look forward to seeing how their motivations for aiding Cate are developed and explored more fully in later books. While there is nothing outstanding about this dystopian novel, Gaither has laid a solid foundation with this intriguing concept and compelling characters.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX