More of Me

Gr 8 Up—Teva is 16 and on the 16th version of herself. Every year, a new and slightly older clone rips out of the previous version. In her house live her younger selves, Twelve, Thirteen, Six, Seven, and Eight. Fifteen was the last one, and she is angry that Teva has taken over her relationship with her boyfriend Ollie and her best friend Maddy. Teva is more than six months from the new iteration, but she is already feeling the new Teva stirring inside. She tries to determine exactly what her genetic abnormality is, find a way to stop it, and keep her teenage social life together. A romantic entanglement arises involving Teva, Fifteen, and Ollie as well as a new love interest. While the plot is engaging and Teva's problem is certainly intriguing, much of the story is wrapped up in the protagonist's social drama instead of in the more sci-fi elements. There are several threads in the narrative, and ultimately it ends satisfactorily. The writing throughout is excellent, and readers will easily be able to take in the story despite the Briticisms. Realistic fiction fans will connect to Teva and will be drawn in enough to want to read the conclusion.