A fantastic start to a wickedly-good series: My review of "Replication"

Publisher: Zonderkidz
Publication date: December 27, 2011

In a small town in Alaska lies a shocking secret of an underground facility named Jason Farms.

When Abby Goyer moves to Alaska with her father, she is focused on trying to fit in at her new high school and attempting to avoid the unwanted attention of popular jock, J.D. Soon after the move, she starts having suspicions about Jason Farms, the facility where her father has been newly hired. When a boy with a familiar face appears in her room one afternoon, Abby is confronted by a truth she at first struggles to believe, that her father is involved in a facility creating clones. Her attempt to hide the boy, named Martyr, leads to a confrontation with the owners of the facility, one that results in shocking outcomes for Abby, her father, and the clones who are awakening to the reality that everything they've ever been told has been based on lies.

Jill Williamson has written a fantastic book for young adult readers with characters easy to relate to, well-crafted suspense that hooks the reader from the beginning, and a plot that is, quite simply, captivating. Although a completely different genre than the fantasy books she is so well-known for, Williamson has shown that she is a master of her craft, weaving together sci-fi, suspense, and even a touch of romance. Martyr is one of the most interesting and entertaining characters to come along in a while, and discovering the world through his eyes was fascinating. Jill has also done an admirable job of weaving in themes of the reality of God and what he accomplished through Jesus, without it being forced or bogging down the story. Martyr's discovery of God is handled naturally and in a highly believable manner, and yet will expose readers to profound truths.

I highly recommend this book for teens and adults alike, as it is likely to appeal to a broad base of fans, and award it 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Zondervan, for the purposes of this unbiased review.