Beta by Rachel Cohn

Beta by Rachel Cohn

Genre:  Science Fiction, Dystopian

Rachel Cohn is one of my favorite teen authors.  Usually she writes realistic fiction, and her
characters are quirky and witty.  This novel, Beta, is a departure from Cohn’s usual style, but it will not disappoint readers.   The novel is set in the future.  The ice caps have melted, and Earth is now a watery planet.  Flooding is prevalent on the mainland.  The novel, however, takes place on the island of Demesne, a new island that was created after the eruption of volcanoes under the sea.  The island is the playground of the elite, wealthy families that are left on the planet after the Water Wars.  The ocean surrounding the island was reengineered by scientists to create the Io Sea, which “ripples in patented violet crests and offers a totally transforming experience” (17).    Even the air has been reengineered to “pump premium oxygen into Demesne’s atmosphere” (17).    And, of course, to serve these elite families, the scientists have created clones.  The clones serve as butlers, maids, construction workers, etc.  They are cloned from humans who have died, but they have no souls, so they are supposed to be happy in their work.   The main character in this novel is a “beta” meaning she is a new form of clone.  She is a teenage clone, and in the past the teenage clones have all turned “Awful,” which Dr. Larissa Lusardi, the world’s expert on cloning, has attributed to teen hormones.  The beta clone is named Elysia.  She is bought by Mrs. Bratton, the wife of the chief executive officer of Demesne and taken to live in their home.  Her role, unlike the role of the family’s other clones, is to be a “replacement” daughter for their daughter who has recently left for college.  Mother loves Elysia because she doesn’t have any of the sullen attitudes that her real daughter Astrid has.  It isn’t long before Elysia discovers that she is different from most clones.  She can taste food, which she isn’t supposed to be able to do.  She loves chocolate and macaroni and cheese.  She also has memories of her “First,” the girl from which she was cloned.  As Elysia tries to hide these “defects” from her family, she also discovers that she is not as unique to clones as she was led to believe.  There are other clones who are unhappy with their situations and who yearn for more.  Will Elysia find what she wants?   Spoiler Alert:  There will be a sequel, and there is no release date yet.

Lauren Sprouse, Librarian