This book was a bit hard to get through for me; the writing fell short. I thought that there was excessive cursing and I thought that the idea of the plot was great but overall the book was meh

A decent dystopian set-up for a middle grade novel. I like that it approaches wealth and privilege from the inside, characters having to learn how to be better global citizens and care about others as well as the exploration of what makes us human. The characters are fairly thing, though.

I feel like I gave this book a fair chance but I just can't get into it. There's obviously more that's going on in the world than we see at first glance and I think for the target audience those things need to be addressed earlier in the book than they are.

Aiden and Ashleigh are identical twins in Australia, born in a not-so-far off future. Aiden is extremely protective of Ashleigh and goes to great lengths to protect her. When he is badly injured in an accident, Aiden begins to question his own priorities in life, his status as a wealthy Australian in a world where most are struggling to survive, and what it means to be alive. Soon, his questions become Ashleigh's, and she must reassess what is important in life to her.

This book is a thoughtful reflection on the future of AI and what it means to be a sentient being. It's also an important narrative about global climate change and the socio-economical effects it has on people. I'm hesitant to recommend this book though because of Ashleigh's use of the word "bitch" in reference to how she thinks her opposition to certain choices will be perceived. It just didn't seem necessary and didn't connect very clearly to her character development.

This book is disturbing, which might be part of its purpose. It's certainly engaging as well. Ultimately I would not recommend it to young library patrons due to its rather creepy flavor (e.g. the subtly grotesque threat of "turning off" a laboratory-crafted puppy - there is something very disarming in that, as well as in the pig slaughter scene nearer the conclusion of the novel). The intrigue of character development is overridden by the sinister overtones of the narrative as a whole, and I don't think this book is going to appeal to more than a small minority of young readers. I'll give it credit for its important messages about climate change, but perhaps they might have been more palatably executed for middle-grade audiences.

I would've loved this book so much more, had it not been for the last few pages. I love the bond between brother and sister throughout the book, it's interesting to see the growth and progression of how they mature separately and together. The futuristic and post-apocalyptic aspects of the book are really cool and talk about the impacts and consequences of climate change throughout the world. It was a very interesting way to look at many of the issues that face our population and our planet. The twist is amazing and heart breaking but felt very natural and fit in well to the overall plot of the book.

While I may have figured out the plot twist a third of the way through the book, I did enjoy it. A dystopian story, taking place in a far off Sydney Australia, after climate change has had a catastrophic effect on the world. This may have been rated a middle grade book, the Ashleigh and Aiden come off much older/smarter than the average 13 year old. Aiden is the protector of his sister, almost in a creepy way, which the reader will understand later in the book. Identical twins who live for each other but have their world rocked after Aiden is hurt in a freak accident.

Those who are high up on the food chain of science, are protected; those lower on the chain are either running wild, trying to survive or working for those at the highest run of the ladder. This book reflects what can happen to society when an apocalypse occurs and science becomes the predominant leader in this new world and the damage it can cause to everyone just trying to survive.

An easy and engaging story with a plot twist near the end. Family is sometimes thicker than blood and you can find comfort in the most unexpected places.

How can "identical" twins be of different sexes? That is the question that brainy classmate Charlotte asks of Ashleigh and Aiden. Charlotte knows the biology involved and yet she cannot deny that they are identical. So what's the real story? In a future Australia where climate change has devastated much of the planet and only the wealthy can afford food and medicine the "one child rule" has been activated, so the birth of twins is a special event. Ashleigh and Aiden's parents will do anything to keep them safe and secure from the "real" world outside their family compound. Born with a genetic disease, Aiden must periodically go to "hospital" for regular check ups and blood work. After a school camping trip during which Aiden is seriously injured, Ashleigh notices some drastic changes happening to her brother. After he returns from hospital, Aiden is different. Looking for answers as to why her devoted twin is now being critical of her and contacting "street kids" in a local park, Ashleigh tags along and gets answers she wasn't expecting. A novel about the dangers of ignoring climate change, class differences based upon wealth, scientific advances put forward without regard for humankind, and what exactly makes a family? Plenty of thought provoking discussions to be had both in or out of a classroom setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Ashleigh and Aiden have always promised to protect each other. Born into a life of privilege, the twins have never had to worry about much. After an accident on a school camping trip leaves Aiden seriously injured, their bond will be tested and life as they know it will change. This book also includes themes on climate change.

Told from the perspective of 12-year-old Ashleigh, this definitely feels like a middle grade book. However, the way it talks about privilege is perfectly done for this age group (and older). The main plot was smart and captured my attention, but I felt like it could have been more. I liked the idea but not so much the execution.

CW: hospitalization, medical content, death, animal death