Imagination's the prize in author's battle By Patrick Blennerhassett. Victoria News, Feb 17 2006
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7
On the night before his birthday, Patrick
disappears. Three months later, his friend Luke sees
him outside the gym where the boys used to take karate
classes together, only now Patrick acts like a
complete stranger, and he has a threatening bodyguard.
Luke figures out that a local drug company called
LennoxGen is somehow involved, and he and Patrick's
sister, Emma, present themselves at the headquarters,
disguised as student reporters. They meet Lisa
MacKenzie from the company's PR department. Luke and
Emily discover that Patrick is the clone of Rupert
Lennox, the company's recently deceased president, and
that his memories are being implanted into Patrick,
using an experimental drug. Moreover, Luke and Emma
are also clones, and (surprise!) their progenitors
just happen to die just as the kids are giving their
information to the police. With Lisa's help, Luke is
able to destroy the corporation and save them all. The
book reads more like the outline of a story then a
finished work�it has a fast-moving plot, superficial
characterizations, wild improbabilities (and even
wilder coincidences), and far too much left
unexplained at the end. And just how old are these
boys supposed to be, anyway? Readers are told that
12-year-old Emma is Patrick's younger sister, but the
cover art makes Luke look like he's about 6. This is a
quick but nonessential read.-� Mara Alpert, Los Angeles
Public Library.
Copyright � Reed Business Information, a division of
Reed Elsevier Inc.
CM, Volume XII Number 3, September 30, 2005
Smart kids outwit evil scientists in this mini-science
fiction thriller dealing with clones, implanted
embryos and personality downloads. As long as they
realize this science IS fiction, kids can enjoy the
fast-paced action -- each little chapter a real
cliff-hanger. --September 29, 2005, Top Dozen: Recommended books for kids
by Barbara Julian, Victoria Times Colonist
When Luke's friend and karate practice partner,
Patrick, goes missing, police presume he's run away,
and Luke wanders back to the dark green car he was in
the night before. A few months later, Luke sees
Patrick downtown outside LennoxGen, the headquarters
of a powerful company. Patrick may have recognized
Luke, but soon doesn't at all, and treats his former
friend badly.
Along with Emma, Patrick's younger sister, Luke sets
out to rescue his friend in a tale plagued by dark
green cars and vans, tinted windows, and plenty of
suspicious people all in on the "clone conspiracy" of
the book's title.
Although a quick, fast-paced read, it's disappointing
that Calgary author Rose doesn't fully realize the
story's potential and challenge the reader.
--The Calgary Herald ,
August 20, 2005. Teens deal with life and death
by Kate Larking
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