ABOUT THE BOOK
Your One and Only
Publisher: HMH
Books for Young Readers
Release Date:
February 6, 2018
Genre: Young Adult,
Fantasy
Synopsis:
Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a
sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow
plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve
perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity.
But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack?
While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310
struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her
fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows
stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the
unthinkable and fall in love?
My Thoughts:
I love dystopian YA novels.
Your One and Only hit the nail right on the head for me. I was a bit hesitant at first because I don’t
like it when characters have numbers next to their names it can be a little
confusing, but Finlay definitely made Althea-310 a human clone, stand out among
the others. This book screams
difference, individuality, and acceptance from all corners.
With two point of views, one from Althea-310 and the other
from Jack (the last living human), the story is told exquisitely. Once the two are introduced, the goods and
bads from both species are highlighted and your mind really gets to thinking. I love it when a book gets me to thinking
like this one did. The fact that clones
are a large possibility in our future and with all of the diseases spreading, a
plague is never out of the question either, both really have an impact on you
when you read this. Finlay made these
clones real, almost as real as humans and so you don’t think of them as empty
or robotic. They breathe and feel and
think for themselves.
Jack is the outsider here, and though a bit aggressive, I
love him for it, every second. I love
his perspective of the clones and of Althea-310 in particular. While Althea-310
accepts Jack and Jack accepts Althea-310 and even a slight romance seems to
begin, the story does not focus on romance.
Sam’s role in the story could’ve been a little stronger. His affections towards Jack seemed kind of all
of a sudden and not so built up from earlier in the story.
Though there is definitely great world building, the story
is absolutely character driven and Finlay does a fantastic job of getting you
to know her characters and wanting to meet them in real life. I felt
the first quarter of the book was a bit too slow but the next 3 quarters
totally made it up for it. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA
Dystopian and Sci-Fi.
Favorite Quotes
Lights hung like fireflies from the flowering trees in twinkling paper baskets, and the colored rocks glowed around the perimeter of the kapok.
They understood each other, and in their understanding, they became one.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
"Don't you know?" His breath was hot in her ear. "I'm the snake in the Garden."
How foolish we were, to act as gods.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Blog tour schedule link: http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/01/tour-schedule-your-one-and-only-by.html
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Originally from Ithaca,
New York, Adrianne Finlay now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with her husband, the
poet J. D. Schraffenberger, and their two young daughters. She received her PhD
in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University, and is an
associate professor of English at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.
She is also an avid soap
maker, and sells handmade soap locally to raise money for type 1 diabetes
research.
GIVEAWAY
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Prize:3 copies of
YOUR ONE AND ONLY by Adrianne Finlay (US Only)
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Starts: 1/30
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Ends: 2/9
