k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
4.0
If you think you might want to read this futuristic book, you should probably read The Adoration of Jenna Fox first. It does stand on its own, but they are companion pieces.
Set 260+ years into the future Locke and Kara have been recreated in BioPerfect. Nearly 300 years ago their minds were scanned after a tragic car accident. The scans were stored and finally put into new, fabricated bodies. But not everything is perfect.
I really liked the soul searching and maturing that Locke went through from the beginning to the end of this book.
Set 260+ years into the future Locke and Kara have been recreated in BioPerfect. Nearly 300 years ago their minds were scanned after a tragic car accident. The scans were stored and finally put into new, fabricated bodies. But not everything is perfect.
I really liked the soul searching and maturing that Locke went through from the beginning to the end of this book.
bariqhonium's review against another edition
3.0
This was not a good as the first book. I had a hard time getting into it, and a hard time staying into it. I'm a little bit disappointed. But oh well. I read it, and it was ok. I probably won't read it again as I did the first.
Okay book, recommended to anyone how read the first book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.
Okay book, recommended to anyone how read the first book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.
bellatora's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sequel to [b:The Adoration of Jenna Fox|1902241|The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1)|Mary E. Pearson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316636422s/1902241.jpg|1903936] and I'm warning you now that if you haven't read the first book, avoid any review/description of this book like the plague, because it will destroy all the mystery of the first book.
This is the story of Jenna's best friends, Locke and Kara, and what happened to their consciousnesses after the accident. Kept in storage for 260 years, they're finally downloaded into new (and better) bodies by a greedy scientist. After Kara finally convinces Locke (after far too long) that the scientist is just using them, they break out and end up crossing a dystopian America hunting for the best friend they feel abandoned them: Jenna Fox.
Although the US has become a dystopia, complete with a caste of untouchables known as "nonpacts," the dystopian element is just kind of lightly touched upon. There's the threat of being picked up by security forces (considering neither Locke nor Kara have valid IDs, what with being officially dead for 260 years) and talk of rebels and run-ins with roving bands of non-pact bandits, but those are all kind of side issues. It's not Society that's out to get the protagonists, but evil scientist Dr. Gatsbro and, later, a possibly psychopathic Kara. Also, the dystopia was kind of stupid. There's two Americas sharing the same territory. I...that's...there are not even words. There is not even any attempt to show how the frack that would even work. If two independent (and competing!) governments control all of the territory of the former USA and everyone gets to decide which country they want to be citizens of...do the governments share the cost of everything? Both put money into that awesome high-speed rail system? Both put money into the schools? Pearson doesn't even try to explain it beyond casually dropping this fact into an info dump. It has no effect whatsoever on the story and is incredibly dumb and I'm just going to pretend it was never mentioned.
Anyway, the story is really not about how the USA is now a dystopia, but about three former best friends whose relationships are incredibly twisted after everything that happened. It's also kind of a chase/adventure story.
I don’t know if I support the whole “Kara came back with a piece missing” explanation. That is too much one-note villainy, and also difficult to explain why Kara went bad but Locke didn’t. If it’s the process of the consciousness getting locked in a box with no outside stimulation, they both should’ve come back soulless. If it’s Kara, then why were there no hints she was disturbed before the accident? I think it would’ve worked better if Kara wasn’t pure evil, but instead just a very confused, angry, hurt, jealous girl trying to make sense of things and lashing out at the wrong people. That’s how she mostly came across, but at the end where she was just apparently hollow and had soulless eyes I decided that Pearson was just going for the simple, horror-movie kind of villainy. Too bad.
Locke, the narrator, is kind of a dumb puppy. He claims to be the street-smart one (being the only poor kid in the trio), but Kara has to spell out the fact that Dr. Gatsbro was up to no good, even though the good doctor seemed really suspicious from the get-go. Kara might not have a soul anymore, but at least she maintained her brains.
Locke also either has a huge blindspot when it comes to Kara (he does feel awfully guilty about "causing" the accident and for loving Jenna more than Kara) or he's just super, super bad at reading people. Locke’s all “woe! If only I had loved Kara more! Maybe then she might not have been a psychopath!” That’s…not how it works, Locke. I was hoping Locke would eventually climb out of his self-pity hole and realize that he wasn't to blame for Kara's insanity. Alas, he never did.
Jenna Fox is also not the brightest thing even after 260 years. You let this possibly unstable girl into your house and you do nothing to protect your daughter? What the hell!?!? It’s partly Locke’s fault, because he is too thick to warn Jenna that Kara is a bit on the crazy side of things (hmmm, should I tell Jenna that Kara’s been creeping around and spying on her and leaving knives in my bag? Noooo, because I’ve been so cruel to Kara by not loving her enough. I can’t betray her! I’m sure she doesn’t mean to stab Jenna, despite the fact that she’s talked of nothing but revenge and I felt it necessary to beat her to Jenna’s door because I was obviously afraid of what she might do). But even going on just what Jenna sees and thinks, she should’ve gotten her daughter out of the house. Have Allys take her somewhere else; maybe the mission, maybe just on “vacation” elsewhere. Anywhere to keep her from being hostage bait.
For all my complaints, though, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed it.
This is the story of Jenna's best friends, Locke and Kara, and what happened to their consciousnesses after the accident. Kept in storage for 260 years, they're finally downloaded into new (and better) bodies by a greedy scientist. After Kara finally convinces Locke (after far too long) that the scientist is just using them, they break out and end up crossing a dystopian America hunting for the best friend they feel abandoned them: Jenna Fox.
Although the US has become a dystopia, complete with a caste of untouchables known as "nonpacts," the dystopian element is just kind of lightly touched upon. There's the threat of being picked up by security forces (considering neither Locke nor Kara have valid IDs, what with being officially dead for 260 years) and talk of rebels and run-ins with roving bands of non-pact bandits, but those are all kind of side issues. It's not Society that's out to get the protagonists, but evil scientist Dr. Gatsbro and, later, a possibly psychopathic Kara. Also, the dystopia was kind of stupid. There's two Americas sharing the same territory. I...that's...there are not even words. There is not even any attempt to show how the frack that would even work. If two independent (and competing!) governments control all of the territory of the former USA and everyone gets to decide which country they want to be citizens of...do the governments share the cost of everything? Both put money into that awesome high-speed rail system? Both put money into the schools? Pearson doesn't even try to explain it beyond casually dropping this fact into an info dump. It has no effect whatsoever on the story and is incredibly dumb and I'm just going to pretend it was never mentioned.
Anyway, the story is really not about how the USA is now a dystopia, but about three former best friends whose relationships are incredibly twisted after everything that happened. It's also kind of a chase/adventure story.
I don’t know if I support the whole “Kara came back with a piece missing” explanation. That is too much one-note villainy, and also difficult to explain why Kara went bad but Locke didn’t. If it’s the process of the consciousness getting locked in a box with no outside stimulation, they both should’ve come back soulless. If it’s Kara, then why were there no hints she was disturbed before the accident? I think it would’ve worked better if Kara wasn’t pure evil, but instead just a very confused, angry, hurt, jealous girl trying to make sense of things and lashing out at the wrong people. That’s how she mostly came across, but at the end where she was just apparently hollow and had soulless eyes I decided that Pearson was just going for the simple, horror-movie kind of villainy. Too bad.
Locke, the narrator, is kind of a dumb puppy. He claims to be the street-smart one (being the only poor kid in the trio), but Kara has to spell out the fact that Dr. Gatsbro was up to no good, even though the good doctor seemed really suspicious from the get-go. Kara might not have a soul anymore, but at least she maintained her brains.
Locke also either has a huge blindspot when it comes to Kara (he does feel awfully guilty about "causing" the accident and for loving Jenna more than Kara) or he's just super, super bad at reading people. Locke’s all “woe! If only I had loved Kara more! Maybe then she might not have been a psychopath!” That’s…not how it works, Locke. I was hoping Locke would eventually climb out of his self-pity hole and realize that he wasn't to blame for Kara's insanity. Alas, he never did.
Jenna Fox is also not the brightest thing even after 260 years. You let this possibly unstable girl into your house and you do nothing to protect your daughter? What the hell!?!? It’s partly Locke’s fault, because he is too thick to warn Jenna that Kara is a bit on the crazy side of things (hmmm, should I tell Jenna that Kara’s been creeping around and spying on her and leaving knives in my bag? Noooo, because I’ve been so cruel to Kara by not loving her enough. I can’t betray her! I’m sure she doesn’t mean to stab Jenna, despite the fact that she’s talked of nothing but revenge and I felt it necessary to beat her to Jenna’s door because I was obviously afraid of what she might do). But even going on just what Jenna sees and thinks, she should’ve gotten her daughter out of the house. Have Allys take her somewhere else; maybe the mission, maybe just on “vacation” elsewhere. Anywhere to keep her from being hostage bait.
For all my complaints, though, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed it.
hollylynna's review against another edition
5.0
Second favorite book of the summer of 2011. Loved this next book in the fox chronicles even though I didn't ever think there would be a second one. I was a bit worried I wouldn't remember some details of the first one, but it all came. I loved reading from locke's point a view.
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this second book in the Jenna Fox Chronicles. I like how this author approaches bioethical issues. In this sequel, she explores the definition of human through Locke's POV. She delves into the controversial idea of uploading the brain and what that would be like. Would the person remain human? Would their personality change? What happens to the person held captive in a sense after 200 years? While Locke escapes this imprisonment only slightly scathed, Kara is another issue. Kara's personality has changed and is bent on revenge.
I have to say that I loved the audiobook version of this. Matthew Brown is a great narrator and really made the story and characters come to life. Great second book. I'm excited to read the final book in the series.
I have to say that I loved the audiobook version of this. Matthew Brown is a great narrator and really made the story and characters come to life. Great second book. I'm excited to read the final book in the series.
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
2.0
This would have been a three star book if not for the ending (which didn't make any sense - I won't say any more lest I spoil it).
The first Jenna Fox book was incredible. Foreboding, creepy, fascinating, all about the characters growing. This one was all about the action. None of the characters had much depth. Locke gets his shit together and learns some things, but still seems far too naive for someone who's actually 260 years older than he was before the accident. Kara's character was just confusing. Totally vicious and unfeeling and hellbent on revenge...until the end. She did a total 180 for no discernible reason. It just...wasn't convincing. Any of it. The whole book required such a great degree of suspension of disbelief that it became wholly improbable and uninteresting.
Skip this one. Read the first one and leave it at that. This should not have been a series, or if it did, it should have continued to be character-driven rather than powered by predictable action sequences.
The first Jenna Fox book was incredible. Foreboding, creepy, fascinating, all about the characters growing. This one was all about the action. None of the characters had much depth. Locke gets his shit together and learns some things, but still seems far too naive for someone who's actually 260 years older than he was before the accident. Kara's character was just confusing. Totally vicious and unfeeling and hellbent on revenge...until the end. She did a total 180 for no discernible reason. It just...wasn't convincing. Any of it. The whole book required such a great degree of suspension of disbelief that it became wholly improbable and uninteresting.
Skip this one. Read the first one and leave it at that. This should not have been a series, or if it did, it should have continued to be character-driven rather than powered by predictable action sequences.
trailrunner17's review against another edition
4.0
I read the adoration of Jenna Fox as a pre-pub and just remember that I had to share it immediately with family and friends. Fox Forever showed up at work and I freaked out - I had no idea that this was a series. My family kindly pointed out that Fox forever is the third book. Headed straight to the library to grab a copy of the Fox inheritance. It was a well written page turner that did not have a straight forward rehash of Adoration. Pearson interjected enough of the first storyline to refresh my memory. The ending does not end on a cliffhanger, but I am so glad I get to read book 3.
reader00's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
This sequel to [b:The Adoration of Jenna Fox|1902241|The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles, #1)|Mary E. Pearson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316636422s/1902241.jpg|1903936] provides some satisfying back-story as well as a glimpse into Jenna's future. The pace is good and the characters compelling, but it's missing that spark of suspense from the first book.