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Pia has always known her destiny. She is meant to start a new race, a line of descendants who will bring an end to death. She has been bred for no other purpose, genetically engineered to be immortal and raised by a team of scientists in a secret compound hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. Now those scientists have begun to challenge her, with the goal of training her to carry on their dangerous work.
For as long as she can remember, Pia’s greatest desire has been to fulfill their expectations. But then one night she finds a hole in the impenetrable fence that surrounds her sterile home. Free in the jungle for the first time in her life, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Unable to resist, she continues sneaking out to see him. As they fall in love, they begin to piece together the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with nothing less than deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.
Origin is a beautifully told, electric new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever. But is eternal life worth living if you can’t spend it with the one you love?
I take a step back as he reaches his full height, my flashlight still aimed at his face. “What do you want with me? Where—where are you from?”
“You’re the one who crashed into me.” He is taller than me, and though he is thin, he is very muscular. I can tell because he’s half-naked. He’s wearing khaki shorts and a cord around his neck from which hangs a tiny jaguar carved into jade, but nothing else, not even shoes. His skin is the color of a shelled Brazil nut, light, warm brown, the brown of days spent in the dappled sun of the rainforest. His hair is as black as the night around us and thick with tangles. There is something vaguely familiar about his face, but I can’t think of what it is. That’s very disconcerting for me, since I forget nothing. If I had seen this boy before, I would remember it. And not just because my memory is perfect. I’d remember those eyes . . . that sculpted chest . . . the definition of his abdomen. . . .
I snap my eyes up to his face, whipping my thoughts back into line. My initial fear gives way to anger. “What are you doing out here, anyway? It’s the middle of the night. Where are your clothes?”
He replies, remarkably calmly, “You’ve wandered far from your cage, Pia bird.”
“What?” I ask blankly.
“The dress,” he says, nodding at it. “It makes you look like a bird. The kind we Ai’oa like to keep on our shoulders. But that’s not a good thing to be running around the jungle in.”
I look down at my torn dress. “It’s my birthday.” Furious, I glare at him, refusing to let him distract me. Again. “Ai’oa? What is that?”
He presses a hand to his bare chest. “We are a who, not a what.”
“Are you a native?” “I’m Ai’oan. Only the scientists call us natives.” He cocks his head curiously. “Are you a scientist? I think you must be, because you are of the Little Cam village.”
“No. Yes. I mean, I will be soon. How did you know where I’m from? Have you been to Little Cam?” Fear had turned to anger, but my anger now transforms into fascination. I’ve never spoken with anyone from outside Little Cam. Harriet Fields doesn’t count because now she’s from Little Cam too.
“I’ve seen it,” he says, “but only from the trees. It is no place for the Ai’oa. Kapukiri says there is evil in the village of the scientists.”
“Little Cam isn’t evil,” I reply, bristling. “What do you know about it?”
“Only what Kapukiri says.” He kneels and stares curiously at Alai. “He obeys your command and follows where you go. Incredible. Truly, you are blessed to have such a companion.”
His words soften me, and I warm a little. “Is your village close?” Eio’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “Why? What do you want with Ai’oa?”
“I want to see it,” I say on a whim. “Show it to me.” “I don’t know. . . .” He frowns. “That smoke I smell, is it from Ai’oa?” I close my eyes and breathe deeply. “It’s coming from . . . that direction.” I open my eyes and start to follow the scent. When I look back, Eio is staring at me with wide eyes.
“You . . .” He runs to catch up with me. “You can smell it from here?”
“Ah . . .” I swallow and backpedal a bit. “Well, can’t you?”
Uncertainty plays openly across his face. “I guess . . . if you promise not to wake everyone . . .”
“I swear.”
“Well . . . okay.” He still seems uneasy. I take it that visitors aren’t often invited to Ai’oa.
I follow him over fallen logs made soft with mosses and under low-hanging vines and limbs. I wonder how he’ll see where he’s going, but he seems to feel his way rather than see it. I thought I moved silently through the jungle, but Eio seems to float over the ground rather than walk on it. He moves as sinuously as a snake and as lightly as a butterfly. Alai stays between us at all times, showing his mistrust in his hackles and rigid tail.
Before long I smell smoke, then I see the fires from which it comes. They burn low, more embers than flames, several dozen of them. Around the fires are huts made of four poles and thatched with palm leaves. They have no walls. When we reach the edge of the village, Eio stops me. “They are sleeping. It is never good to wake what is sleeping. Stay here and look, but don’t wake them.”
“You’re awake,” I point out.
“I couldn’t sleep. I heard a jaguar and went looking for it.” He looks down at Alai. I remember Alai’s roars as we escaped through the fence. “Is it a good idea to hunt jaguars? Seems to me they’d end up hunting you.”
Eio sits on a mossy rock, arms crossed over his bare chest. “Not to catch one! To see it. It is a powerful sign, the glimpse of the jaguar.”
“I see a jaguar every day,” I say, reaching down to rub Alai’s ears.
“It is a thing unheard of.” He shakes his head. “In the jungle, the jaguar is king. He follows no one but himself, and we Ai’oa fear and respect him and call him guardian.”
“Alai’s just a big baby, really.”
Eio gives a short laugh. “Of course. That’s why he tried to bite the nose off my face!”
“How do you know English? Uncle Paolo told me you natives were ignorant about everything outside your own villages.”
“I’m not ignorant,” Eio objects. “It is you who are ignorant, Pia bird. My father taught me English.”
“Your father?”
“He is a scientist like you, in Little Cam.”
“Really!” I blink and stare at him with astonishment. Well, well, someone’s been hiding a really big secret. . . . “Who is it? What’s his name?” I think of all the scientists, wondering who it could be.
“I don’t know his name. To me, he is only Papi. He comes and teaches me English and math and writing.”
“What does he look like?”
Eio shrugs. “Ugly, like all scientists.”
I frown. “You think I’m ugly?” “Of course,” he says, staring toward his village.
I feel my face flush with anger. “That’s the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me! I’m not ugly! I’m . . .” I look down at my muddy, bedraggled dress, and my voice falls to an embarrassed whisper. “I’m perfect.”
“Perfect? Is that why you’re running around in the jungle, making noise like a tapir running from the spear, in a dress?”
“I—it’s my birthday. . . . I wanted to see the jungle. I’ve never been outside Little Cam before. I wanted to feel what it was like to be outside, in the wild.” “Are you a prisoner, Pia bird?”
“No,” I say, startled.
“Why have you never left, then?”
“I—they say it’s dangerous. Anacondas.”
“Anacondas! I have killed an anaconda.”
“You have?”
“Yes. It was as long as I am tall, and I am the tallest Ai’oan in the village. I made its skin into a belt for Papi.”
“I’ve only seen an anaconda once. It was dead too. Uncle Timothy shot it.”
“With a gun?”
“Of course with a gun!”
“I don’t like guns. I hunt with dart and spear and arrow. These are silent and will not scare away your prey like a stupid gun.”
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but the night is growing even darker. “I should go back now.” It’s been much, much longer than an hour. My delirious rush of adrenaline leaves me weary and nervous. I want to get back, to change and shower before my absence is noticed. If it hasn’t been noticed already.
PCRachel
Posted September 5, 2012
Origin is a well-written story that quickly pulled me into the jungle. It is breathtaking, amazing, and just plain fabulous. Jessica Khoury wrote a great debut novel, and I cannot wait to see what she'll do next. Origin was, simply, original. If I did ratings, it would get 5/5 stars, hands-down. This is what I like to call a good book.
I was highly anticipating this novel, and was afraid that I was so excited it wouldn't be any good. However, while it wasn't what I expected, it was still brilliant. I wish I didn't have several other books to read so I can read it again. It's a stand-alone, and it ended well enough to make that satisfactory. I've heard this is going to be adapted into a movie, and if it's done right, it will be phenomenal.
If you haven't read Origin or are debating whether or not you should read it, read it. There's not much else like this in the YA world, and something so original and different is refreshing. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Deep within the Amazon rain forest, groups of scientist have created something impossible. Strikingly beautiful and vibrant with life Pia, is the only one of her kind. With skin unable to break, Pia can never bleed and never die, she is immortal. But immortality is hard to bear alone. Knowing that everyone you know and love will one day die, drives Pia to become a scientist herself, and discover the secret to immorality and with that knowledge develop a race of immortals, and a Perfect immortal man of her own. Secluded within the small and secretive scientific community, Pia is completely unaware of the outside world. A world she hears about in whispers and sees through her glass house.
On the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that cages her, and escapes into the jungle. There she discovers a native village, and a boy Eio. Together they search for the truth about Pia’s origin, and what the scientist are really hiding in their secret laboratory. Their discovery uncovers some shocking truths and the consequences of seeking immorality no matter the costs.
Filled with beautiful scenery and endearing characters, Jessica Khoury first novel provides a shocking storyline that is thought provoking and emotionally intense, readers will not want to put down Origin.
Recommended for readers age 12-17.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My review:
I received Origin by Jessica Khoury at BEA2012 in June. I have been holding this book in my hands so many times with an intention to read it and finally got it read. You see, I am usually not a YA science fiction fan and that is the only reason few days ago, when I decided to go for it. I am glad, that I did, because I truly liked the book. It was thought wakening for me.
Plot:
The plot deals with - can you create a perfect person? Or more precisely can you create a perfect immortal person?
Origin takes you to Amazon jungle, where Pia is bred. Pia is a teenager girl who does not know anything about the world outside of Little Cambridge scientific labs. Pia knows almost about everything what there is to know about science, but she has no idea what is New York.
Pia is an immortal created by scientists and she has always been told she is perfect - a beginning of a new race of immortals. She does believe she is perfect until the day she has her first contacts with world outside, firstly by a new woman entering the team of scientist in Little Cam - Dr Harriet Fields who manages to surprise Pia by honestly declaring, that she is not perfect. Nobody in Pia's life has ever told her about what is life outside and her curiosity grows together with Dr. fields' appearance and by the fact, that the fence around Little Cam is damaged and for the first time on her life, she can sneak out.
During her first trip to the jungle, Pia meets a young man Eio, who lives in the village nearby. Eio is not like all the other villagers, his mother was from village and his father is actually one of the scientists from Little Cam. Eio introduces her to his own world.
Step by step Pia starts asking questions about Little Cam, the scientists, about her own inheritage and starts doubting if she really should be happy of being perfect immortal or if there is more to life than just that.
What I liked about Origin was how the author built the tension and the story, how all your questions get answered and I also enjoyed how she decided to finish it. It's not so much about cloning or immortality as it is about moral and being either above or beneath it. What would you be willing to do to write the history?, is the question.
Characters:
Origin is filled with fascinating characters!
I was annoyed by Pia in the beginning, about her perfect world and perfect race she was going to develop. She was so sheltered and so very naive. Yes, nothing can penetrate her skin, she will never die, but she really knows so little... until her curiosity gets her better part. Pia grew on me while reading. She becomes a strong young woman, who finally starts asking questions and finding the answers.
I loved Eio who was so levelled and down to earth. I adored how he took Pia to the villagers and introduced her their way of living. He was kind, smart and had great instincts about people.
One of my favorite characters in Origin was Dr. Harriet Fields who is so feminine and smart and helpful. She does have skeletons in her closet, but so does everyone in Little Cam. The other scientists, who were interesting were Uncle Antonio and Uncle Paolo. Antonio is kind and gentle whereas Paolo is pure evil and willing to do anything needed for the cause and not being afraid choosing the means.
Generally:
I truly liked Origin by Jessica Khoury! Read it, even though you might not be a fan of science fiction, because it is worth of all the time it takes
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 11, 2012
A wonderfully deep plot full of emotion and moral dilemmas. Totally worth a read! Stayed up late reading and couldn't put it down.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookWhales
Posted September 8, 2012
“LIES, SECRETS and BETRAYAL” Origin will leave you thirsty for more.
“You are our hope, Pia. Don’t let us down.”
I saw this book on Netgalley. After seeing the trailer, I know that I have to read it. The plot had raised my curiosity.
The story is set deep in the Amazon Rainforest, where the scientists are keeping Pia; the only person in the world who is immortal. She is the most prized subject and they will do anything to keep her there. Sheltered and unaware of the outside world, Pia thinks she lives a perfect life. But then she met Eio, a boy from the outside, everything had changed. She now wants to be free. “LIES, SECRETS and BETRAYAL” Origin will leave you thirsty for more.
The world building is extraordinary! I feel like I was deep inside the Amazon Rainforest. The way the author described the scenery made my mouth water. Everything was vividly written and described well. I didn’t have a hard time imagining Pia’s world. I also enjoyed the exotic flowers and animals. What I like the most are the Ai’oa people. I was fascinated! Their culture and customs had absorbed me in. I also find the story unique and believable.
The characters are well developed and realistic. There are many characters in the book. I find it hard to get to know them really well. But I connected to Pia instantly. She is likable and not so perfect, despite her immortality. She had flaws which made me like her more. I understand her loneliness and anger. She’s strong minded and full of courage. Uncle Antonio is my second favorite. His love for Pia and dedication to her, melted my heart. Then Eio, the boy from the Ai’oa tribe, he intrigues me the most because of his heritage. He was described as exotic, dark haired and blue eyed. How come he could speak English and looks sort of a Caucasian? You have to read this book to find out why. All I can say is that the revelation had left my mouth hanging open.
The love angle is impressive. I felt Eio and Pia’s connection. It was innocent and cute. There were some scenes that gave butterflies in my stomach.
Overall, Origin is a great book! If you like sci-fi and something new to read, this book is for you. I can’t wait to read another book from Ms. Jessica.
I give this 4 experimenting whales
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KittymommyVC
Posted September 8, 2012
A fantastic read. Well-written, it doesn't drag or wander. As good a book as I have ever read, and better than a great many of them. Way to go, Jess! I had to keep reminding myself this is a first novel, not one from an experienced writer. OOPS!! My own jaguar is grabbing at my elbow as I write!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 14, 2013
This book was so good that i hardly have any words to describe it. There is somthing for everyone, intrigue, suspence, love, action, and Khoury writes with so much description that it's hard to believe your not actually there. This book is a deffinate read but be warned that some of the parts are very intensly cold and distant, but don't let it discourage you from continuing. Many unexpected twists and turns, and an ending that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very last page. An instant classic.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 7, 2013
I have less than 100 pages to go. This book is perfection. I highly recommended it. Great science fiction read. I can feel the emotions in this book, not a boring chapter in it at all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Origin was a novel I was totally waiting on this year. With such an original premise, I was instantly crazy to get my hands on it. Furthermore being Brazilian, I was curious about the mention about the Amazon in the synopsis. Origin promises a great and exciting read to any of you wondering about reading it.
The Plot: The pace matches the type of story perfectly. The mystery around Pia is told in a perfect pace for readers to be completely hooked on it. Furthermore I couldn't have imagined a better place for the story to take place in; somehow the Amazon and its inhabitants were a perfect fit for this novel. With many lies, betrayals and secrets running wild in Origin, it is no wonder that Khoury's novel won't let you put it down!
The Characters: Though Pia was writing in a very compelling way, she just wasn't for me. She was too naive. But it was really sweet and gave me great pleasure to be able to read and sense the change in her character: she went from being naive and relatively weak to being a headstrong and great character. I liked Eio and he was a great match for Pia, yet I couldn't develop more interest in him. Not to mention that the romance happened so quickly, I didn't even realized it and it was already there.
Origin certainly offers a different read than you are probably accustumed to. I personally enjoy books full of mysteries, so this one was certainly enjoyable for me. The insta-love did kind of let me down a bit but the plot was worth overlooking it. Overall, it was a great and sweet read that will leave you completely content with its ending.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 5, 2012
I havent read it yet. But it looks pretty awesome. To me, this book looks pretty cool to me. I will write another review when i finish this cool-lookin book. So now i will read it and tell you about it later.
1 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KaribbeanIsland1
Posted May 22, 2013
**4.5 Stars**
MY OVERVIEW: How would you live your life if you were immortal? Do you stay in a “cage” in hopes that you can help create more immortals like you, or do you escape and see the world? Truly live? This is what the main character, Pia, in Origin faces.
PROS: I loved this book and just couldn’t put it down. It was written beautifully and I felt the struggle Pia went through. I think her conflict between staying in her “cage” and getting outside the compound was perfect. It is just how I would imagine it would be.
CONS: Even though it is reflected in a bad light, the testing done on animals still bothered me. You can tell me that it happens, but don’t go through a scene of torture with me. I don’t want to know all the details. Part of me broke when I had to read about the “killing kittens for science” thing. I am a big cat person and I hate it when something happens to them.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this book and the writing style. I can’t wait for the author’s next book.
HogwartsLUVR
Posted May 12, 2013
I Also Recommend:
WOW, WOW, WOW, what a good book this one turned out to be. I sure hope this gets made into a movie. It sounded like a good book and trust me, it is. I recommend that you buy this one. Im sure you will love it too. CAN WE GET THIS AS A MOVIE PLEASE?!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 2, 2013
Well-written and original novel, not too quick and not too slow. I had high expectations, and this spectacular story has exceeded most, if not all them. Worth my time and money. I highly anticipate any further work of Khoury.
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Posted March 28, 2013
I finished this during a lost car ride. It was so good that i could not put it down. I finished it just as the trip was over. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in girl finding the truth and what matters the most to her after her life is flipped. This book is amazing!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 28, 2013
An amazing read that is beautifully told and an ending i did not see coming! I read it in 3 days. It may not be for everyone ( per-teens and down ) becuse of some disturbing parts of the book. But over all a great read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 28, 2013
This story will not only keep you on your toes but show you an astonishing outlook on life. This will leave you to a greater understanding of life and death. By far, one of my favorite books. Moer than definitley is it worth the read!
Anonymous
Posted March 26, 2013
I read this and all I can say is I loved it. Did get annoyed with Pia at times but great book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.barbann28
Posted March 18, 2013
Was a really good book, can't wait for more.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 12, 2013
One of the most amazing books ever! I couldn't put it down and it had a very new and different plot from anything else I've read
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ChaoticAvian
Posted February 12, 2013
Origin was a very interesting idea, but it was extremely chicky. I was hoping it would be about an immortal girl scientist who is trying to master immortis and create more…lol It was more about an immortal girl who is seeking true love beyond the fence. I wish she could have left the area completely at some point and explored the cities. The chaos and heartlessness of the scientists was pretty cool. I just hated the chicky feel that the story had. Still an interesting read if you like that sort of thing.
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Overview
Pia has always known her destiny. She is meant to start a new race, a line of descendants who will bring an end to death. She has been bred for no other purpose, genetically engineered to be immortal and raised by a team of scientists in a secret compound hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. Now those scientists have begun to challenge her, with the goal of training her to carry on their dangerous work.
For as long as she can remember, ...