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    What's Left of Me
    What's Left of Me
    What's Left of Me
    Audiobook9 hours

    What's Left of Me

    Written by Kat Zhang

    Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Fans of Stephenie Meyer's The Host will enjoy What's Left of Me, Kat Zhang's shocking, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged story of two souls sharing one body.

    What's Left of Me, the first book of the Hybrid Chronicles, is set in an alternate reality where everyone is born with two souls. But one soul is naturally dominant, and in early childhood, the other soul fades away.

    That didn't happen for Addie and Eva. Now fifteen, Eva clings to life inside the body she shares with Addie, although she can no longer speak or even move.

    Addie does everything she can to hide the presence of her sister soul. Eva's very existence is illegal. If their secret is revealed, it could mean death for both of them.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9780062223821
    What's Left of Me
    Author

    Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional—the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so it’s a tough choice. A writer of books for teens and children, she spends her free time scribbling poetry, taking photographs, and climbing atop things she shouldn’t. You can learn more about her at KatZhang.com. 

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    Reviews for What's Left of Me

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    • 4/5
      3.5/5 stars.What's Left of Me is one of those books that I felt everyone but me had already read. Not only had they read it, but they'd raved about it so much it made me nervous to actually pick it up. And while I don't think I ultimately liked it as much as most folks have, once I got past a rather slow start, the book had nice flow, a unique plot, and intriguing characters that I did end up ultimately enjoying.This book is told from a unique perspective, because for much of the book, Eva - the recessive soul who was meant to die away, but didn't - isn't in any kind of actual control of the body she shares with dominant soul, Addie. That set-up made for unique storytelling that was very much focused on Eva's feelings and Addie's actions. One thing I wish was explained in more detail is how the world came to be this way. Is this our world that's been changed in some way? Or is this a made-up world in which the way we live and are never existed in the first place? I didn't feel that this information was explicitly stated, and made for a lot of questions on my part, and one of the reasons I wasn't completely sold on the story at the start. There is a lot of talk about the scary dangerous hybrids (which Eva and Addie are, although they live in secret) and the effects they've had on the rest of the world, and there's talk about the Americas (which are North, Central and South America all rolled into one giant super-country), but no actual explanations of how it all came to be. I want explanations! Call it the part of me that loves history, but I just feel like it would have really grounded the story and made it more relatable. But then again, that could just be me.Around the 20% mark, though, the book picks up in action, because Addie and Eva are shipped off to a rather frightening clinic due to a suspicion that they are indeed hybrid. The rest of the book is spent with them trying to figure out what's going on at the clinic, and trying to find a way to escape. There's also some romantic developments between Eva and Ryan, made all the more intriguing because Addie isn't at all interested in either Ryan OR his other soul, so she's definitely fighting Eva at every step, even if it's not intentionally. There's also the obvious give and take necessary as Eva becomes stronger, which adds tension to the girls' relationship and makes sharing a body even trickier. The sequel to What's Left of Me seems to focus even more on the girls' issues, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the author has taken that concept and expanded on it.All in all, while I wasn't completely in love with What's Left of Me like most people seem to be, I did find the book compelling and unique in equal measures. Eva is a wonderful narrator, and I liked watching her growth and strength. She and Addie are definitely two totally different girls, so the fact that they have to share a body - and only one can be in control at a time - makes for interesting developments that you definitely don't see every day. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how their journey progresses.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      What's Left of Me is set in a world where children are born with two souls. As the child grows up one soul becomes dominant and the other recessive. Eventually in the childs life the recessive soul will fade away leaving only the dominant soul. However some children don't settle, and what happens then? At 15 Addie and Eva are faced with that problem.In a world where being a Hybrid is considered dangerous and a threat, Addie and Eva have to keep the fact that they have not yet settled a secret. But, as obstacles get in their way, can they? What's Left of Me was great and i did love it, but i just can't bring myself to give it five stars. I would love to rate it so high because the pace was crisp; the plot is brilliant and original beyond belief, and the concept that the story is told from the recessive soul, Eva, was a great twist on the common narrator. Everything was refreshing, fun, and there was never a dull or boring moment when reading What?s Left of Me, but it just missed? something. In What?s Left of Me, we're told straight away that hybrids are unstable and dangerous, and if you have suspicions that someone might be a hybrid, report them immediately. However during the book we arent told why hybrids are so dangerous, and all the hybrids we are introduced to seem harmless enough. So whenever they are spoken about like that all i could think was ?Why?? It could be possible that they aren't any more dangerous than a normal person and they are just thought of this way because they are an anomaly in their normal society, and that's why there never was an explanation? Again, I'm not too sure, but I hope everything is cleared up in book two. As well as that little world-building flaw, there was a flaw in the writing for me that, while little at first, grew to be an annoyance the more I read the book. Zhang?s prose is beautiful, and, like the plot, the writing is crisp and it makes for fast reading, but, unfortunately Zhang uses an overwhelming amount of repetition when writing. At first, this was something I was able to look over easily, but, like I said, as I read more and more, and the use of repetition became more and more frequent, I became annoyed, but not overly so that I was unable to enjoy the book. And lastly in the things that make me conflicted on whether I should be giving What?s Left of Me four or five stars was that the ending felt too anticlimactic given all the buildup for it throughout the novel. It just didn't have the wow factor i was looking for (and expecting) Now onto less ranty things about What?s Left of Me?s rare flaws, and much more praising on everything else that?s in What?s Left of Me, because everything else was amazing. Eva?s voice and experiences (or lack of) were heartbreaking, as was reading about her longing to talk, to move her fingers even?all of the things we normally take for granted?but she was physically unable to do. And, although for most of the bookshe couldn't even move her fingers, she was still stronger than half of the heroines in YA literature, and that?s saying something. Another thing to absolutely love about What?s Left of Me is that all of the characters are flawed and believable, as are all of their relationships, especially the sisterly relationship between Eva and Addie, which was portrayed expertly. And, while there is some romance in What?s Left of Me, it takes up a very minor part in the actual story, and you might even forget there was a romance to begin with (like me). Overall, despite minor issues i had while reading i loved the book and will happily recommend it to all my friends and also to anyone looking for an original and refreshing new YA novel.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      It was good, but it was a little confusing. I still had a lot of questions at the end of the book.
    • 4/5
      In short: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang has an entirely intriguing and well executed concept, but is lacking in world building.What's Left of Me presents a world in which two souls are born into one body and in which one of those souls - the recessive soul - should naturally fade away while the dominant one takes over. But this is not what happens in Eva and Addie's case. Despite many years of therapy, Eva - the recessive soul - remains, trapped in a body she has no control over. Kat Zhang has created a fully realized, entirely fascinating concept with What's Left of Me and not only that - it's also executed exceptionally well. It is so crucial in a story like this to be able to distinguish between the two different characters without creating any confusion, and Zhang manages this impressively, creating two separate, independent voices within one body.I did feel as though the world building was lacking, however. I was left with major questions surrounding how this hybrid concept works and why the government sees hybrids as bad. After a strong start, the second half of What's Left of Me is spent trying to escape an ominous and mysterious government-run hospital that claims they want to cure Eva and Addie - standard dystopian fare. I feel like this is the point where the plot starts to wane and this is probably due to the lack of world building mentioned. It was difficult to become invested in a plot in which so few explanations are given for why the government has this vendetta against hybrids and why the reader should care.Overall, What's Left of Me has a incredibly intriguing and well executed concept that made it stand out among a sea of indistinguishable dystopian reads. But the second half of the novel was less inventive and less absorbing due to the lack of world building. I still very much plan on continuing on with the series, however, if only to learn more about the hybrid concept. I need answers!
    • 5/5
      A brilliant book, just amazing, I highly recommend everyone to read it
    • 4/5
      Before I get started on this review I need to rave for a minute over the cover of What's Left of Me. Y'all, it's gorgeous - and not only is it gorgeous it FITS the story in so many ways. The outline of a face in profile half covering another, the expression, the coloring, the text with the large "ME" - everything is perfect.So that said, I think this is one of my favorite dystopian young adult reads this year. It's smart, it's well thought out, and it has such creative, fantastically likeable characters. Within just a few pages I knew Addie and Eva - I can't stress that enough, I just knew them. I knew who they were, who they would be, what decisions they would make and I relished the thought of reading a story where I knew characters so well, so quickly, and could enjoy seeing their decision making process as they hurdled each challenge thrown at them.The idea of two people inside each body is a different one for me. That said, having just come from reading a book in which the main character jumps to a new body every day, I think I was primed to read this book. My mind was open and I eagerly embraced the idea of two personalities - because in a way, don't we each have one? That dominant voice which determines our outward actions and the quiet voice which pushes us to do something against our instincts. I know I have them - so seeing them named in Addie and Eva, and feeling the pain through both personalities at the circumstances surrounding their life was thrilling and exciting and heartbreaking all at once.The only flaw this book had - and it's mostly a bunch of little things - was that there were times the action was paced too quickly. I had to go back and re-read some sections because I'd missed something in the flurry of everything else. Also, I dislike the whole mechanism of using a character to push the story forward (as in: harm of that character) and failing to follow through on it. I will not elaborate further here because I don't want to spoiler it, but you'll know what I mean ... if that sort of thing bothers you. But it's such a small thing that it won't prevent me from recommending this book like crazy.And, like I said earlier, if others out there are wow'd by the cover like I was, this will be a very, very widely spread read novel.
    • 3/5
      Rating: 2.5 of 5I was so excited to read this book... begin sigh...I read faithfully at my usual pace up to chapter nineteen, page 199, and it took all my willpower to go that far. After page 199 I did a speed read to the end. I just never connected enough with either Addie or Eva, or their world and the hybrids, to really care. In other words, I wasn't lost in the story or emotionally invested in anything about it.Addie, supposedly the dominant soul, was too passive. And there wasn't enough shown or even told about their world to support her behavior as self-protection or a survival mechanism; she came across as fundamentally weak. For example, why were the government and citizens anti-hybrid to begin with?? Why was settling mandatory?? There wasn't enough shown to demonstrate Addie was anything other than Eva's puppet. Despite, supposedly, Eva having no control / say / life whatsoever.The beginning of the story definitely could've done with some beefing up in the character and worldbuilding departments to at least show the relationship between the two souls and what they meant to each other. To set up why and how the world was such a scary place for hybrids. And the ending was SO typical young adult, which I'm sure the intended audience will eat up. I did not. As is, I dunno... the characters and world all seemed ... superficial and flat So why round up to three stars? The whole notion of two souls, one body; one dominant soul, one recessive soul - it intrigued me. Though, sadly, not enough that I plan to read book two in the Hybrid Chronicles.I'll be donating my copy of What's Left of Me to the local library. End sigh.
    • 3/5
      At some point, goofy as the point is, it felt like there had been hybrids at work on this book. Because there suddenly were absurd puns and wordplay ongoing. Like the heroine thinking about the recesses of her mind during recess. The bits about lying and back. I just wanted to get this observation out of the way. I felt this was the book where the heroine shows the least amount of heroism. This book was a balancing act. In one way, the main character was Hally/Lissa. Everything converged one one question...would she die? Would she survive? From the very beginning I had marked Hally as the sacrificial goat that would get the plot moving. The way the third act's rescue went through made me give a star more than I initialed. It was impossible to pull it off, but my disbelief went suspended of its own accord. I wanted to believe this conclusion was believable, and suddenly it was. All credit to the author. The latter's lack of research was all the more admirable for it showed guts to try undertake writing this book alone. I cared for this book. Others should too, that's my recommendation.
    • 4/5
      This was an awesome book. I think it was the idea that sucked me in first. Then the characters. And then the intense story-line. The book was very fast-paced. And any story set in psychiatric-like wards is a nail-biting. If you have seen the movie Changling with Angelina Jolene, you?ll remember her line ?Fuck you and the white horse you rode in on?. That was the line running through my mind the entire time I was reading this book. It?s the same sort of premise. People think the character is crazy, sick, something, etc, and they believe they have a right to ?cure? them. And the character never has a say in the matter because they are not in the right mind or some other excuse. This sort of goes back to my previous review for Matched about freedom, but in these kinds of books it?s also about what personal safety and what is and isn?t natural by societies terms. These books always drive me nuts and I never want to go to the doctor?s office after reading them. How do I really know what they are injecting into me? Haha. Anyways, the reader is always rooting for the character and hoping they break out. I get a little dramatic and always want the character to lash out and do some damage, but as the characters always tell themselves and me, it wouldn?t do any good. But it would make me as a reader fell better. :) So the whole story is an edge of the seat kind of book. And it?s not very long, so the book is easy to get through in a few sittings. The book reminded me of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, so if you liked that book, you should like this book. It?s Zhang?s debut novel and I think she did a fantastic job. I?m looking forward to the next book in the series whenever it is published.
    • 5/5
      Eva and Addie are two souls sharing the same body. In their society children are born with two souls and two identities. As they grow they "settle" and one soul fades away leaving the other in control. But there are people who don't settle, and the two souls continue to exist in one body. They are called "hybrids" and the government hates them, fears them, and hunts them down. Even as children.

      I really enjoyed this one. It's an interesting concept- two souls in one body. The writing was powerful and not flowery, which fit the story. I thought the descriptions of two souls in one body were well done, though I would have liked to find out more "why" and "how." Why are two souls born into one body? How did the fear of hybrids come about? Hopefully we'll get more information in later books.
    • 3/5
      Interesting idea - two souls sharing one body. What is supposed to happen naturally is "settling", where one of the souls takes control and the other just fades away, but in the case of these two, it just doesn't happen.
    • 4/5
      I haven't finished reading this book yet, but I like it so far. The idea of duality, of multiple souls, is fascinating and unique. I can't wait to see how it ends!
    • 4/5
      The first in the hybrid chronicles series, follows Addie and her hybrid Eva as they try to survive in a world where they are hunted. Although Eva grows weaker, she and Addie have a full inner-dialog. Addie is the dominant soul meaning she moves, speaks and acts for the duo. Suddenly a girl named Hallie is everywhere Addie is and wants to be friends. Hallie also is a hybrid. Eventually they are discovered and taken to an institution where Addie & Eva realize they need to fight back in order to survive intact. There is a anti-foreign climate in the U.S. and some things going on internationally that seem important but aren't made clear in this volume of the series. The characters and idea are compelling.
    • 5/5
      Zhang, KatWhat's Left of Me2012. 352pp. $17.99 hc. HarperCollins Publishers. 978-0-0621-1487-7. Grades 9-12Teenage Eva and Addie are hybrid souls, two minds in a single body. In this alternate version of the United States, everyone is born hybrid, but one soul is supposed to disappear in adolescence, leaving the dominant soul to live her life. Although Addie is the dominant soul, Eva is still alive inside their body, though she cannot move. Only Addie hears her thoughts. When Eva gets the chance to regain control of their body, Addie is nervous but Eva yearns to be able to speak. However, people who remain hybrids as adults are considered dangerous, and when one of their friends is captured in a protest, Eva and Addie are suspected of being hybrid, and are imprisoned in a government hospital to be cured. The world of this story is richly imagined, particularly how human hybridity works. Much of the story focuses on the horrifying world of the mental hospital and the reveal of how hybrids are 'cured', and sensitive readers may find this disturbing. The story is the first book in a trilogy, but resolves with enough closure to keep readers interested without being frustrated. Recommended for fans of alternate universes and dystopias.
    • 4/5
      In a world where everyone?s born with two souls, those in the Americas are cut off from the rest of the world, where hybrids persist into adulthood. Inside the Americas, though, people ?settle? as young children, one soul disappearing and the other surviving. Those who don?t are considered threats and taken away for treatment. That?s why Addie hides the persistence of Eva, who still exists even though she can no longer control the body. But a secret like that is hard to keep, especially when strangers show up with their own ideas about hybrids. As you might expect from this brand of YA, most of the bad guys are cartoony, though the refusal to offer any explanation to the protagonist makes much more sense when the protagonist is a kid than it does for an adult. The difficulties of two people sharing one body are presented with enough intensity that you can at least understand why a culture might have convinced itself that singletons are better, even if that?s morally and perhaps biologically wrong (and even if those difficulties are themselves culturally constructed).
    • 5/5
      "I should not exist. But I do."I received the e-book to review from NetGalley. I also have my own physical copy that I purchased from a local book shop. I have heard so much about this book, and was very excited to read it. The synopsis on the back of the book caught my attention straight away.This is the first novel I have read from Kat Zhang. It's is the first book in The Hybrid Chronicles series. The story is told from Eva's perspective which I thought was interesting as she isn't the dominant soul. You really can feel and understand her thoughts and feelings. I really did feel sorry for her. The opening paragraph even made me connect with this character. The other soul Addie is a more spunky character. At times, she does come across as a little it selfish and annoying like she prefers to remain being the stronger soul. Eva I like more because I admire her determination to remain in the body and not argue with her other connected side. I really liked the friends that Addie & Eva discovered, and their connections were really strong. I really felt anger towards all the doctors and nurses when they said Eva needed to go. You develop such a liking for Eva, you feel like you want to fight for her survival. I thought the relationship between Eva and Ryan was so cute. I was like "awwh".I thought the storyline was strong, and it had me hooked from the beginning. So much was happening, but I wasn't confused and was following with ease. I haven't read a book with this type of story before, so it was a risk in giving it a go, but I'm glad I went for it, as it was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the theory behind hybrids.The font is easy to follow, and it's simple to know when a particular soul is speaking. The chapters are fairly short, and the book has a total of 343 pages. Although it may seem a chunky-ish book, it was actually a fairly quick read.I really like the cover to this book; how you can see half a face, which is portraying the half soul, and it leaves the other side blank, so mystery is held there. The tag line on the front cover - "Who would you give up to stay alive?" - draws you in.The ending of the book really makes me want to read the next book. Damn you, Kat Zhang! xDOverall, I'm going to give this book five stars because I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, the characters were well developed, and I was hooked from the beginning. I definitely recommend as it is a really good read.If you like stories with mystery, souls and romance involved, then give it a shot.Happy reading =)
    • 4/5
      Plot: 3 stars
      Characters: 4 stars
      Style: 4 stars
      Pace: 4 stars

      A bit predictable, follows a lot of the fairly standard dystopian tropes. But still enjoyable despite that. I love the concept, and it took a while to get out of my brain after finishing it last night.
    • 2/5
      I was expecting a lot from What's Left of Me, and I was slightly disappointed. Let me just say right off the bat that the cover is brilliant. It's part of what attracted me to the book in the first place (that and the awesome synopsis). However, I was unable to relate to the characters, even though they were realistic (at least the main characters were. The secondary characters could have used some depth). Additionally, this seemed as if it was an alternate version of America, and I didn't like the rewrite of history, turning this world into something I didn't understand. Also, I never fully understood why people were so scared of hybrids. This book just fell flat for me in many ways. Let's start with the setting. It'd be one thing to have it set in a different place/time/etc, but to have it be like today only not... that just didn't work for me. I also didn't like the whole WWI and WWII fought because of hybrids thing. Why were hybrids so bad? I just didn't understand. I just could not buy into this world and that really took away from my enjoyment of the book. Eva and Addie were interesting characters, but I just could not connect with them to save my life. That meant I didn't care what happened to them. Also, the secondary characters were so flat they didn't seem realistic. I just wasn't attached to anyone in this novel. The plot was an interesting one, but I was so detached from the book that I couldn't enjoy it. Zhang's writing was captivating, and I really would love to read something different from this author. The use of language conveyed so much. I felt more connected to the writing than I did to the characters, story, or world. This author definitely has talent. Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who love dystopian and aren't history dorks like me. It's a decent dystopian book with a unique concept and magnificent writing. If you aren't in love with the dystopian genre, you may want to check this one out at the library before you buy it.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Two sisters fight to stay together in a world that wants to tear them apart. For fans of Stephanie Meyer?s The Host.Opening Sentence: Addie and I were born into the same body, out souls? ghostly fingers entwined before we gasped our very first breath.The Review: Every human is born with two souls. Each have control of their body when they?re young, but as they grow older, they both must settle ? one will take control of their body and the other will fade away. Those who don?t settle get shipped away to a institution ? a place where ?hybrids? are test subjects so they can eventually become ?cured? of their hybridness. Addie and Eva have lived under the radar for sixteen years. People ? even their parents ? think they?ve finally settled after the brutal complications when they were ten. Now they both have a chance at leading a normal life. Until a girl named Hally from their school figures out their secret. But unlike normal people, Hally doesn?t turn them in. In fact, Hally and her brother turn out to be exactly like Addie and Eva ? hybrid. Despite Addie?s protests, Eva wants to hear Hally (or Lissa) out. That turns out to be the biggest mistake (or success depending on how you look at it) in their life. After a month of clandestine sessions of trying to help Eva control her body again, their worst fears become true. When Hally and Lissa are captured by the police on accident, everyone who was close to them (including her brothers Ryan/Devon) is called in for questioning. But when questioning becomes probing and probing becomes investigating, Addie and Eva are taken away to what they tried so hard to avoid. When the outside world tries to tear two sisters apart, who will win? Relationships will be tested, enemies will be made and morals will be questioned. What would you do if you were only one half of a whole?As you can probably guess, I was a total fan of this book. It?s one of those rare YA novels that doesn?t center around a love interest and still holds the audience?s attention. There is a minor love interest but it?s mainly there to set up for the next book. But can I just say, isn?t this a creative idea? A world were everyone has two souls, but one has to disappear for the other to thrive. For those fans of The Host, this one?s for you. There may be a lack of aliens and a love triangle, but the basic idea is there. Two people are as close as sisters (or in this case, actually are sisters) but the world outside doesn?t approve. Sister relationships, corrupt government (really, what kind of dystopia doesn?t have a corrupt government?), and friendships are important themes in this alternate United States.I think Zhang did a great job of world building without bogging down the action. With this type of book ? where the world and culture are entirely different ? there can be a background information overload, but Zhang added bits and pieces throughout the novel, while still keeping the plot moving.Every character in this book is complex and has their own troubles brewing beneath the surface. Addie is the dominant soul in the body, and while she may seem like the strongest for holding control, I think Eva is really the one who shines brightest. She has to sit in the background while Addie controls their body and deal with any of the emotions Addie deals with as her own. Eva perseveres when Addie is ready to give up. But Addie has to act like a normal person while talking to another soul at the same time. Both girls are strong willed, making them great main characters.Although there is a cliffhanger, I believe that?s its bearable enough to read before the next one comes out. There are several strings that still need to be cut, but the main arc is concluded and the characters are relatively safe. There could have been more suspense for the next book at least, but hey, at least there is a next book! Notable Scene: ?This is the way it?s supposed to be,? Addie said. ?It is just me. I?m Addie. I settled. It?s okay now. I??But Lissa?s eyes were suddenly blazing, her cheeks flushed. ?How can you say that, Addie? How can you say that when Eva?s still in there??Addie started to cry. Tears ran into our mouth, salty, warn, metallic. I whispered. Everything spun in confusion. ?What about Eva?? Lissa?s voice was shrill. ?What about Eva??Misery. Misery and pain and guilt. None of them were mine. Addie?s emotions sliced into me. No matter what happened, what we said or did to each other, Addie and I were still two parts of a whole. Closer than close. Tighter than tight. Her misery was mine. I said. But Addie kept crying and Lissa kept shouting and the room packed to the brim with tears and anger and guilt and fear.Then the world gave out.FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of What?s Left of Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, ?material connections,? or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      This was such a great book! Beautiful writing and fantastic pacing. The story sucks you in immediately and never disappoints. It is definitely a unique story idea and parts of it really get you thinking. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of this series.
    • 3/5
      Eva and Addie are twin souls in one body - in a somewhat vague future world where "hybrids" (two people/souls in one body) are not unheard of, but not acceptable in society. Through Eva's narration, we learn that many hybrids usually naturally develop into one person: one soul remains dominant, and the other recedes by late childhood. But Eva/Addie aren't so easily suppressed, yet, Eva tries to silence herself -"disappear" - knowing that her parents have enough struggle with their little brother Lyle who is ill and must get proper treatment. But Hally, a new friend at school, persists in drawing Eva/Addie in, and they soon discover that they aren't the only hybrids who may not truly b "settled", in spite of what the doctors and school attempt to do. Hally's brother Devon is also more than he seems, and the story begins to pick up the pace when Eva/Addie's behavior is noted by the authorities. She and Hally and Devon are sent to a scientific hospital, Nornand, in order to be studied and "settled" once and for all. But when Eva/Addie discover how they are treating even the youngest of the inmates, she knows she must leave - the challenge will be if she can take all of the patients with her. Definitely a psychological study of "twin souls" within one person - and how society treats individuals- but with enough action and conflict by the second half to encourage teen readers to hang in there til the end.
    • 3/5
      After the Hybrid War, hybrids are considered the enemy. Each body is born with 2 separate souls. Each body's souls have different personalities, likes, dislikes, talents and variances of how they look. When one soul is the more prominent soul using the body, you can tell by the quirks they have, they could use the other hand when they write. But they are both different people, just occupying the same body.But, when you reach abound the age of five, your less dominant soul is supposed to disappear. Suppressed to the point of non-existence. But not with Eva and Addie, Addie never fully pushes Eva away. Eva stays hidden in the depths of Addie's mind and continues living along with her. Until they meet others that help Eva decide that she does want to live. She wants a chance to have a body and experience things on her own. But what would that mean for Addie? Too bad they don't get a chance to find out. The group is found out and they get taken off to the hospital. A hospital where people are likely not to return from. It's a death sentence, at least for one of them, or both.The story was borderline Sybil for teens. Except we only have 2 personalities to deal with. Which makes it easier to follow, and really unique to read a story in which your main character keeps referring to herself as "we". The reader will really feel for Addie and Eva. They have very conflicting feelings when it comes to ownership of the one body. To lose either one of them would literally be losing part of yourself, your other half.Although the story had parts of it that keep the anticipation and danger up. There is not necessarily a lot of action to the plot. The majority of the book takes place in the hospital. We get to meet a lot of other minor characters and staff members, their procedures and danger in the experiments they are running. It is a more atmospheric novel with the constant feeling of danger and paranoia.It's an interesting start to a new series. One that I was nervous to pick up, but sure glad I did. The ending is perfect and you will want to pick up the next book. I received a free copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      GoodReads Synopsis: Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else?two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren?t they settling? Why isn?t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn?t?For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she?s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable?hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet?for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.My Thoughts: This really reminded me of ?The Host? by Stephanie Meyer. Maybe that?s an unfair comparison because Meyes? book had an alien soul transplanted into a human body where the human soul refused to leave.Anyway, in this book, each body is born with two souls, and one eventually fades away, usually around 6 or 7 years of age. While young the two souls each have a name and kind of take turns controlling the body. In Eva and Addie?s case, they didn?t ?settle? until much later, 11 or 12. Which caused much concern and many doctor and hospital visits. Having more than one soul in the body is great cause for concern, reporting to the government, whispers among neighbors, and usually moving to new areas where no one knows your history. If anyone discovers you have two souls (hybrid) you are usually taken away at the government?s insistence to be ?fixed?. Scary thought!My issue was that we, the reader, never learned how the two soul thing came about, nor why the government is so concerned about it?other than the ?rebels? are generally hybrids, ie people with two active souls.The story read fast and posed many interesting questions, some that were never cleared up but I am hoping the next installment will address them. Zhang had a tendency to repeat herself, which got tiring. Zhangs characters are endearing in their humanity?all of them have flaws and are likeable even when they try not to be. This was an interesting premise and I hope Zhang is able to keep the momentum up as the series continues.
    • 4/5
      I skimmed through the reviews. Very interesting, the different opinions people have on this book! Here's mine, written short, since there's already so much said. I'll try to keep to things I didn't already read:1. I liked that these characters have parents who do a good job raising them and love them.2. I liked the jolt of surprise at the end. It fit perfectly with what I'd learned in the book but hadn't connected up. 3. I think when this author rubs some of the 'new author' off, she's going to become a major force in Young Adult fiction. And good for her if I'm right.4. The market has become saturated with dystopian ya, so it was hard not to yawn upon being presented with yet another. When I reminded myself to view this book as a 'book', NOT a 'dystopian novel' I let go of many preconceived notions of how dystopian worlds work. I'm glad I did.5. As much as I like Days of the New music, I must admit it would be nice at this point if the song 'What's Left for Me' would get out of my head. It pops in every time I see the book title. (It's a nice song though, so if you go listen to it and get it stuck in your head too you probably won't be mad at me.)6. While I've grown a bit annoyed at series books in young adult fiction, because I feel like authors/publishers are just trying to milk that cow, this book was paced properly in my opinion. I am intrigued enough by this world to want to know more. I liked that the main characters weren't glossy normal-kid-to-instant heroes types. They acted dumb sometimes, selfish sometimes, and were basically real people. 7. This ended up longer than I planned. Thanks for reading it and I hope you have a nice day.
    • 4/5
      I?m so mad at myself for not reading this book as soon as it came out! It?s one of the most unique books I?ve ever read! Debut author, Kat Zhang, brings a fresh new voice to YA literature.While I wouldn?t really categorize this book as dystopian, it definitely takes place in a very different world, a world where everybody is born with two souls (a dominant soul and a recessive soul). That is until one of them settles. Settling is when the ?recessive? soul fades away. Forever.It was a little weird at first, getting used to two characters, two very different voices in one body. But soon you get used to it, and become so immersed in this other world that it seems normal. Our main character(s) are Addie and Eva. We see things from both perspectives and hear both girls? thoughts but I would consider Eva to be the main focus of the story. As the recessive soul who never faded away, we get to see things from her side of things. What it was like to be forgotten and ignored by her own family, everyone except Addie of course.Every character in this book from main to secondary was so well developed. Even the bad guys you couldn't help but appreciate. I loved Addie, Eva, Hally, Devon, Kitty, and all the characters SO much!There is a slight romantic aspect to the book; so slight I almost didn?t mention it. With two people in each body you can imagine how awkward that is?While this is just the start of a brilliant new series the ending was satisfying on it?s own and could be read as a standalone. But trust me, your going to want to read book two. I snagged a copy at BEA and tore right through it!
    • 4/5
      Now this is a peculiar book. After reading the synopsis, I wasn't sure what to think other than it intrigued me.If you know me, then you know by now that I like books that are out-of-the-box. I like stories that are new and fresh. Similar plot lines begin to repeat and bore me. This book is FANTASTIC! The elements weaved into the characters, the crispness of the book left me wanting more. From the first chapter, it's a never-ending sea of mystery. Why are people born like this? What happens to those who do not settle? Is it wrong? Or is it a new era? All of these questions and more, left my mind reeling.I have never gone into a book where the love interest is...awkward. Awkward in a good way. I have to admit that this love interest is most definitely new and innovative. At first, I was unsure of how exactly it would work but after reading the chapters and getting into it, I found myself settling in their shoes. And then I laughed. Cause once I settled and knew the characters, I enjoyed the story so much more.The characters of the book are way different. Even though they are in one body, the personalities stand out. I know that most people when reading this might feel weird, but I assure you, you will not get confused or feel bereft. I can not wait to see what the author has in store for these characters.What's Left Of Me is an spellbinding start. Once in the story, you can't help but feel the pull of the characters. Each chapter is well-constructed to pull the reader deeper. And the conclusion delivers a grand feeling of giddiness. What's Left Of Me is awesome!
    • 3/5
      The two souls idea is incredibly interesting and a unique edition to the dystopian YA genre. The writing needs a bit of polishing, but I'm looking forward to how Zhang continues and resolves the series.
    • 5/5
      4.5/5 stars. If you've been reading the blog, you'll know how much I've been looking forward to this book. Ever since I read the blurb, I wanted this book. The cover just enticed me more. And I can happily say: yes, the wait was worth it. "What's Left of Me" takes us to an alternate world, a future where only the strongest of two souls in one body survive, and all of the trappings that go with it. Zhang is definitely an author to watch, because this book is gorgeous - heartbreaking, but gorgeous.Its comparison with "Never Let Me Go" is very accurate, I have to say, but at the same time, infinitely more creepy (and awful). In an alternate world where America is a safe haven for those who aren't "hybrids" (those with two souls inside of them, instead of those who let the 'vestigial' twin die off inside of them), doctors monitor you from birth to make sure your second soul dies right on schedule in your late childhood. Your duty as a citizen is to report someone you might think be a hybrid to the government. Everything is tightly controlled - if your twin doesn't die off, you're taken away for experimentation (or worse), your parents disgraced, and generally, your life gets ruined. You're marked a hybrid and thus, for death.Zhang really does a great job with worldbuilding with her debut, and while it wasn't quite as tight as I hoped it would be, it was still more than enough to help create a very paranoid but realistic backdrop of this alternate Earth. I still had more than a few questions left over ("WHY are hybrids dangerous?" was my hugest question, so I'm hoping that one will get answered in book two), so it brought down my score just at taste. But especially within the second half of the book, Addie/Eva knit back into their world so cleanly it's scary, and I'll admit, the world itself gave me nightmares after I finished reading the book. It's hard to do that to me, so I have to give Zhang major props for the "oh god, so creepy!" factor.Addie and Eva are two of my favorite heroines for 2012 so far. They're very flawed and very sympathetic, and they're just trying to survive in a world that hates them. I loved the way Zhang handled the question of "if one twin falls in love/like with someone, how does the other twin deal with it?" without having to use a love triangle or some other tired YA trope. With twins, I'd say that's pretty hard to do - especially when you share the same body, so props to Zhang on solving (or at least, giving an answer to) that issue. These two go through hell and back and still want to find answers as to why they never "settled", why the government hates hybrids so much, what's going on with the rest of the world in terms of hybrids, and what will happen to them from the end of the book forward. They're incredibly strong, and even though they fight with each other quite a bit, they refuse to cancel each other out and please the government (and their parents). The entire second half of the book really makes these two shine (the first half did a fantastic job setting things up), and makes them heroines you want to root for.In terms of sensory language and imagery, Zhang is wonderful. The labs were very sensory-friendly (when you'd think they wouldn't be) - I could hear the screams of other children, smell the antiseptic in the lab, taste its horrid food, and feel the scratchy linens all of the other hybrid children wore. I know from here on out she's only going to improve, but for her first shot out of the gate, I'd say she's really quite talented with making the reader really experience the world and Addie and Eva's plight.Final verdict? This is definitely not just another dystopian/biopunk YA book. I'd rank it up there with "The Lost Girl" in terms of twins and dystopia, so it's an absolute must-read. While this one isn't as heavy and contemplative as "The Lost Girl", it's action and bioethics questions (should the government have the right to effectively help you kill the other you inside of you?) really haunt you after you finish the book. "What's Left of Me" will be out September 18th from HarperTeen in North America. Its place on my best of 2012 list so far is very well deserved, so be sure to check it out then!(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
    • 4/5
      I've been following Kat Zhang for a very long time, and I've been interested in reading this book FOREVER. But for some reason, I never got around to it. Oh, how I wish I had.First off, the writing is fantastic. Kat really has a way with words; there's no doubt about that. I especially love how she writes character interactions, and I think that's what made the book so strong. Although I love, love, love Eva/Ryan, the most interesting character interactions are between Eva and Addie themselves. I have to admit that I'm not particularly sure how I feel about Addie (especially after reading Once We Were), but I can say that I love the way they interact and react to one another. It feels so real. I can understand where both of them are coming from, even if I don't always agree.I also enjoyed the premise. I know a lot of people label this book as dystopian, but I don't view it that way. I'm not going to go that far into this particular matter, but I think the idea of two souls sharing a body is a really cool and new idea. I think Kat set everything up extremely well, and I could imagine living in that kind of world. I felt as if I were a part of the setting and of the book. It felt real. The explanations weren't too complicated, and they were well-woven into the plot.However, the world-building also came with some consequences. Mostly, it was the fact that having to set everything up slowed the plot down. It wasn't boring or slow per say, but it didn't keep me as interested in the book. I get it--it was important to set everything up. All of it was necessary information. When you build a world, this happens a lot. And while I think Zhang's writing made up for it, plus the fact that I knew it would become more fast-paced, it made it hard to get into the book. Even the "fast-paced" parts did feel slow, but that may have been more from what I've been reading prior to the book than the book itself.All in all, what stands out about the book is the characters and their relationships, the very premise of the book, and of course, Kat Zhang's spectacular writing. I'd definitely encourage everyone to read this book!
    • 2/5
      When i first heard about this book, I was soooooo excited to read it. I was so intrigued by the premise and the cover was beautiful. But I learned my lesson again, never judge a book by its cover. Don't get me wrong, I loved the writing and I liked the uniqueness of it all, but it just wasn't for me. It wasn't for me because it was just a bit too confusing. All the different names of people and all the back and forth random changing... 0_0 That's how I felt most of the time trying to decipher who was who and when they were them lol Furthermre, i was confused as to why the hybrids posed that much of a threat. Like what makes them so scary because there's two different people inside them? They were trying to sell the fact that there was two different people inside them and that would make them crazy, but I don't think that. It would make things alot easier though. lol Two minds are always better than one in my opinion. But although this is not one of my favorites, I did enjoy reading it. It was interesting to see the whole new exciting premise played out in my imagination and it was interesting to meet all the different characters.