Krista Reviews: Kat Zhang's - "What's Left of Me"

I should not exist. But I do.

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 ushied 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.

Hardcover, US Edition, 343 pages Published September 18th 2012 by HarperCollins ISBN 0062114875 (ISBN13: 9780062114877)

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 variations of how they look. When one soul is the more prominent soul using the body, you can tell by the quirks they have. For instance, they could use the other hand when they write. But they are both different people, just occupying the same body.

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 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 with which to contend. It 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 empathise with Addie and Eve. 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 sections of anticipation and danger, 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 and find out about the hospital 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.