Genesis Girl
by Jennifer Bardsley
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Eighteen-year-old Blanca has lived a sheltered life. Her entire childhood has been spent at Tabula Rasa School where she’s been protected from the Internet. Blanca has never been online and doesn’t even know how to text. Her lack of a virtual footprint has made her extremely valuable and upon graduation Blanca, and those like her, are sold to the highest bidders. Blanca is purchased by Cal McNeal, who uses her to achieve personal gain. But the McNeal’s are soon horrified by just how obedient and non-defiant Blanca is. All those mind-numbing years locked away from society have made her mind almost impenetrable. By the time Blanca is ready to think for herself, she is trapped. Her only chance of escape is to go online.
Two weeks of cloistering. Two weeks of pacing my room, dusting the bookshelves, and pressing my face against the windowpanes, unable to see anything but the walled courtyard below. Two weeks of hoping Fatima, Beau, and Ethan didn’t know about my disgraced situation. Two weeks of reciting my favorite verse from the Vestal Code of Ethics over and over again.
I am loyal. I am discrete. I follow the rules. I picture Fatima brushing her hair to the rhythm of Ms. Corina’s voice at night in our dorm. “One hundred strokes, children,” Charming Corina would tell us. Then her saccharine voice would call out, “I am loyal. I am discrete. I follow the rules.” Brush. Brush. Brush.
I am loyal. I am discrete. I follow the rules. I picture Fatima brushing her hair to the rhythm of Ms. Corina’s voice at night in our dorm. “One hundred strokes, children,” Charming Corina would tell us. Then her saccharine voice would call out, “I am loyal. I am discrete. I follow the rules.” Brush. Brush. Brush.
This was a really eye-opening read! It's a realistic prediction of what our society might become in the very near future that is almost scary! With a completely original storyline, I was completely absorbed from the very first page and found myself unable to put this amazing book down! With society brainwashed by technology and the vestals brainwashed by purity, it was enthralling to watch them meet on middle ground with Blanca and Seth. I loved going on the journey while Blanca discovered feelings and how to think for herself after much trial and error. The romance between her and Seth was sweet throughout all the road bumps. The writing was exquisite with lots of attention to emotional detail and the complexity of the society was extremely well thought out! This was an incredibly great story of self-discovery that will make you pause and think about the world around you and what we may become!
Jennifer Bardsley writes the parenting column “I Brake for Moms” for The Everett Daily Herald. Her debut YA novel, “Genesis Girl” will be published by Month9Books on June 14, 2016, with the sequel releasing in 2017. “Genesis Girl” is about a teenager who has never been on the Internet. Jennifer however, is on the web all the time as “The YA Gal” with over 20,000 followers on Facebook, and 15,000 followers on Instagram. On Facebook, she hosts the weekly instant book club called #TakeALookTuesday where YA Gal friends geek out, share pictures of what they are reading, and chat about books. Jennifer is a member of SCBWI, The Sweet Sixteens debut author group, and is founder of Sixteen To Read. An alumna of Stanford University, Jennifer lives near Seattle, WA where she enjoys spending time with her family and her poodle, Merlin.
Author Links: Website ● Twitter ● Instagram ● Facebook ● Goodreads
Author Links: Website ● Twitter ● Instagram ● Facebook ● Goodreads
