Star Split [Paperback]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

"Lasky provocatively explores the ethics of genetic engineering in this well-plotted novel set in the year 3038. Like everyone she knows, 13-year-old Darci Murlowe is a Genhant, or Genetically Enhanced Human, implanted with a 48th chromosome. But Darci is fascinated by 'Originals,' people whose ancestors could not afford extra genetic material, and she unhappily wonders if her DNA, so carefully chosen by her parents, has compromised her ability to determine her own future. These concerns shrink in the face of a shocker - Darci runs into a clone of herself, living evidence that her parents must have committed the capital crime of 'duplication.'" - Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Thirteen-year-old Darci lives in a future of near genetic perfection. In the year 3028, gene research has reached such heights that terminal diseases no longer exist and celebrated scientists and artists are chosen for "umbellation," or cloning, so that their great brains can live on forever. In Darci's society, genetic laws are made by the Bio Union, a governmental agency that closely tracks all genetic research and severely punishes those who dare to commit the worst crime of all: illegal umbellation. Despite all this, Darci's life is a normal one, if not somewhat boring. After all, she knows all of her traits intimately--she has extensively studied her own DNA and that of her family. What fascinates her is the past, when life wasn't so predictable, "a time of cripples and geniuses ... a time of grace and mystery when not all could be controlled and not all known." Darci soon discovers that she herself has been cloned. Not knowing if or when she will be found out, Darci fears for her life and wonders for the first time about the meaning behind a long-extinct word: soul.

With Star Split, author Kathryn Lasky makes a dramatic departure from her usual historical-fiction fare. Though the story has a few unexplained holes--mostly due to the complicated scientific nature of the setting--Lasky's plot is so thought-provoking that teens won't be able to put it down until Darci's fate is decided. This is an excellent book for teens dealing with the implications of a new millennium. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Lasky (Alice Rose & Sam) provocatively explores the ethics of genetic engineering in this well-plotted novel set in the year 3038. Like everyone she knows, 13-year-old Darci Murlowe is a Genhant, or Genetically Enhanced Human, implanted with a 48th chromosome. But Darci is fascinated by "Originals," people whose ancestors could not afford to get extra genetic material, and she unhappily wonders if her DNA, so carefully chosen by her parents, has compromised her ability to determine her own future. These concerns shrink in the face of a shocker--Darci runs into a clone of herself, living evidence that her parents must have committed the capital crime of "duplication." The author maintains taut suspense even as she outlines the technological underpinnings of Darci's futuristic society. There are some weak spots (a hasty resolution, an implausible similarity between the social structure of the fourth millennium and that of today), but on the whole this is gripping fare. An afterword explains that every one of the genetic engineering strategies mentioned in the novel is based on techniques currently available or in developmental stages; thus tipping the balance in her science fiction toward science, Lasky leaves readers with plenty of food for thought. Ages 10-14. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First edition (July 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078681568X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786815685
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good science fiction tale..., January 13, 2003

By 

"kandladin" (Castle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Split (Paperback)

In the year 3038, the human race has been transformed by genetic technology. There are the Genhents, those who have recieved the forty-eighth chromosome; and the far worse off Originals, with only the usual forty-six. There are no unwanted or even unplanned children, parents choose their child's gender, talents, and inclinations. Inherited disease is a thing from history books. Thirteen-year old Darci is a fairly normal genhent, and yet, despite her privledged status in society, she feels something is wrong with the way things are, though she can't quite decide what. Others are only confused by her strange thoughts and questions, and she is left with only the nagging feeling that only she is different...

This was truly an excellent book, unusual and thought provoking. I really couldn't guess the ending from the end of the chapter one, and Darci herself seemed so ordinary in a lot of ways that I found her very likable and easy to relate too.

The only real problem I had with this book was something another reviewer also pointed out; fifty or even one hundred years in the future would have been a much more believable setting for this particular novel. Even if there was a dark age, or a series of "clone wars" as is implyed several times in this book, I for one find it hard to believe that 1000+ years in the future, kids will still be wearing baseball hats and blue jeans, and thirteen-year old's will still be attending eighth grade.

Besides this minor detail however, this book was great and I definitely recommend it to sci-fi fans of any age.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actual Science Fiction that doesn't creep you out, March 13, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Star Split (Paperback)

The plot, truth be told, is kinda sad, kinda interesting, but very good. And yes, there is more than just genetic enhancement involved in the book. there is also medicine and technology enhancement,too. they both add in colorfully into the plot of illegal cloning and different-ness(that's not actually a word, you know. In fact, Kaththryn Lasky is just as good in sci-fi as in any other genre she may have done.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop The Cloning!, February 22, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Star Split (Paperback)

Star Split by Kathryn Lasky is science fiction. It takes place in 3013 (in the fourth millennium). The Characters live in a society called the Bio Union. One of the main characters, Darci, goes to a rock climbing camp and meets her illegal clone, Vivian. In the rest of the book, Darci and Vivian are struggling with themselves over the facts that one is a clone of the other, that the Bio Union is evil, and their parents are part of an association trying to change the Bio Union.

In Star Split, the main point is " just be yourself or something bad is sure to follow." I think that the author also doesn't like cloning. One example from the text is, Darci and her friend are in a cafe and her friend tells her that their word for cloning comes from the reproducing of flowers, and Darci tells him,"figures, it's all part of a lie,a very big lie, it probably started in the time that they called the black time. I mean flowers - who can object to flowers? If you want to do something kinda weird of risky, call it a nice sweet name. Another message of the book is that we are all different and that's okay. At the end of the book Darci and Vivian find that even though they are clones, their minds work differently and they realize that should accept that no one is the same. Finally, the author tells us that you must stand up for your self no matter what the oods are. Darci parents are part of an underground society that stood up agenst itself agenst The GOVERNMENT even though there was a slim chance of success!

I think that the book is well written. There is diversity in sentence length, the sentences flow together, and the author isn't saying the same thing over and over and over. the author was really descriptive. She really brought the story to life, the predicaments seem clear, and the setting, man, you could almost see it! "This quite place, this soundless place, this wordless place with just the clink of plates and cups,and shadows of fingers on the wall.

The author hid her personality behind the curtain. She seems more interested in ideas, sentence fluency, word choice, and the other traits.

I like the fact that Star Spit only 1000 years from now because I can really relate to the characters. Hey look at Star Wars, that's AFTER sun blown up the earth! I personally like that, as the characters feel like the world is falling down around them, they keep their cool . As Max Lasvaetch said (he's a character from the book) "Pour Darci, she met her clone no wonder she's dyed her hair red and cropped it short! This shows Darci can just disguise herself and get on with her life. Unfortunately there is one con. Yes a con!("Gasp") In this story the author doesn't tell us what some places are. When the author says "This was the greatest honor in the Bio Union," she doesn't tell us what the Bio Union is. I would recommend this book to any old body, except people who think that science fiction is really bad, really bad, or people that need everything spelled out.