Review: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang - Farah

Title: What's Left of Me
Author: Kat Zhang

Publication date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre(s): Young Adult (Sci-Fi/Dystopian)

Source: Edelweiss
Format: Digital ARC

Pages: 352

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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 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.

The first time I saw "What's Left of Me", I fell in complete love with the cover. I'm a sucker for weird things, and I loved how the cover really described what the story was about. The title is very well chosen as well. What's Left of Me talks about two girls, Eva and Addie, whose souls couldn't get separated. In their world, everyone starts off with two souls, but then one of the souls will disappear, and the dominant soul will continue to stay. Eva and Addie couldn't "settle", so their parents took them to doctors, ran tests, and did everything they can to find out why. Scared to become Hybrids, which are those who did NOT settle, they pretended that Eva disappeared. Being a Sci-Fi/Dystopian book, it actually wasn't that confusing. I loved how they went to school like normal kids, watched movies, and went shopping.

It was interesting to read the book from Eva's point of view. Eva being the inner soul who only communicates with Addie, I really felt sorry for her. Eva grew weak, and all she could do is just talk to her sister. The beginning felt really interesting, to see how the girls were able to fool everyone, even their family, into believing that they truly settled. Then the book becomes much more interesting when thy meet Hally, a girl from school who invites them to her house. I don't want to write any spoilers, but shocking things do happen! I think the story was really great, but then it just felt a bit boring. It felt like the author added unnecessary things to the book, like too many detail. I don't know exactly what made me not like the book as much, even though the thought of the book was really interesting.

Overall, Kat Zhang's writing is beautiful. The ending was very interesting as well. I really can't wait to get my hands on the second book of the Hybrid Chronicles. I recommend this book to all young adult readers, because many people did love this book. I can't wait to see Eva get stronger, and how her relationship with Addie will develop.