4.5
stars - Excellent writing, captivating dystopian / science fiction novel.
Set
in the present-day, the US government has approved of humans owning other
humans. These genetically engineered
'pets' are bred like dogs in order to attain certain features, such as beauty
and small stature. Ella is one such pet,
bred at a kennel with 19 others and trained in posture, conversations with
adults and composing one's features to always seem happy. Though pets are given etiquette and voice lessons
and are trained to play at least one musical instrument, they are never taught
how to read or swim or fend for themselves.
They are bred and trained to be completely dependent upon their owners.
Ella
is chosen by the congressman who made all of this come about; the one who
introduced the legislation and pushed it through to approval. Naturally, it is only fitting that he and his
family have one of these pets after he fought so hard. Each member of his family seems to have a
different opinion regarding humans-as-pets; from the young daughter who likes
to play dress-up and hairdos with Ella, to the congressman’s wife who is
clearly annoyed that her husband brought a second pet into their home, after
some unsavory events occurred with their first one.
Though
we see Ella put on display for many of the congressman’s friends, donors, and
political connections, other characters are introduced who view the practice of
humans-as-pets to be the creepy slavery that it is. When Ella is exposed to other aspects of
life, away from the rich and powerful, she questions whether being a pet is
really all that bad, if it allows her this luxurious lifestyle.
It
is the congressman’s teenage son who has the most powerful reaction to Ella,
and sparks feelings and desires in Ella that she was never trained to understand
or deal with. Being together would be
wrong, according to everyone’s views, except that it feels so right.
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