Origin

Pia has lived her entire life within the protected walls of Little Cam, a scientific compound hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. She was created to be immortal through generations of genetic engineering, and the scientists who made her expect her to carry on their work. When Pia discovers a hole in the fence surrounding Little Cam, she meets Eio, a boy from a nearby indigenous village. Their connection forces Pia to question everything she's been taught about her purpose and identity. As Pia learns more about the world beyond Little Cam's boundaries, she must confront difficult truths about the ethics of science and immortality. Her journey becomes a race to uncover the real story behind her creation while protecting those she has come to care about. The novel explores themes of scientific ethics, the price of immortality, and what it means to be human in a world where the line between natural and artificial life grows increasingly blurred.

Readers found Origin to be a fast-paced science fiction story with strong themes about immortality and what it means to be human. Many note the lush Amazon rainforest setting adds depth and atmosphere to the narrative. What readers liked: - Deep ethical questions about science and humanity - Rich, detailed jungle environment - Strong character development for protagonist Pia - Romance that doesn't overshadow the main plot What readers disliked: - Predictable plot twists - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the romance rushed - Scientific explanations can feel unrealistic Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (280+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (150+ ratings) "The moral dilemmas kept me thinking long after finishing," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another Amazon reviewer states: "Beautiful writing but the story becomes formulaic halfway through."

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🌿 The book's dense jungle setting was inspired by the author's travels to Guyana, where she experienced the Amazon rainforest firsthand. 🧬 Author Jessica Khoury wrote Origin at age 22, while still living with her parents and working as a piano teacher. 🔬 The scientific concept of immortality explored in the book has real-world parallels: scientists study organisms like the immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) to understand biological immortality. 🦜 Many of the exotic animals featured in the book, including the glass frogs and poison dart frogs, are native to the Amazon and are currently threatened by deforestation. 📚 Origin was chosen as a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year and was translated into nine languages, including German, Spanish, and Indonesian.