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A review by billblume
Adaptation by Malinda Lo
4.0
Malinda Lo has delivered a bold book with ADAPTATION. I can't emphasize that enough. She does so many things in this novel that I simply did not expect, and the results are mostly for the best.
ADAPTATION delivers a tightly-plotted, fast-paced conspiracy thriller for young adults. The story starts with a series of plane crashes caused by flocks of birds randomly flinging themselves at aircraft. The unexplained avian attacks shut down all flights throughout the United States, and very quickly, the nation falls into chaos. Amid these events, Reese Holloway and her debate partner David are trying to get home to San Francisco from a tournament in Phoenix, but end up in a car crash (caused by a bird) while driving through Nevada. When they awaken, they find themselves in a secret government facility, which is near the place they crashed. After they are returned home, they both quickly realize something has changed about them. They can heal faster and seem to be sensing other people's thoughts and emotions. Complicating matters for Reese is a budding and completely unexpected romance with a young woman named Amber Gray.
First things first: yes, the lesbian romance plays a very prominent and important role in the plot of this novel. If you're the kind of person who is uncomfortable with that, then don't bother with ADAPTATION. It will be your loss, but at least you've been warned.
What I believe Lo gets right in this novel, first and foremost, is the pacing. She impressed me with her ability to sense her plot's needs (when to shift storylines, when to go for character development or drop a plot twist) when I read her novel HUNTRESS, and she displays that same expertise with ADAPTATION. Her writing style changes for this book, though. I was equally impressed to see how well she adapted to the needs of this story. Where as HUNTRESS relied on a neutral, third person omniscient, she wisely drops the omniscient for this book. Our viewpoint is limited to Reese, and this leaves the reader with a lot of questions which add to the tension.
Perhaps the boldest thing about this novel is the love triangle she builds around Reese. I knew going into the novel there would be a lesbian romance, but Lo is also developing David as a second love interest for Reese. Given the author is a lesbian, you might think that leaves David out in the cold, but guess again. No, Lo doesn't neglect David as a character. He's one of the most likeable and heroic figures in this book. The real statement being made by Lo in this novel is that the sex of a person truly shouldn't matter in who someone loves. There are a few places I felt the message of the book became a tad heavy-handed, that it detracted from the plot and pacing, but for the most part, Lo handles this well. In many places within ADAPTION, Lo goes against expectations where gender and sexuality might be a factor, and for that alone, she earns her gold stars.
For those looking for a good conspiracy thriller and less for a romance, you will likely get impatient with the time spent on Reese's relationship with Amber. This drags a bit for me because it's obvious Amber has to be hiding something from Reese and that their encounter isn't an accident. After all, conspiracy thrillers don't include a random love interest. That said, for Lo's intended audience, this is not a misstep. I've no doubt some of her readers will likely want more of the romance and less of the thriller. Given that fact, I think Lo strikes a good balance.
On a personal note, I found Reese was very well-handled as a character. My parents divorced when I was in high school, and Reese's parents are also divorced. The way this impacts her relationships with others is dead-on. I remember how I made some very definite decisions as a teenager about how I would handle my future relationships because of my parents' mistakes (I once swore I would never marry or have children), and as I got older, I quickly discovered how unrealistic those decisions were (I'm now married and have two children). In ADAPTATION, Reese is just discovering her definite decisions about relationships aren't all that realistic, and how this frightens her is very realistic.
The ending is a tad of a letdown, but given this is intended as the first book in a series, that's not all that shocking. Lo waits to drop a lot of what's been going on behind the scenes, and the answers are dumped in a scene which is overcrowded with characters (some of whom are just a little too conveniently experts in all the important areas relevant to the plot). I think the ending is about the only reason I'm not giving the book five stars. Is it a satisfying ending? Yes, but just barely. There are several threads in the storyline I wish had been addressed more, but I suspect these are items waiting to be handled in the future books.
Lo's ADAPTATION provides the young adult market with something different and exciting for readers. I also believe the book falls well within that part of the YA market that also appeals to adult readers. For those who enjoy well-plotted novels and especially for those who love sci-fi and conspiracy thrillers, this book is for you.
ADAPTATION delivers a tightly-plotted, fast-paced conspiracy thriller for young adults. The story starts with a series of plane crashes caused by flocks of birds randomly flinging themselves at aircraft. The unexplained avian attacks shut down all flights throughout the United States, and very quickly, the nation falls into chaos. Amid these events, Reese Holloway and her debate partner David are trying to get home to San Francisco from a tournament in Phoenix, but end up in a car crash (caused by a bird) while driving through Nevada. When they awaken, they find themselves in a secret government facility, which is near the place they crashed. After they are returned home, they both quickly realize something has changed about them. They can heal faster and seem to be sensing other people's thoughts and emotions. Complicating matters for Reese is a budding and completely unexpected romance with a young woman named Amber Gray.
First things first: yes, the lesbian romance plays a very prominent and important role in the plot of this novel. If you're the kind of person who is uncomfortable with that, then don't bother with ADAPTATION. It will be your loss, but at least you've been warned.
What I believe Lo gets right in this novel, first and foremost, is the pacing. She impressed me with her ability to sense her plot's needs (when to shift storylines, when to go for character development or drop a plot twist) when I read her novel HUNTRESS, and she displays that same expertise with ADAPTATION. Her writing style changes for this book, though. I was equally impressed to see how well she adapted to the needs of this story. Where as HUNTRESS relied on a neutral, third person omniscient, she wisely drops the omniscient for this book. Our viewpoint is limited to Reese, and this leaves the reader with a lot of questions which add to the tension.
Perhaps the boldest thing about this novel is the love triangle she builds around Reese. I knew going into the novel there would be a lesbian romance, but Lo is also developing David as a second love interest for Reese. Given the author is a lesbian, you might think that leaves David out in the cold, but guess again. No, Lo doesn't neglect David as a character. He's one of the most likeable and heroic figures in this book. The real statement being made by Lo in this novel is that the sex of a person truly shouldn't matter in who someone loves. There are a few places I felt the message of the book became a tad heavy-handed, that it detracted from the plot and pacing, but for the most part, Lo handles this well. In many places within ADAPTION, Lo goes against expectations where gender and sexuality might be a factor, and for that alone, she earns her gold stars.
For those looking for a good conspiracy thriller and less for a romance, you will likely get impatient with the time spent on Reese's relationship with Amber. This drags a bit for me because it's obvious Amber has to be hiding something from Reese and that their encounter isn't an accident. After all, conspiracy thrillers don't include a random love interest. That said, for Lo's intended audience, this is not a misstep. I've no doubt some of her readers will likely want more of the romance and less of the thriller. Given that fact, I think Lo strikes a good balance.
On a personal note, I found Reese was very well-handled as a character. My parents divorced when I was in high school, and Reese's parents are also divorced. The way this impacts her relationships with others is dead-on. I remember how I made some very definite decisions as a teenager about how I would handle my future relationships because of my parents' mistakes (I once swore I would never marry or have children), and as I got older, I quickly discovered how unrealistic those decisions were (I'm now married and have two children). In ADAPTATION, Reese is just discovering her definite decisions about relationships aren't all that realistic, and how this frightens her is very realistic.
The ending is a tad of a letdown, but given this is intended as the first book in a series, that's not all that shocking. Lo waits to drop a lot of what's been going on behind the scenes, and the answers are dumped in a scene which is overcrowded with characters (some of whom are just a little too conveniently experts in all the important areas relevant to the plot). I think the ending is about the only reason I'm not giving the book five stars. Is it a satisfying ending? Yes, but just barely. There are several threads in the storyline I wish had been addressed more, but I suspect these are items waiting to be handled in the future books.
Lo's ADAPTATION provides the young adult market with something different and exciting for readers. I also believe the book falls well within that part of the YA market that also appeals to adult readers. For those who enjoy well-plotted novels and especially for those who love sci-fi and conspiracy thrillers, this book is for you.