Natural Selection

Adaptation #1.5

by Malinda Lo

I was born on Earth, not Kurra. I'm not human,even though I try to be. My people, the Imria, think I'm a little unusual because of that. They call me an Earthsider: as if I've crossed a line, chosen a side. Gone native.
Before she met her girlfriend Reese, before she knew the role she would play in the fate of two worlds, Amber was a fifteen-year-old Imrian torn between two identities. Imrian by blood, Amber was forced to hide her true self to pass as human during the time she spent on earth. And even when she returns to Kurra, her human experiences, including first love and heartache, still separate her from her fellow Imrians. But when Amber undergoes kibila, a traditional Imrian coming-of-age ceremony during which Amber will choose her name and identity for the next fifteen years, she will be forced to either accept her role in both worlds or forge her own path.
Malinda Lo's digital exclusive novella companion to Adaptation and Inheritance takes readers on a journey through Amber's past, giving fans a glimpse into her life on Kurra and a deeper understanding of one of Adaptation's most compelling characters.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Science Fiction, Queer, Short Stories, Fiction, Romance

80 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Hi Goodreads! I've only created this profile to claim my name here, and I don't check messages here or add friends. I invite you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or visit my website at malindalo.com.

BIO: Malinda Lo is the bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, winner of the National Book Award, the Stonewall Book Award, and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, as well as Michael L. Printz and Walter Dean Myers honors. Her debut novel Ash, a Sapphic retelling of Cinderella, was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award and the Andre Norton Award for YA Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the Lambda Literary Award. She can be found on social media @malindalo or at malindalo.com.

Reviews

[Taschima · Rating 4 out of 5]

*If Dean Winchester approves who are we to say otherwise? ;)

This is why novellas are taking the world by storm and have become such an expected thing nowadays. In Natural Selection we get to see the world through Amber's eyes. While sometimes the format of the novella itself led to some headache (for some example when Amber was going from telling things from her past and then to the present) the story is one you don't want to miss, not if you plan to read Adaptation's sequel Inheritance.

"It was horrible at first. I missed my parents and my Imrian friends, and after four years on Kurra, Earth felt like an alien planet. The food was weird, the clothes were strange, and I had to speak English all the time, which meant I had to remember to call my parents mom and dad rather than ama, aba, and ada."

While Natural Selection isn't a bridge between novels it is still very much a must read. In Adaptation we didn't get to know Amber as much as I would have liked, something I made note of in my review. But with Natural Selection I feel like now I can properly root for Amber, I've come to care about her. We get to read about her past, how she was born on Earth and raised half here and half in her home planet, how she is kind of a celebrity but doesn't act like it, who she is and what she wants out of life. We also get to learn more about the planet Kurra. I now find myself appreciating more the kind of story Malinda Lo is trying to tell with these aliens who are not that different from us. Why do we always assume that if it's an alien story they must be extremely different from us (ala Futurama), why can't they be alike us but different at the same time?

"Humans were just so incredibly different from the Imria. Their emotions were so volatile that even though I tried to close myself off to them, sometimes they still broke through unexpectedly. At the beginning, it felt like I was trapped in an unending game of dogde ball, and I couldn't keep my defenses up 24/7."

Natural Selection is also really good in that it gives us a lot of information on the planet Kurra and the Imrians. It tells us about their traditions, their way of life, their interactions and their overall stand on visiting Earth. It shows us the kind of society they are. The only annoying thing I found was in the language- how they call their parents is ama, aba, and ada. Confusing? Definitely. Their family structure is also very interesting—Amber has two dads and a mother—but never fully explained. Has it always been this always? How does it exactly work? They seem to all live together happily, so I am just curious.

Now I am dying to read Inheritance. I want to re-evaluate the relationship between Amber and Reese, and I want to read more about Amber. It's a shame the book won't be written with her POV, I like her now more than I like Reese >.< I also want to see what is going to happen, will the humans embrace or retaliate against the aliens? Will Reese and David tell the press the truth? And yes I don't want to be that girl BUT, will Reese choose Amber or David at the end of the day? DYING TO KNOW!

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this short story. It's about figuring oneself out and features an alien coming of age ceremony and has a good blend of human and alien cultures. There are a few clues that give away the ending but whether you see it coming or not I think it's a nice moment.

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this immediately after reading Adaptation...like, literally within an hour of finishing Adaptation, I had found this in ebook format and started reading it. This was a perfect time to read it; it gave some really beautiful and compelling backstory that was really useful to have right after reading Adaptation. What a treasure of a series. I'm so excited to read the next book. And then everything else the author has ever written.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fine.

It was fine. I probably would not read it again. I'm no sure what I was expecting exactly but the book itself was relatively fine.

[Jaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! Malinda Lo's writing tends to be kind of EH, but this was spectacular. This novella tells two different stories in alternating chapters, which was a little bit hard to follow, but both stories are amazing. In one we feel the pain of rejection and an untrue friend, and in the other the discovery of a new friend and finding acceptance. Both are told in the context of a sort of "coming of age" trip - one from earth, and one from her planet. All the parallels and symmetry were fantastic. The pain of the rejection story was emotional but it wasn't too painful because we were hearing it alongside the much more positive story.

I LOVED getting to learn more about her homeworld. She is my favorite character from Adapatation. I loved the naming ritual, the descriptions of her planet, and SHE HAS THREE PARENTS. *weeps with joy* You never see that in books, let alone YA. omgggggg.

I did feel the "It's okay to be gay" was a little heavy-handed and preachy, but that was only a blip in an overall amazing story.

I can't wait for the sequel. :D

[Sherwood Smith]

This novella fits between Adaptation and Inheritance (which I have not yet read), giving us Amber as a first person narrator. Readers who haven't tried the first book would not be confused, but certain discoveries would be spoiled.

It's a tightly written story, the structure underscoring Amber's dual nature, as a supposed human from Earth, and as an Imrian. The story steps between Amber's preparation for, and her undergoing, the every-fifteen-years ritual expected of her people, while she reflects on her experiences the previous summer. Amber comes to terms with several important realizations, making a friend as she does. I really enjoyed it.

[Debra K · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a more detailed review, please check out my review below:

Debra's Book Cafe


Debs :-)

[C.B. Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely addition to the Adaptation universe, Natural Selection is told in Amber's point of view in two concurrent stories, one of an overnight field trip when she lived on Earth, dealing with her first crush; and of her coming-of-age ceremony on her home planet Kurra, where she has to choose her first name and decide who she is.

An evocative and telling look at the incredible worldbuilding in this universe.

[Alya Atiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars
OMG IT'S FROM AMBER'S POV! Though I'm still a bit wary with her for lying.

It's nice to know a bit about her planet, Kurra. It's very different from Earth. I thought they might be more or less the same since they look the same like human.

I'm a bit disappointed honestly. I thought I might be able to read about Amber's thoughts on Reese when they first met.

[Erisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! I thought I loved Amber before, but this just solidified it for me. And learning more about the Imria was a nice plus as well because obviously Adaptation left us hanging on a delightful cliffhanger without much to know about anything. This way, at least, we're a little ahead of Reese in the information game.

[Beth Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Amber's coming of age (on Kurra) and coming out (on Earth) story. There are hints as to where the larger Adaptation/Inheritance story will go. Excellent writing. I already adored Amber, and now I do even more. Can't wait for the last book!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great look at how the different worlds interact. This also added another layer to Amber and made me love her all the more. This insight in Imrien culture was a great way to explain Ambers background and how she functions. 

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good companion piece to Adaptation & Inheritance. It was an interesting short story although it didn't really address the aspects of Imrian society that I was most intrigued by after reading the two full length novels. I would have enjoyed a much further exploration of things like Imrian schooling, food, sports, etc. Basically all the things that make up Earth society, what do their counterparts look like for Imrians? The ritual was interesting but I would have preferred more of that and less of Amber's time on Earth with some shitty teenagers.

[Zaquira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.....I read this automatically after finishing ‘Adaption’. Let me tell you...it’s so nice to see Amber’s side and how life was for her. I now get the title and I love way of Imrians. They change every 15 years. I also like the forward thinking there. I’m sad that she had to lie to everyone else around her . But apparently there’s people, who don’t like strange things or not understanding. I’m so pumped to read ‘Inheritance’ but I’ll be 1000% sad when I’m finished with the duology.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful companion book to Adaptation, this book is set between two worlds, Earth and Kurra. The story follows Amber, who we meet in Adaptation, as she sets off on a journey to find herself in more ways than one.

Natural Selection shows that sometimes the path we are destined to be on may not make sense but can ultimately be for the greater good of our own personal growth.

I give this book 4.5 stars

[Tosei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story addition to Malinda Lo's Adaptation series. In this story, we get a close up on Amber, a glimpse into her experiences growing up: the sacrifices she's made, the ways in which she has grown... It gives more depth to her character and adds another dimension to the original story.

Also, we get to see a little bit of what Kurra is like! I loved that aspect; it broadens the scope of the story beyond just Earth.

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life transactions...gender identification.

Perhaps relevant for YA searching for gender Identity. The idea of extraterrestrial life is fascinating...doubtful they can travel back and forth between galaxies like air travel. But - it's science fiction. I suppose anything is possible in the world of not realistic - or believable.

[Jan Gwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting book

This book was short but so visual in its descriptions of the various worlds. I found it’s contrast between earth and Kurra was such a contrast between the two worlds.

[ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love alien/fantasy world building so fucking much. this was such a good background into amber and i loved it. thank you goddess malinda lo. ALSO POLYGAMY IS POSSIBLE WE MIGHT GET A “WHY CHOOSE” IM SO EXCITED

[Kip · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just a short look into how Amber became Amber and a precursor to the first book. They are very different from earth to put it mildly and it should be interesting to read book 2 after reading this.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I with there was more in this little book. I would love a series just about Amber.

[Icarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best book I've ever read. I don't expect a lot of people to agree with that sentiment, but it's true for me.

[Jess Pumphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A lovely, little novella giving us a little insight into Amber Gray’s backstory. I really liked learning how Amber Gray became known as Amber Gray. :)

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short. I felt like it was just getting started. Didn't realize that it is part of a series.Now that I know, I'm not sure that it was compelling enough for me to start the series.

[L E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked learning more about their process of becoming one's self. I have a better understanding of this character.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was born on Earth, not Kurra. I’m not human,even though I try to be. My people, the Imria, think I’m a little unusual because of that. They call me an Earthsider: as if I’ve crossed a line, chosen a side. Gone native. (p. 15)

Disclaimer: I have never read the other books in this series and this review was written for an MSLIS project.

Natural Selection is a companion book to Malinda Lo’s Adaptation and Inheritance, from the perspective of Amber. It tells the story of what happens in Amber’s 15th year, when she undergoes Kibila’sa, a journey during which she will choose her identity and true name. It alternates between her current life on Kurra where she is preparing for and undergoing Kibila’sa and her past on Earth, where her sexuality is revealed to her best friend on Earth.

A coming-out and coming-of-age novella from the perspective of an alien who doesn’t quite fit in in either society and doesn’t understand why humans on Earth have hangups about gender and sex, Natural Selection is a quick read–only 80 pages–from a unique perspective. Amber’s society doesn’t care about gender when it comes to love and she and many others her age have two fathers and a mother. As a companion piece, Natural Selection works best when combined with Adaptation and Inheritance, but is easy enough to read on its own as well.

There is little to no sexual content or profanity and not much to cause offense in any readers. There is kissing, but nothing more explicity. Natural Selection should be suitable for readers 12 and older.

I liked this novella as a stand-alone piece although I have not read the others in the series. Amber is a compelling character and I liked reading from an alien perspective. Overall, it is a short but engaging read and I would like to read Adaptation and Inheritance in the future.

Star rating: 3/5

[Tez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a long time since I read the ADAPTATION novels, but that's OK because this novella is a backstory for the character of Amber. Excellent world-building by the author, with a look at a key moment event in Amber's life about finding identity.

[Sylvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve fallen in love with both Adaptation and Inheritance and I feel slightly ashamed that I didn’t hear about this novella until after I finished the second book in the series. I’m not complaining, of course. I’ve been craving to learn more about Amber, even more so when I finished the second book. But, most of all, I wanted to learn more about her home called ‘Kurra’ and this would hopefully hold me over until the third book is released.

Natural Selection focuses on Amber before she met Reese- before the events of Adaptation even happened. This focuses on a fifteen year old Imerian of her experiences on the planet Earth and her experience of going through kibila- as explained in the book description on Goodreads, a traditional Imrian coming-of-age ceremony during which Amber will choose her name and identity for the next fifteen years- side by side. It switches back and forth between Earth and Kurra between each chapter, highlighting just how different and how similar these two places really are.

On Earth we concentrate on Amber (who was known under another name at the time) and her adventure, before she returned back to Kurra, on a school field trip camping with her close friend Morgan. She gushes throughout the story how much she likes Zach although Amber thinks otherwise, but she deals with it… if only if it means she gets to stick close to Morgan herself.

It’s a short book but I feel like that I’ve learned a lot about Amber during this short time with her. She finds herself stuck between two worlds and two cultures. I won’t say much about it, since explaining it would spoil the actual book and it’s worth reading about her yourself rather than hearing about it from a reviewer, but it was interesting to see a glimpse on how she tried to handle things and how she tried to remain herself during the trials.

I will admit, however, that I gushed when she left the trip with a particular necklace similar from one of her teachers showed her: a piece of amber with a piece of curled frond inside of it. Although I doubt that it’s a genuine piece (but I doubt many places who sell items that are ‘genuine’), it clicked in my head on how she decided to change her name to Amber and that despite all the bad that happened during the trip the teacher still influenced her positively.

I still wonder if she returned back to that place to see Morgan and many of her classmates again. But, still, it’s a minor thing and I still loved this little ebook and I can’t wait for the third book. If you have read Adaptation and/ or Inheritance and loved it, I would highly recommend this but it’s not necessary to continue the series. If you want a bit of insight on this secondary character, though, this will be more than just a treat.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novellas aren’t really my thing. I find they tend not to add anything of importance to the overall story, and I usually feel like they’re kind of a waste of time. That said, this is an example of everything novellas should be.

Natural Selection takes place a few years before the events of Adaptation, and follows my favourite character Amber through two very important events in her adolescent life – a middle school camping trip on Earth and a coming-of-age ritual on Kurra. The chapters alternate between both parts of Amber’s life and tell the story of how she chose the name Amber. I loved the integration of Amber’s human and Imrian identities. As an Imrian born and primarily raised on Earth, there is a constant conflict with Amber’s struggle to fit in, something she is incapable of in both settings. On Earth she is forced to contain herself, has to learn to keep out of the emotions of the people around her. She isn’t allowed to be who she really is, but she also stands out from her Imrian peers. Amber’s storyline on Earth really hit home for me, though I’ve never really experienced anything quite like that. I could definitely relate to the inevitable best friend crush every queer girl experiences. They suck, and Amber’s is particularly rough. It made me really feel for her and the difficulty of having to navigate two completely different societies with different sets of acceptable behaviours.


The Adaptation series is one I think about on a regular basis. It lingers in my mind and is one of the most memorable series I’ve ever read. I loved returning to this universe and learning more about Amber, whose perspective and history we really don’t learn much of in Reese’s books. It was a quick read that was just what I was in the mood for, and it perfectly struck the balance that novellas have to straddle between adding new and important information without being integral to the plot of the primary novels in the series. I’m definitely glad to have read this, if only to extend one of my favourite series. The fact that I’ve been kind of in love with Amber since Adaptation certainly doesn’t hurt it either. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who was craving a bit more from the Adaptation universe.