Iceling

Icelings #1

by Sasha Stephenson

Lorna’s adopted sister, Callie, is part of a mysterious group of non-lingual teens, Icelings, born on a remote Arctic island, who may not be entirely human. Now Callie wants to go home.

Seventeen-year-old Lorna loves her adoptive sister, Callie. But Callie can’t say “I love you” back. In fact, Callie can’t say anything at all.

Because Callie is an Iceling—one of hundreds of teens who were discovered sixteen years ago on a remote Arctic island, all of them lacking the ability to speak or understand any known human language.

Mysterious and panicked events lead to the two sisters embarking on a journey to the north, and now Lorna starts to see that there’s a lot more to Callie’s origin story than she’d been led to believe. Little does she know what’s in store, and that she’s about to uncover the terrifying secret about who—and what—Callie really is.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Teen, Paranormal, Aliens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2016

Reviews

[Shannon Miz · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This was a quirky little book for sure! I didn't know what to expect going in, because I don't like to delve too deeply into synopses before I read. Was it a contemporary? A sci-fi? A  dystopian? The answer was... yes. I think. It is the first book in a series, so not all the questions were answered but it definitely has elements of multiple genres.

And it's weird. Not in a bad way, but it is weird. And wholly unique- I can assure you that you absolutely will not find this premise... well anywhere else ever. And that is a good thing! It made me want to keep reading, for sure. I found myself wanting to know all the things, and that is a good sign, of course. So let us start, as usual, with what I enjoyed!

What I Liked:

The sibling relationships were so great. While Lorna and Callie are the main sister duo in the book, there are others that are lovely, too. Lorna's love for Callie is beautiful, but it's also realistic. Yes, Lorna gets irritated sometimes by the amount of her time that caring for Callie consumes, but at the end of the day, she'd do anything for her sister, and that is just so sweet.
I love a road trip! Yes, there is a road trip in this book, and it makes me so happy. And, it's an exciting road trip at that, since it isn't exactly like they're just on a casual drive.
Lorna made me chuckle. I liked how she seemed so real, even during a series of very surreal events. Yes, she took things seriously, but she also had a witty inner dialogue that I enjoyed. A lot of the book is Lorna's thoughts, so I think that is a big key here- I saw some reviews where the reader didn't love her, and I think if you don't like her voice, it would make the book difficult to enjoy. Luckily, I did, so that was a win!
The action was great! I liked that while there were absolutely more low key times (I mean, they are riding in a car for a chunk of the book), there was suspense throughout. There was a good balance of fast paced events and some downtime. And, it was a super quick read, I finished in just a few hours.
I really enjoyed Lorna's friendships- with her best friend pre-road trip, the one she formed with Stan during, and the new friends she met along the way. Who doesn't love a good friendship?


What I Didn't So Much:

Some of the things were a little... unbelievable. And I know there will be another book that will explain more, but some of the things that happened were just a bit too farfetched. But I will say, there is one thing that happens early on in the story that left me shaking my head, but it did end up making sense after the fact. So I have hope that some of the others will, too. But there were quite a few things that required some pretty significant suspension of belief.
Parent-In-YA Syndrome. Lorna and Callie's parents weren't the only crap parents in this book. Some of them had just taken off and abandoned their kids completely, while others just mentally checked out. Minor spoiler alert- There IS some redemption for some of them along the line, luckily.
Lorna's "boyfriend" Dave (Lorna never would fully define what they were) really needed to not be in the story. I didn't get any point to his existence, I had no feel of his personality whatsoever, and I kind of wanted him to go away. Like he was supposed to be a nice guy, and I suppose he was, but he was as exciting as watching paint dry, too. Maybe that is how he was supposed to be? Either way, go home, Dave.
There were a few instances where I was able to pretty easily see some things coming. However, there were also some things that caught me off guard, so this isn't a totally bad thing, just something to keep in mind.

Will I Read the Next Book?   Yes. I definitely need to know what happens with Lorna, Callie, and all the Icelings!

Bottom Line: Fast paced, fun, and wholly unique, Iceling does require some belief suspension. But if you are able, it is an action-filled story that explores sibling relationships in a whole new way.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this read a little too young for me at times, I enjoyed it a lot.

Imagine having a mute adopted sister who was found in the arctic as a new-born with a hundred or so others.

[Bridgette · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My name is Lorna Van Allister. I'm seventeen years old. I was born and raised in Abington, Pennsylvania. My sister's name is Callie. I have a boy I won't call my boyfriend named Dave, a mom named Judy, and a dad named Tom, and they probably work for the government, and this is where I'm going to die."

If only Iceling had begun like that! Instead that quote is stuck somewhere in the middle of the novel. I think it would have made an amazing first line. I feel like that quote is a pretty accurate representation of Lorna, the main character. She loves her family, is lukewarm about Dave, and has a penchant for run-on sentences. She's especially close to her adopted non-lingual sister, Callie.

Lorna's dad, a research scientist, discovered Callie and a bunch of other babies on an abandoned boat in the Arctic 16 years ago. Each Arctic Recovery Orphan, or Iceling as Lorna dubs them, was adopted by a separate family with a biological child near the Iceling's age. The weird thing is that all of the Icelings grew up to be non-lingual and strangely drawn to plants.

One fateful night, Callie manages to communicate her very strong desire to take a road trip to her point of origin in the Arctic. Thinking this is the first opportunity she has had to really connect with Callie and do something for her, Lorna jumps in the car with Callie and heads out.

Callie and Lorna meet some interesting characters on the way, not all of whom are trustworthy. What they discover along the way is shocking. On this journey, Lorna discovers truths about herself, Callie, and her parents, forcing her to reevaluate her worldview.

What did I like about Iceling? It was a quick read at less than 300 pages. Perfect for a lazy weekend. I also liked Lorna. Her thought process was a bit scattered, but completely believable. I also love the premise. Non-lingual orphans with eerily similar physical features. Pretty unique. That is actually what first caught my eye, the whole non-lingual teenagers aspect.

What did I not like about Iceling? It wasn't as compelling as I had hoped. That may have something to do with the fact that there was a lot of recapping and rehashing throughout the novel. It got tedious at times because of the repetitiveness. I hope the subsequent novels in the series cut out a lot of the recapping.

All in all, Iceling is a quick read with a unique, intriguing premise. I have high hopes for this new series!

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review through the publisher's First to Read program.**

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Iceling an interesting concept of how siblings bond and love each other even if one is “adopted” and from a very different place making it hard for them to communicate. I felt all along that the Iceling children were alien from a very docile community. There were a few things that were not explained, which makes me wonder if there will be more revelations in book two. I did wonder where all the parents were. I was surprised Lorna’s parents left her and Callie alone for weeks at a time. Lorna is 17, that is a minor, when my parents went on vacation, we always had someone stay with us even though I had sisters that probably could have taken care of the younger ones. And why were the siblings taking the Icelings north and not the parents? Unlike other people, I didn’t have a problem with the writing except there was a lot of repetition on things that we didn’t need reminding over and over. Other than that I really enjoyed it and look forward to see what happens next.

I received this book from the Penguin Random House First To Read Program.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked at first but the ending dragged on and didn’t do it for me. Ok just learned it’s in a series which helps a little?

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iceling was provided to me by the publisher via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen-year-old Lorna loves her adoptive sister, Callie. But Callie can't say "I love you" back. In fact, Callie can't say anything at all.
Because Callie is an Iceling--one of hundreds of teens who were discovered sixteen years ago on a remote Arctic island, all of them lacking the ability to speak or understand any known human language.
Mysterious and panicked events lead to the two sisters embarking on a journey to the north, and now Lorna starts to see that there's a lot more to Callie's origin story than she'd been led to believe. Little does she know what's in store, and that she's about to uncover the terrifying secret about who--and what--Callie really is."

In the beginning I struggled with the dichotomy that is Lorna; one moment she speaks in typical teen fashion, and the next she whips out the word “portmanteau”, which, if you ask me, is an impressive vocabularic addition for anyone, much less a teenager. I’m still not sure what to think of her, because by the end of the book, the only thing I could say for sure is that she loves her sister. There just wasn’t a lot of character development. The road trip is interminable. There are things happening, but nothing that justifies dedicating 30% of the book to the drive. Trying to avoid spoilers, but there is a random scene of violence in the middle of the road trip that is never really explained in the book. Unless it’s addressed in one of the sequels, the scene is just jarring, random, and unnecessary.
Also, I understand that the Icelings being non-verbal is an important part of the story, but, not only do they not speak, but their body language is jilted at best, and mostly the result of copying the actions of others. As a result, not much is understood about the orphans, either personally or as a group, by the end of the first book.
I could have forgiven all of this and called it an okay book, but the author chose to end with a 60s sitcom type cliffhanger. It’s a cheap device, and completely un-needed. If the author has done their job, the reader is going to come back for the sequel. The cliffhanger felt like a lack of confidence in both the story and the reader. I don’t feel compelled to read the next book.

[Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the overall premise for this book was very unique and intriguing, but the long, rambling internal monologues from the teenage narrator coupled with some pretty big plot holes ultimately made this book just not for me. I received it from First To Read in exchange for an honest review.

[Isabel Tueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was all over the place without a clear arc or climax and I didn't know what was happening half of the time. The writing of the Iceling characters felt unrealistic and ignorant of actually nonverbal people. I wouldn't recommend.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm having trouble even finding the words to review this one. The basic story was okay. I liked the possible alien babies and the government conspiracy angle. Things started to fall apart when a bear attacks the car of our teen protagonists and they fear for their lives and are sure they are going to be eaten. Apparently just driving away didn't cross their minds. Not to mention that this is not normal bear behavior and a bear cannot rip through a car. We're talking black/brown bear here not even a polar bear, a species that can be more aggressive. I brushed off that bit of silliness as just a misinformed author and kept listening. Then our intrepid crew passes over the Canadian border in Maine and is immediately in the Arctic. Umm...all of Canada is NOT the Arctic. The Arctic is a defined region much further north than the border with America. The geographic confusion continues as they board a small boat and head south..to the Galapagos. Within two weeks it is getting warmer and I swear to god they are nearing the Galapagos. I don't even have words. This would have likely been a two or three star book but all this remarkable ignorance kept bringing me out of the story and had me shaking my head in disbelief. I can't imagine how this was even published.

I listened to the audio version and the narration was perfectly fine. My low rating is entirely the fault of the writing not the narrator.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

On one hand, the whole idea of a pod people-style science fiction story is very well-tread ground. It's going to take a lot to impress me in regards to a story like that. Iceling, surprisingly, delivers in this area in a YA field sorely lacking in non-dystopian science fiction.

Lorna has a sister, and her sister is a little strange. Rescued from an arctic expedition, she doesn't talk and sometimes has minor episodes, but, unexpectedly, she begins demonstrating a massive desire to go back north, toward where she was found. Callie decides to go along with this idea and leads to a significant uncovering of a massive conspiracy at best and something that could change the world.

For a book that's literally 50% travel, it's something that hooked me in really quickly and wouldn't let go. As more and more was revealed, and in a really deft way at that, I was just hooked further and further in until the book just ended with me wondering when I can get my hands on the sequel. It's that good, folks. One of the best of the year, and one I'm glad got written. A great introduction to a classic science fiction trope, and a great read even if you're familiar. A must read if you like YA.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! 4.5/5 stars, only losing that .5 stars because it was not MIND BLOWING, you know? But this was really good!

[Maggie Haberman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I found the writing at times repetitive and pretentious, overall this book is very entertaining with an engaging central concept and an excellent dynamic between the sisters. I recommend it.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is interesting. Seemingly human babies found in the arctic and placed in homes where they are monitored by the government. And they're not bodysnatchers. In fact, they seem pretty harmless being totally non-lingual.
This could be characterized as a syfy coming of age story. The story is told from the perspective of a 17-year-old girl, the older sister to one of the Icelings. All Lorna has ever wanted to do was to have a conversation with Callie, her Iceling sister. When Callie makes it clear that they need to go on a road trip to an island she sculpts in the greenhouse, Lorna complies. Off we go. Adventure time. Along the way Lorna learns some hard truths about the Icelings and the government's interest and her parents' involvement.

[Cecily Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of this book was good, it had me intregued and totally into the story. However, the latter half left me a bit disappointed. Also me and my sister have nothing like this in terms of relationship so maybe that was where it didn't quite work for me.
Okay Read.

[Laura R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5

[Jesi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The begining of the book is great and then it gets repetative and bluntly ends.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Lorna's sister Callie isn't like most sisters. She can't talk, she can't understand anything Lorna says, and when she goes to the doctor, none of her family members are allowed to go in with her. Callie is an Arctic Rescue Orphan, one of about a hundred babies found abandoned on a boat and adopted by families. Lorna has never been able to communicate with Callie, but when she senses that Callie wants to go somewhere, maybe to the place where she was found, Lorna has to help.

Stephenson does a good job of capturing the YA voice: Lorna uses some text-speak with her boyfriend (full disclosure: I have no idea what teens texts look like) and I felt like her emotions relating to her adopted sister were really authentic. However, authenticity in YA can also mean the characters are sometimes kind of annoying. What Stephenson does really well is the entire point of what science fiction is supposed to do: she takes something from our world and blows it up to extreme proportions. The orphans could be analogized to a few different aspects of society, but it does force the reader to look at how they view people who are "other," specifically people who communicate or behave differently.

I was disappointed to realize this was the beginning of a series. While there were some ambiguities at the end, I felt like it stood on its own and I just can't keep track of series anymore.

I received this book from Penguin's First to Read program.

[Warren-Newport Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here’s an interesting science fiction novel from a debut author, Iceling by Sasha Stephenson.

Lorna’s sister Callie is adopted and she loves her very much but they don’t have a typical sibling relationship because Callie is uncommunicative and her history is in question.

About 16 years ago, Lorna’s father (a scientist) was on an expedition in the Arctic when he and his team came across an abandoned ship. When they boarded, they realized that it was not abandoned at all but carried many babies.
Without any adults to care for them, naturally they took the babies into their care. Fast forward 16 years and these babies are now teenagers living with various families.

The book begins where Lorna is concerned for her sister because she is having a seizure. She emergently takes Callie to the hospital where they examine and release her. This is a special hospital where the Icelings go for their care and to be monitored. While in the waiting room, Lorna speaks with Stan, an acquaintance who also has an Iceling sibling. They begin to compare notes and quickly realize that the Icelings are exhibiting similar disturbing traits and their frequency is rapidly increasing.

I was intrigued by this book’s interesting premise and while parts were unnecessarily repetitive, I stayed engaged throughout the story. This is the first in the series and I look forward to where the author may take the story from here. (Jessica)

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a good concept for a book, but so ridiculously poorly written. Everything is "he says" "she says" with very little variation. The author clearly didn’t do her research as shown by the bear that stood in the middle of the road and then attacked a car, without any provocation. The book is also so boring it’s hard to read, probably because everything is just stated and you can’t picture any of the characters, settings, or events in the story.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book!! I am a big fan of YA but so many recently have been trying to be the next Hunger Games or the next Divergent. Iceling isn't trying to be any of these and is all the stronger for that. The characters are well written and interesting, especially the main character, Lorna. She is so likeable and relatable.

Please read this book!

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a lot of YA because I enjoy it. I have never read a YA book with such simplistic language. I am astounded this book was picked up by a big publisher.

[Kevin Thomas James Atteridg · Rating 5 out of 5]

In another dimension where TV shows never get canceled, Sasha continued the Icelings series and I jumped headfirst into the next immediately after finishing this.

[Sissy Lu {Book Savvy Reviews} · Rating 2 out of 5]

Curiosity fueled this read entirely and even then I constantly felt as if I were about to drop this book.

Why do you ask? Well, the narrative is written in the view of Lorna who is a very flat and generally unlikeable seventeen-year-old who, when she speaks - speaks like a seventeen-year-old on like, a very, really, actually, tantric diary entry.

I became so lost in the story because of the rambling, the tangent way it was written that I also wound up skipping 2-3 pages at a time because it was necessary, only for the rambling session to end where it began. So, I never really missed a thing which makes the entire rambling rant superfluous.

Lorna is seventeen, her mother and father are scientists who travel to remote places where anomalies occur and sixteen years ago they stumbled on one in the arctic, what they witness is seared into their minds. Pods upon pods of infants, pale and fragile and so they take them home which they are then promptly called ARO. There are guidelines to those who adopt these orphans - above all else they must have a child no more than a year older than said ARO.

They are all speechless, each has varying degrees to their personality but they do not speak and some try to communicate with their eyes, but they're fairly flat aside from their conniptions, as they call them. Episodes of violence or tantric behaviors for an extended period of time, that without medical intervention can continue on.

This all sounds really interesting and could have been, too, if the narrative was different. It was all over the place and so disconnected, I guess it didn't help that Lorna had no personality either and I really found no explanation in the book as to why that may have been or why she had so many issues to begin with, outside of having Callie as her "Iceling" sister.

The idea was there, the execution was not...

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[Kelsey Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often cry over books, but this book left me trying not to sob during certain parts. When she was a baby, Lorna's parents were researchers who, after finding seismological anomalies pointing to an arctic island, find an abandoned boat filled with strange, under-responsive babies. Monitored by the government, they are adopted out to families in the US. Lorna's "Arctic Recovery Orphan" sister Callie cannot talk or understand any language, and is captivated by plants and occasionally has strange seizure-like activity. Though unable to communicate verbally with Callie, Lorna love her sister and knows her sister lives her back in her own special way. When certain events happen and they end up heading on a trip to learn more about Callie's and the Arctic Recovery Orphans' origins, Lorna finds that the sister she loves so much is unknowingly embroiled in a mysterious and potentially dangerous operation that could threaten Lorna, Callie, and the rest of the AROs' existence. The author writes the story so beautifully, and truly captures the intense love and protectiveness Lorna has for her very different sister. The story sometimes seems simple at times but complex during others, and there are quite a few surprises that truly caught me off guard. It is very heart-wrenching during certain parts, especially closer to the end and I definitely shed more than a few tears. The problem I have with this book and the reason I didn't rate it five stars is because of the ending. I understand it is part of a series, but it was still ridiculous how the story ended and how vague the book was. It was like the author just stopped writing the chapter and decided to end the book there. It's very frustrating and didn't hardly tie up a single end but it leaves me with a mad desire to read the next book.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The people in your life, they're there every day, and while you know they care about you because of the looks the give you and the way they keep poking you to get up and join them even when you're so sad you can't even move, they'll never be anything but strangers."

I received a copy of this book from firsttoread.com in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book so much more than I expected to. Yeah, it's YA-esque, but it's wonderfully original. Focusing on Lorna and her adopted, non-verbal sister Callie, we get a view of family, relationships, and what it means to do the right thing.

Yes it's sort of predictable and requires a large suspension of belief the hints early on about Callie-being plant based are pretty clear and the idea that 1) Lorna's parents were part of some government conspiracy that were convinced the kids were dangerous so they put them in people's homes falls apart pretty quickly along with 2) the fact that our main characters just happen to be the ones to escape was a little much. Also the side tangent on how they were funding their trip felt thrown in. But I liked that Lorna's fading relationship with her boyfriend wasn't a center piece of the story. It felt forced in given the story but it felt real that he fell to the wayside as Lorna focused on Callie. It's a great book that calls into question what really makes family. Seeing Lorna try to put herself in Callie's shoes was a really great touch. Lorna's voice was real and gave a vibrant narration. I liked the "dogcalling" and the real-feeling relationship she had with each of her parents.

Not sure where the series could go from here, but this book was good.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorna's sister Callie is special. According to her parents she was found on a ship in the arctic with a bunch of other babies. Her father was one of the people who found them and rescued them. Later they were adopted out to select families. Lorna refers to Callie as an iceling (a mix of ice and sibling). Callie doesn't speak and really doesn't express herself. One day when Callie builds an island and indicates that she wants to go there Callie finds herself on a journey with Stan whose brother Ted is also an iceling to solve the mystery of their siblings.

This story was a bit bizarre. While it has the makings of a dystopia, science fiction, and contemporary fiction, I found the blending a bit odd. Lorna is a likable narrator, but there are few explanations given for actions taken in the book. For instance, why would both parents go on an extended trip to the Galapagos leaving Lorna in charge of her sister whose fits are getting worse. Leaving the country with your 17 year old in charge no matter how responsible she may be seems odd. Also, some of the characters and relationships were not fleshed out. The relationship with Dave felt forced and was kind of boring as was her relationship with her best friend.

It is definitely different and will appeal to those who like conspiracies (I guess I am just not one of them).

Cautions for sensitive readers:
Language: Mild if any
Violence: Yes
Sex: Nothing explicit
Drugs/Alcohol: Alcohol at a party

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stephenson, Sasha Iceling, 253 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2016. $18. Language: R (100+ swears, 2 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some death, missiles, flamethrowers).

Lorna, 17, has always loved her adopted sister, Callie, even though Callie has never said a word her entire life, nor really communicated any personal feelings towards Lorna. Callie was discovered along with hundreds of other babies, abandoned on a large boat in the Arctic. Then one day Callie does does something really over the top, even for Callie, and the pair start a journey north. Along the way they meet other Icelings, as Lorna calls them, and their siblings – all headed north for some unknown reason. What they don’t know is that hey are headed into danger and betrayal on a massive scale.

What really needs to happen is to have this book be a single, stand-alone book – no sequels. Otherwise it is just a long set-up for a science fiction that probably won’t go anywhere that we really want it to – kind of like the Fringe TV series. As is, it can at least be a commentary on how we treat people who are different than us. While there are a ton of unanswered questions, I don’t see how the author can answer them in a way that won’t send the book in totally different, and unappealing directions.

HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Kelly Gunderman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out this and other reviews (and other neat stuff!) on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!

This book has been on my radar since I first heard about it months ago. It seemed like it was going to be the perfect blend of science fiction, family relationships, and a whole bunch of twists that were sure to just blow me out of the water. While this book had all of those things, it also had something I didn't expect - a main character that I felt like I could really relate to. Determined, protective, and loving, Lorna made the perfect big sister to Callie.

"Stories are pretty great if you don't mind crying sometimes."

Years ago, Lorna's father brought home an orphan that he and several other members of his team found in the arctic - a group of infants afloat on a boat in the middle of the water in the freezing cold. No parents, no older children - just the infants. The team brought the orphans home, and assigned them to be integrated into families of those that found them. Now those orphans are grown, and while they are non lingual and aren't able to communicate, Callie, the orphan that Lorna's father brought home, has become a true member of the family, especially to Lorna. She loves her sister. She protects her, she takes care of her, and she tries to communicate and understand her to the best of her ability.

"You'd think after sixteen years of Callie not talking, I'd be used to it by now. You'd think after sixteen years of having a sister who can't speak, or read, or even understand any language at all, nights like these wouldn't bother me so much. That the way Callie is wouldn't keep surprising me day after day."

When Callie has fits and needs to go to the hospital to see Jane, the doctor that looks after the orphans, Lorna takes her. While this happens often, it is the night of one particular fit that Lorna notices Stan, the brother of another one of the orphans, or Icelings, as Lorna calls them, is at the hospital, as well. Ted, his brother, is also in for having a fit. She hasn't really talked to Stan before, but Lorna approaches him and tries to talk to him to make friends - the two exchange numbers so that they can talk about their siblings in case they need to get things off their chest if anything weird happens.

When Lorna's parents tell her that they are going to the Galapagos for work, and that they are leaving Callie in Lorna's responsible and capable hands, the first thing Lorna's friend and (kind of) boyfriend do is throw a party. During said party, when Lorna checks on Callie out in her greenhouse (the Icelings are all required to have a greenhouse), Lorna sees that Callie has created a very intricate model display of an island using grass and plants. When she texts Stan about it, it appears that his brother Ted has also created a model of an island - the same island at the same time. When Stan comes over and brings Ted and his island with him, Ted and Callie hop in the backseat of the car with their islands - an obvious demand that Stan and Lorna take them somewhere...but where? To their island, where they were born?

On their trip to the island, Lorna and Stan come across some very weird things, and they have a hard time believing that they are actually taking them up north where they came from. But Lorna knows she is doing the right thing for Callie, and at the Icelings' insistence, they continue their travels. When they finally reach where they need to be, a shocking twist has Lorna and Stan questioning everything that they have ever been told.

Iceling is a truly original and unique book, and for that, I have to say I was completely in love with the book. Once I started reading it, I felt like I simply had to finish it, and I just kept reading. The writing style really pulled me in and wrapped me up in the story - I had to see what was going on with the Icelings and what waited for them when they reached their island. It had no shortage of surprises, and in fact I really did find myself on the edge of my seat toward the last third of the book. The story surrounding the Icelings truly was something incredible, and if you are a fan of science fiction, you have to read this book.

Stan and Lorna were the two main characters in this book, and most of the book is the two of them taking the Icelings and driving them back to the island they were born on. But the twist wasn't something I saw coming at all...in fact, there are several, and they're all quite shocking.

Lorna's character is deeply emotional and cares a great deal for her sister. She's attached to her and wants the best for her, even if that means taking her where she wants to go - despite the wishes of their parents. While Callie cannot understand language, it's clear that the two of them still had a bond, and it was even more interesting to see the way that Callie and Ted acted around each other. When they are driving up north and come across many other kids taking their Icelings up north as well, they learn more about each other.

The ending of this book, though...ugh. I hate cliffhangers, and this one was one of the worst cliffhangers I've ever come across. I'm so glad that there is going to be a sequel to this in the future, because I don't know how else I could possibly deal with and ending like that. One thing is for sure, though - the author of this book knows how to draw in readers and then keep them wanting more

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This book took me by surprise! I was immediately drawn in by the story; hundreds of babies found abandoned in the Arctic, rescued by American scientists, and adopted by families. These babies, called Icelings, grow up but they are not like normal children. They can not talk and have weird eating and sleeping habits. Then one day all of the kids, now teenagers, build a model of their homeland and convince their adoptive siblings to take them back to the Arctic. Lorna is the sister of an Iceling, Callie, is caught up in this mass exodus to the Arctic. She meets up with several others as well and discovers there may be more to why the Icelings were taken from the Arctic than she realized. I found this book very suspenseful. The author does a great job pushing the story forward and keeps you wondering who these Icelings are and why do they need to go back to the Arctic and all at the same time. This was a great Sci-Fi read for someone who isn't a big fan of that genre.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick summary: Sasha Stephenson does a fantastic job at writing a first person narrative. If you enjoy YA novels (and sci-fi), you will certainly like this book and most likely rate it higher than me.

My reasoning for a 3 star rating is very specific to my reading experience. While I liked the premise, I did not enjoy reading the first two-thirds book. I think it's primarily because I am not the intended audience. The main character is a 17 year old girl and the narrative is written so well it feels as though I'm in the mind of an actual 17 year old girl... and since I'm twice as old, I just couldn't connect with the character. Based on the quality of writing and the intriguing story, I stuck with the it and very much enjoyed the last third of the novel. The story became less focused on a teenager's life and was about the love between siblings and the true origins of the Icelings.