Splintered

Spliced #2

by Jon McGoran

Seventeen-year-old Jimi Corcoran risks her life to clear a friend's name--and in so doing uncovers the horrific truth about an influential businessman's motives in this second installment of the Spliced series.

After Del's death, Jimi wants to pick up the pieces of her life and move on. But she's become a public figure in her defense of chimeras, and she can't quite shake the spotlight--or her suspicion that she's being followed.

When her friend Dr. Guzman, a chimera sympathizer, is arrested for the murder of a chimera wearing a strange medical bracelet, Jimi does some digging--and eventually discovers that Howard Wells, the venal businessman and proponent of the Genetic Heritage Act, is supporting a hospital that ostensibly provides healthcare for chimeras.

After teaming up with friends Rex and Claudia, Jimi learns that the hospital is actually a cover for an extensive mining operation that retrieves metals needed to operate WellPlants, the computerized brain implants that only the super-rich can afford--and which have made Howard Wells millions. When Jimi realizes that the perilous mining is being done by captive chimeras, she risks her own life to shut down the operation--and incurs the wrath of one of the most powerful and dangerous people in the world.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, High School, Fantasy, Thriller, Futuristic

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2020

About the author

Jon McGoran is the author of ten novels, including Spliced, Splintered and Spiked, a trilogy of near-future YA science fiction thrillers from Holiday House Books.Spliced was named to the ALA’s Library Information Technology Association (LITA) inaugural 2018 LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists and was also named one of the American Bookseller’s Association’s 2017 ABC Best Books for Young Readers. The sequel, Splintered, comes out May 2019. His other books include the acclaimed ecological thrillers Drift, Deadout, and Dust Up, from Tor/Forge Books, and The Dead Ring, based on the hit TV show, The Blacklist. Writing as D. H. Dublin, he is the author of the forensic thrillers Body Trace, Blood Poison and Freezer Burn, from Penguin Books. His short fiction includes stories in the recent anthologies Hardboiled Horror and Joe Ledger: Unstoppable, as well as the novella “After Effects,” from Amazon StoryFront; Bad Debt, which received an honorable mention in Best American Mystery Stories 2014; and stories in a variety of other anthologies. He is a founding member of the Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of published authors dedicated to writers helping writers. When not writing novels and short fiction, McGoran works as a freelance writer and developmental editor and co-host of the writing podcast The Liars Club Oddcast. Find him on Twitter at @JonMcGoran, facebook.com/jonmcgoran/ or at www.jonmcgoran.com. Or visit www.spliced.world and splice yourself!

Reviews

[Shelby Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely preferred the first one because there was more character explanation/development as opposed to plot/action, but this one was well done. The concentration camp addition in this one was extremely powerful -- Spliced means a lot to me because it is such an impactful YA, sci-fi book in that it talks about the downward spiral of discrimination. Jimi kind of got on my nerves in this one which is probably why I didn't love it as much, but the message was very important. The twist ending was also well done and I am certainly going to read the next one. Really thankful for a YA book I can show my students that has so much meaning and real-life context.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good continuation of the story. Didn’t love that they turned Rex and Jimi into “no you can’t go it’s too dangerous” and “if I don’t do it who will”/“I’m perfectly capable of handling this myself”

Also for a YA book I’m not sure why they made their relationship so complicated, definitely not a good influence for teens to look at (it’s not toxic or abusive it’s just unnecessary IMO)

[Deirdre Lohrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I really did read this book in one day. yes it was that good. Yes you should pick up the first one of this series and read it... yes its teen fiction and no i dont care because its that good!

[Arres · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is action-packed and full of the adventure I am constantly missing in my life.

[Katherine Younkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the not too distant future, Jimi Corcoran is battling some typical teenage problems, getting along with her mother and brother. What’s not so typical is her relationship to Rex, a human boy who has undergone a procedure in which his genes have been spliced with canine DNA. Rex is a chimera, one of a group of people that have electively altered their DNA. Some chimeras have made the choice because they feel a connection to a certain animal, others because becoming a chimera will cure a disease that they had as a human. Chimeras look different from humans and can be identified at a glance. They are often subjected to ridicule and prejudice by humans. Laws are being enacted to further marginalize them supported by a group calling themselves Humans for Humanity (H4H), an anti-chimera group.

Jimi gets swept up in a fight between the chimeras and H4H because of her loyalty to Rex. She, Rex, and a group of chimeras work to stop scientific experimentation on vulnerable chimeras being done at a hospital. The experiments cause the chimeras to rapidly sicken and die, but first, they are used for slave labor. Jimi and her friends develop a plan to save the chimeras that is highly dangerous and one in which they risk their lives.

This young adult thriller keeps readers turning the pages. It has plenty of action and explores current relevant themes of loyalty to friends, prejudice against certain groups, and exploitation of others for money. The scientific information about gene splicing is intriguing and not a little creepy.

The book is second in a series about Jimi, Rex, and her friends. I had no problems following the story even though I had not read the previous book. I recommend it to those who like to read young adult dystopian thrillers.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splintered (Spliced #2) by Jon McGoran, 346 pages. Holiday House, 2019. $19.

Language: R (114 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

It feels like a lifetime has passed since what happened in Pitman a few months ago. Seventeen-year-old Jimi has finally regained her mother’s trust to the point that Jimi and Kevin will be left alone this weekend. Despite all intentions to simply spend time with her chimera boyfriend, Rex, Jimi finds herself once again in a position where she has to stand up for what she believes, even if that means going against what others say she should be doing.

As Jimi’s story continues, it seems somewhat preposterous that a teenager is placed in a position -- again -- to save others who are suffering. However, the more I read McGoran’s gripping series, the more I hope that we can all have a little bit of Jimi in us. All of us, at any age, can stand up for good when we see others wronged. If we each become advocates for good, then there will be less bad to go around. Everyone deserves to be treated as people with worth, as Jimi strives to do despite the hard choices she faces. The violence rating is for blood, illegal activity, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Patricia Desjardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Splitered is more action packed than Spliced, I feel it is a bit less engaging. We don't get attached to the new characters. Also, I think emotions are not described enough in either books. But overall, the story was great, and the subject matter/metaphor is really à propos even now in 2021.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received in exchange for a honest review.

This picks up where Spliced left off and takes us on a wild dangerous ride. Jimi is now in the spotlight due to her speech when she was trying to save Del. Del who was her best friend and she is now grieving over him. She didn’t want what she is-a person speaking out for Chimera’s rights. She just wanted to protect her best friend and the new friends she made. She is trying to get back to life but life doesn’t quite let her. In this second book, she is about to face danger like she never thought she would see. She is going to have to risk everything to find the truth and expose it. Only that isn’t how this began. It began by wanting to clear her friend’s name. Dr. Guzman is in trouble and Jimi feels the need to help. While she is trying to clear him, Jimi finds out some harrowing facts about a hospital and what it really is about. A hospital that is supposedly about helping Chimeras is more sinister than she ever imagined. With the help of Rex and her other friends she uncovers the dark secrets of the hospital and pits herself up again the man that create the Genetic Heritage Act. A man that is powerful and dangerous but also can destroy her and everyone around her.

While this is happening, her and Rex are at the beginning of their wooing. It’s in its infancy and watching these two navigate their feelings is sweet while also watching them fight for others. These two are the peanut butter to jelly. They belong together. One shows the other different perspectives and they help each other gain compassion, empathy and see other views. They open each other up to possibilities and see things from all sides. They both show each other respect and support while fighting for what is right and at times not agreeing with each other but still being there even when they don’t agree.

The story is fast paced and intriguing. We see how poorly treated many are in this new dystopic world. A world that is nicely brought to life and well written. A world that has you think abut things and really puts you in the action with Jimi and Rex. The story is filled with twists and turns. Filled with danger and reveals. Strong characters like Jimi and Rex who you love and root for and villains like Howard Wells that you hope get their just desserts. A story that draws you in and doesn’t let you go as you explore the dangers of fear, hate and evil. A story that shows you people willing to fight for what is right and accepting the consequences that may follow. We also see love and understanding shine through as well. A wonderful story from beginning to end that keeps you on your toes and wanting more.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.

Book: Splintered

Author: Jon McGoran

Book Series: Spliced Book 2

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: May 14, 2019

Genre: YA Sci-Fi

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, genes, science!)

Publisher: Holiday House

Pages: 352

Amazon Link

Synopsis: All Jimi wants is pick up the pieces of her life and move on. She never intended to uncover a conspiracy, or become a hero for chimera rights-- she just wanted to protect her best friend, Del. But now she's a public figure, and she can't quite shake the spotlight. . . or her suspicion that she's being followed.

Still, when a strange chimera shows up, half-dead with nothing but an odd hospital bracelet to identify him, of course Jimi tries to help. But everything goes wrong-- and her friend Dr. Guzman is arrested for murder. Desperate to prove his innocence, Jimi does some digging, and discovers that the sick chimera came from a hospital owned by Howard Wells. . . . The businessman who pioneered the Genetic Heritage Act, which sought to label all chimeras as inhuman, and undeserving of basic rights. Has he really had a change of heart?

Teaming up with her chimera friends Rex and Claudia, Jimi sets out to investigate Wells' hospital-- but discovers the seemingly-charitable endeavor is hiding an extensive, dark secret. To save lives and shut down a criminal operation, Jimi and her friends will have to risk everything-- and incur the wrath of Howard Wells himself.

Action-packed and haunting, this sequel to Spliced digs deeper into a gritty, near-future world in which lawless science is a rich man's game-- and Jimi and her friends are unwilling players.

Review: I thought this book did well to pick up where the first book dropped off. The plot was still very intriguing and very encompassing. The world was still very well developed and amazingly well imagined and scary how realistic it could get. The book also did well to not have that second book syndrome, it’s not filler and it has intriguing and well done points.

However, the characters are a bit different in this one. I’m not connecting with them like I did in the first one and I’m not sure why that is. The book is also still a bit hard to get into at first.

Verdict: A well done sci-fi series!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where the GHA (Genetic Heritage Act) has declared chimeras not legally human and an anti-chimera group, the H4H (Humans for Humanity) has arisen, sponsored by a tech-bazillionarire, “Splintered” the exciting sequel to “Spliced” opens with a strange chimera found on the Levline, a metal bottle hanging around his neck with a plastic mask and hose, and a hospital identification bracelet with the name Cornelius on his wrist. Taken by chimeras Pell and Ruth to Dr. Gutzman who’s arrested when he dies, Jimi Corcoran teams up with her chimera friends Rex and Claudia to investigate the dark secret hidden in the OmniCare hospital, a facility supported by Howard Wells, hoping to find evidence to prove Dr. Gutzman’s innocent in the death.

Haunting and filled with dark secrets the intensity and suspense quickly climb with Jimi’s fears she’s being followed, the revoking of Doc’s bail and his beating in prison, as well as an explosion at the H4H Church of Eternal Truth. The action never slows with high speed chases, guards in exoskeleton suits and copter rescues after Jimi and her friends infiltrate the hospital, discovering a deadly, and sinister secret. With unregulated science, and the ambitions of a wealthy criminal mind, the plot twists and turns as Jimi, Rex and Claudia struggle to save Dr. Gutzman, and the chimeras held hostage. Well-written and captivating the plot quickly progresses to an explosive open-ended climax which I hope promises another book in the future.

Among the compelling and intriguing characters fueling the tension, high-energy and thrills, are seventeen-year-old Jimi Corcoran who’s empathetic, open-minded and smart; the resourceful and sensitive Rex (aka Leo Byron; and the strong, confident Claudia.

“Splintered” a thrill-packed adventure is a dark, uncompromising look at a near-future world with its dangerous prejudices that have Jimi, her friends, and E4E (Earth for Everyone) fighting for equal rights.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language: R (114 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
It feels like a lifetime has passed since what happened in Pitman a few months ago. Seventeen-year-old Jimi has finally regained her mother’s trust to the point that Jimi and Kevin will be left alone this weekend. Despite all intentions to simply spend time with her chimera boyfriend, Rex, Jimi finds herself once again in a position where she has to stand up for what she believes, even if that means going against what others say she should be doing.
As Jimi’s story continues, it seems somewhat preposterous that a teenager is placed in a position -- again -- to save others who are suffering. However, the more I read McGoran’s gripping series, the more I hope that we can all have a little bit of Jimi in us. All of us, at any age, can stand up for good when we see others wronged. If we each become advocates for good, then there will be less bad to go around. Everyone deserves to be treated as people with worth, as Jimi strives to do despite the hard choices she faces. The violence rating is for blood, illegal activity, gun use, and murder.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Judah Kosterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part mad scientist, part rampant capitalism, and a whole lotta Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, set in and near an abandoned coal mine and the ruined natural and human landscapes above it.

Our folk heroine, Jimi, is back and teamed with the cat-spliced tech whiz Claudia from book one. Girl power predominates. Male characters disappear (including Jimi’s new boyfriend, the dog-spliced Rex) and adult characters are either quickly shunted off stage or are too busy to explain things to our teens.

A network of adult chimeras is revealed, though their mix of para-military behavior, kidnapping, and life-on-the-lam feels like a set-up for a future plot point. Ditto the news that Jimi’s long-lost eco-warrior aunt is really alive.

On the plus side: Jimi continues to grow as a character, Claudia kicks butt, there are finally LGBTQ characters, and the evil adults mostly get their just desserts.

Score this middle book of the trilogy a half-win.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this book was amazing in terms of terrifying things that could happen with science, especially in the realm of gene manipulation. Second, if the H4H people are also against animal cruelty, including testing makeup on animals then they are hypocrites, especially what happens in this book. That part of the book was fascinating and terrifying, which is all I can say.

Chimerica persists as a theme in this book. We find some things out about Chimerica, where I got some District 13 vibes and other similar type of things. Rex delivers quite a whopper of a truth nugget to Jimi at the end of the book.

Verdict: This was good! I hope Guzman's discovery takes role in the next book, because I feel like that it was not dropped into the story for nothing. I also get the feel that this book is like other sequels in a trilogy: a bridge to the third book.

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this novel. It picks up nicely from the previous book and ends with enough loose ends introduced in this novel and questions about things from the previous novel that can be tied up and or answered in the next novel in the series (I just got it and can’t wait to read it). Also I loved how in this series there are or tend to be 2 major events or things happening in the book. There’s always the main events that Jimi and whoever is with experience and something that still affects them but they aren’t directly involved with. Overall it’s an amazing book in an amazing series where I can’t wait to read what comes next.

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are already a fan of the first novel in this series, you'll probably like this one. As a new reader coming into this series with no knowledge of what's come before, I found it really hard to get into the world and connect with the characters. If you're intrigued by the book's blurb and a fan of a lot of action, try reading book one first as I suspect it helps a lot. I didn't hate this book, it's just not for me.

[Stephanie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good 2nd in the series. I liked the continuation of genetic references about the splices but single frame of reference with main character got a little stale at times. I didn’t rush to finish this one but happy ending no less. Did seem like the twist at the end was rushed - and probably not enough interest to make me immediately want book 3

[Denise Weintraut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal sequel to Spliced! The story continues with more intrigue, conspiracies, and defense of loyalties already stretched to breaking. This one forces you to ponder the nature of identity and the concept of other. Enjoy, my friends!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and intriguing second installment in the series. Does a great job of pivoting to the next dangerous situation Jimi finds herself in while expanding on the world introduced in the first book. Continues the thought-provoking focus on identity, value, technology, and greed.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tough to articulate why exactly but I really enjoyed Spliced a lot more than the sequel!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I’m reading this we are in the middle of a global pandemic in real life. The similarities are terrifying.

[Eunice · Rating 4 out of 5]

more like a 3.5. The writing wasn't great. It's def a YA novel and not a well-written one at that, but I still couldn't put it down.

[eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but super slow moving. I feel like the first book would’ve been enough. Now I have to read the third *sigh*

[Kayla Leader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Good second book

[Joss Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

same as the first review.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Nicole Fincannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little repetitive from the first. Still a few good twists and turns.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to "Spliced," Jon McGoran takes readers back to a dystopian future in which tattoos and piercings have evolved into gene-splicing, where people (mostly teens) go through a dangerous and pretty much illegal process in which their genes are spliced with the animals of their choice, giving them some of the appearance of that animal, as well as some of its abilities. (It's mostly cosmetic. We're not talking superhero stuff here.) Once again there seem to be two camps--those who believe the "spliced" are no longer human and therefore have no human rights, and those who believe the chimeras are people just like anyone else, whose rights need to be protected. Once again Jimi Corcoran is in the middle. She's not a chimera, but she fights for their rights. Now she has discovered an insidious plot in which chimeras are being kidnapped and modified to work as slave labor in an underground mine. Determined to save them, she puts everything on the line. Like the first book this is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of teen romance and interesting themes about what makes us human. Those who enjoyed the first book will like this one.