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The Human Zoo
Jax Cooper lives a comfortable life, maybe too comfortable. Born into a powerful family, Jax is the son of the largest mogul in the world. As a journalist for The Globe, he takes on a unique, self-assigned piece: to investigate his father’s empire, The Human Zoo. Disguised as one of the animals and stripped of his identity, wealth, and eugenic luxuries, Jax is challenged by what it means to be human when he meets Priya.
Born into the zoo’s captivity, Priya has only known two things; she does not belong here, and she will do anything to escape, but freedom always seemed impossible until an unusual new animal, Jax, arrives.
A gripping investigation turned life changing, Jax is forced to make a decision. Will he risk dismantling society by exposing who—or what—being an animal means . . . or succumb to his only living protection, his family’s empire?
Born into the zoo’s captivity, Priya has only known two things; she does not belong here, and she will do anything to escape, but freedom always seemed impossible until an unusual new animal, Jax, arrives.
A gripping investigation turned life changing, Jax is forced to make a decision. Will he risk dismantling society by exposing who—or what—being an animal means . . . or succumb to his only living protection, his family’s empire?
Paperback
Published May 4, 2021
4 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Kasey Rocazella
1 book19 followersKasey Rocazella is an up-and-coming author, poet, and creative mind from Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in economics. Kasey has a proclivity for observation and social dichotomies, which she brings together in her first novel, The Human Zoo.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 6, 2022
pooled ink Reviews:
Thank you to the author for submitting this book for review!
4.5 Stars
Horrifying, gripping, beautiful...I was hooked from the very start. The Human Zoo is unforgettable as it takes the question of humanity and spins it into a powerful "What if?" that will at first have you dismiss, then pause, then clutch desperately to the face in the mirror saying three important words: I am human. Prepare to soar, prepare to cry, prepare to unleash a battle cry, but most of all prepare to think and and open your eyes.
Read my full review here: https://pooledink.com/2021/04/12/the-...
UPDATE: Just found out there is going to be a book two!!
Thank you to the author for submitting this book for review!
4.5 Stars
Horrifying, gripping, beautiful...I was hooked from the very start. The Human Zoo is unforgettable as it takes the question of humanity and spins it into a powerful "What if?" that will at first have you dismiss, then pause, then clutch desperately to the face in the mirror saying three important words: I am human. Prepare to soar, prepare to cry, prepare to unleash a battle cry, but most of all prepare to think and and open your eyes.
Read my full review here: https://pooledink.com/2021/04/12/the-...
UPDATE: Just found out there is going to be a book two!!
April 22, 2021
I had the opportunity to read this book early, and I am certain this is going to be a book that I will remember for the rest of my life. This is not your typical girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love story. The characters feel so real.. like you actually know them, the setting feels like a not so distant future and possible reality. A book that gives you such highs but shoves you right back down to lows you didn't know you could feel from a book. All while constantly wanting to know what happens next. If I could give the book 6 stars I would.
August 8, 2023
When I met Rocazella at a book fair, she appropriately warned me that The Human Zoo is a dark and dystopian novel. Nonetheless, it sounded intriguing. The essential story line is solid and has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Rocazella masterfully created a rather dysfunctional society that kept me wanting something better for the good side. There were several things that detracted from an otherwise solid work: typos, grammatical errors, gratuitous profanity, and inconsistent character behavior. An example of the latter is Kara, one of the “animals” in the zoo, who only recently began to learn how to read. In the next instance, however, she refers to being able to interpret another person’s emotions as being as simple as reading a book. Similarly, while most of the characters are in their early to mid twenties and regularly broach adult topics, their dialogue often is that of silly, bantering teenagers. It becomes tiresome. Although dystopian novels are not my thing, Rocazella puts forth a solid effort.
May 16, 2021
I am still reeling from the last 100 pages of this debut novel written by my friend, Kasey Rocazella. Not often do I read a novel that I would describe as unputdownable. The Human Zoo grabbed me from the first pages. With its descriptive language and thought provoking observations on humanity I was drawn in immediately. Difficult to read at times, it will take you to some dark corners and then plunge further leaving you somewhere between screaming and crying. There are several layers to peel away as you explore what it means to be human, to live as an individual in a society, what separates humans from animals? What would happen if you were stripped away from what makes you human and your ancestral survival instinct kicks in? I'm left with more questions than answers and looking forward to reading from this author.
March 15, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book from the very beginning , definitely challenges our perceptions of what it means to be human. I really liked that it wasn't predictable, what you anticipated happening rarely did, making for an incredible page turner. I also liked that you became invested in the characters as you grew to know them, and either really liked or disliked them based on what you knew of them. Looking forward to more from this author.
August 5, 2023
The general plot of this book is compelling—the characters are easy to love and the action definitely leaves you wondering what’s going to happen next. However, the writing style left me feeling frustrated. As the book progressed, the dialogue between characters became less believable and more forced—like the author is trying too hard to make meaning without taking the time to write the build up/details that would occur in a natural conversation. On top of that, there are copious punctuation errors and grammatical mistakes that made it hard for me to stay within the world of the book while reading. Truthfully, I also feel a little disappointed by the ending…it can be an artistic choice to leave things unresolved and not everything can be a happy ending, but at the end of this book I, personally, was left wondering what the point of any of it was if that is where the story stops.
February 24, 2022
Phenomenal.
April 28, 2021
I often times judge a book on how well I can imagine the book in my head, and this book was so well written, I felt like I was watching a best-selling movie. I fell so in love with the characters and felt their happiness, along with their pain. This book draws you in from page 1 and does not let up until the very last page. Could not recommend this book enough to anyone!
December 28, 2021
This story totally blew me out of the water. The story of Priya and Jax is so rich and the whole book just takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions. The Human Zoo couldn’t be releasing at a better time with all that is going on in the world. I think this story really opens your eyes to not only your own life but the life of others.
The Human Zoo isn’t something I probably would have EVER picked up on my own, but I will forever be grateful to have read. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is taught in a class in school in the future. We follow Priya and Jax who come from two very different worlds. Priya is a survivor who has never had anything easy while Jax has lived a more lavish life. He is a reporter that decides to visit the zoo, but it isn’t animals in cages, it’s people who are not genetically modified and therefore not “perfect.” To complete his article, Jax lives among the “animals” in the zoo and learns quite a few lessons during his stay. He makes friends with Priya and her group of friends while learning that maybe the ones that are caged aren’t so different from the ones who caged them. The whole story takes you through so many lessons and teaches you so much while you laugh, cry, and feel with these characters. There were times when I felt like things were going slow and I lost a bit of attention but never enough to stop reading. The whole time I wanted to know the conclusion of Jax and Priya. This story was such a refreshing change from my typical reads and I cannot recommend this enough, if only to open your eyes about the world a little bit more.
The Human Zoo isn’t something I probably would have EVER picked up on my own, but I will forever be grateful to have read. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is taught in a class in school in the future. We follow Priya and Jax who come from two very different worlds. Priya is a survivor who has never had anything easy while Jax has lived a more lavish life. He is a reporter that decides to visit the zoo, but it isn’t animals in cages, it’s people who are not genetically modified and therefore not “perfect.” To complete his article, Jax lives among the “animals” in the zoo and learns quite a few lessons during his stay. He makes friends with Priya and her group of friends while learning that maybe the ones that are caged aren’t so different from the ones who caged them. The whole story takes you through so many lessons and teaches you so much while you laugh, cry, and feel with these characters. There were times when I felt like things were going slow and I lost a bit of attention but never enough to stop reading. The whole time I wanted to know the conclusion of Jax and Priya. This story was such a refreshing change from my typical reads and I cannot recommend this enough, if only to open your eyes about the world a little bit more.
September 14, 2021
An incredible exploration of characters, humanity, and daunting what-if's.
June 4, 2021
Couldn’t put this book down!!! Almost like a mix between handmaids tale and hunger games with its own twist. Loved it
June 10, 2021
Review originally published here, at Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...
A dystopian romance about a futuristic eugenics-based society where genetically-enhanced humans live freely, but everyone else lives in zoos.
In the future, the concept of eugenics is the dominant ideology ruling society, culture, and the world at large. Genetically engineered humans--smarter, faster, stronger, more conventionally attractive, and more ruled by logic and reason--are the norm, while "original" humans have mostly been eradicated. The remaining Originals reside in zoos, where they're treated like animals: educational reminders of how awful things used to be.
This upsetting dystopia is the reality of Kasey Rocazella's novel "The Human Zoo," a romance story set in a horrifically oppressive world. The narrative follows two main characters, Priya and Jax, who come from vastly different backgrounds. Priya is an Original; she's lived in the zoo her entire life, but her wonderfully snarky and combative personality keeps her going. Jax, on the other hand, is a reporter and the privileged son of the zoo's owner. Jax has always viewed the people in the zoo as animals, but his view is upended after he decides to take on an important immersion journalism assignment: investigating his father's zoo from the inside, by pretending to be an Original himself. Jax develops a strong bond with Priya, and he'll ultimately have to decide whether he wants to protect the society he knows, or whether he wants to protect Priya and expose the inequities of eugenics.
"The Human Zoo" is an insightful and compelling novel of ideas, and Kasey Rocazella is particularly adept at describing the destructive impact of dehumanizing emotional and physical abuse on the psyche. The book is more focused on relationships than world building, however, so I'd recommend this novel to readers who are looking for a romance with a light dystopian background. I left this story with a lot of questions about the world that I wish had been answered. For example, it's unclear why the Eugenicists in this novel are fine with homosexual relationships, because historically eugenics-based societies have oppressed gay people. The novel also states that getting rid of emotions, in favor of reason, has successfully produced a peaceful society (caveat: Originals in cages), but repressive concepts like war, imperialism, and colonialism are all rooted in the exact opposite idea--a lack of empathy. What keeps the people of Eugenics from continuing to wage war for resources, which could be viewed as a logical pursuit? Also, given the competitive nature of Jax's job, it seems like capitalism is still running strong, but if the entire underclass has been put into zoos, then who's selling their labor to the rich?
I wanted to know so much more about this world--how wealth is stratified, how peace is practically maintained, how nations get along, how genetically-matched relationships work in terms of child rearing, etc. "The Human Zoo" is a great and ambitious first attempt at a dystopian novel, but the book tends to lean too hard on interpersonal conflict at the expense of fully realizing the world the characters are living in. Overall, though, the thought and care put into this work is incredibly powerful, and I'm excited to see what Kasey Rocazella comes up with next.
A dystopian romance about a futuristic eugenics-based society where genetically-enhanced humans live freely, but everyone else lives in zoos.
In the future, the concept of eugenics is the dominant ideology ruling society, culture, and the world at large. Genetically engineered humans--smarter, faster, stronger, more conventionally attractive, and more ruled by logic and reason--are the norm, while "original" humans have mostly been eradicated. The remaining Originals reside in zoos, where they're treated like animals: educational reminders of how awful things used to be.
This upsetting dystopia is the reality of Kasey Rocazella's novel "The Human Zoo," a romance story set in a horrifically oppressive world. The narrative follows two main characters, Priya and Jax, who come from vastly different backgrounds. Priya is an Original; she's lived in the zoo her entire life, but her wonderfully snarky and combative personality keeps her going. Jax, on the other hand, is a reporter and the privileged son of the zoo's owner. Jax has always viewed the people in the zoo as animals, but his view is upended after he decides to take on an important immersion journalism assignment: investigating his father's zoo from the inside, by pretending to be an Original himself. Jax develops a strong bond with Priya, and he'll ultimately have to decide whether he wants to protect the society he knows, or whether he wants to protect Priya and expose the inequities of eugenics.
"The Human Zoo" is an insightful and compelling novel of ideas, and Kasey Rocazella is particularly adept at describing the destructive impact of dehumanizing emotional and physical abuse on the psyche. The book is more focused on relationships than world building, however, so I'd recommend this novel to readers who are looking for a romance with a light dystopian background. I left this story with a lot of questions about the world that I wish had been answered. For example, it's unclear why the Eugenicists in this novel are fine with homosexual relationships, because historically eugenics-based societies have oppressed gay people. The novel also states that getting rid of emotions, in favor of reason, has successfully produced a peaceful society (caveat: Originals in cages), but repressive concepts like war, imperialism, and colonialism are all rooted in the exact opposite idea--a lack of empathy. What keeps the people of Eugenics from continuing to wage war for resources, which could be viewed as a logical pursuit? Also, given the competitive nature of Jax's job, it seems like capitalism is still running strong, but if the entire underclass has been put into zoos, then who's selling their labor to the rich?
I wanted to know so much more about this world--how wealth is stratified, how peace is practically maintained, how nations get along, how genetically-matched relationships work in terms of child rearing, etc. "The Human Zoo" is a great and ambitious first attempt at a dystopian novel, but the book tends to lean too hard on interpersonal conflict at the expense of fully realizing the world the characters are living in. Overall, though, the thought and care put into this work is incredibly powerful, and I'm excited to see what Kasey Rocazella comes up with next.
June 20, 2021
The Human Zoo by Kasey Rocazella is a marvel in the unusual, the different, and a different outlook on humanity and the structure of a society. Thank you to Kasey for being ever so kind in sending me a PDF copy for me to review. This read is definitely worth the back and forth we went through to get me a copy!
For a debut novel, I am incredibly impressed at many things, but I shall start with the subject matter. To attempt a bold, diverse, hard-hitting subject that The Human Zoo tackles is both impressive and daring. This isn't your typical hearts and flowers kind of book, but one that will take you though an intense series of emotions as you journey through the story with its descriptive, emotive language and moments that will genuinely move you.
The next thing I was deeply impressed with was the crossing over of worlds between the main characters of Jax and Priya. We've seen so many stories written over and over again that bring together someone from a better-off background and someone from unfortunate circumstances and somehow, defying all the odds, they make it in an impossible society. The Human Zoo has its own spin on the impossible romance trope. Lessons are genuinely spoken about and learned instead of just being glossed over, only elevating the genuine nature of the situation and the important points that are highlighted. Jax represents those of us in society who have had it easier than most, who come down of their own will to the level of others, wants to learn about a different living situation and genuinely learns from the experiences. Much respect to Kasey for writing something to pivotal and realistic with Jax and the situations and circumstances woven into this read.
Although at times it felt like the pace of the story was too slow, it did allow me time to digest what was happening, what has happened and what could possibly be happening next. Not every single scene in a book needs to be fast-paced, rushed, and the slowness of pace should be looked at as something not to be criticised but a time to reflect while reading on.
Not to forget that this is a dystopian read, it reflects on a world alternative to our own but with current real world issues. This re-imagination of another world high-lighting issues, situations and biases we are currently dealing with today is something Kasey should be proud of for putting genuine heart and soul into. The insightful nature of how difficult, emotional topics are told through the story of Jax and Priya is compelling. And that's only touching the surface.
In all honesty, this upon first glance--or read of the blurb--would not be something I would usually pick up as my go-to genre to read, but thanks to the brilliance of how Kasey has written this dystopian novel, my opinion has changed and I would be willing to read more books within this genre, and possibly another novel in this series based in the same world, highlighting a different societal situation.
For a debut novel, Kasey Rocazella should be proud of her literary efforts, and I'm looking forward to what else she will be writing next.
For a debut novel, I am incredibly impressed at many things, but I shall start with the subject matter. To attempt a bold, diverse, hard-hitting subject that The Human Zoo tackles is both impressive and daring. This isn't your typical hearts and flowers kind of book, but one that will take you though an intense series of emotions as you journey through the story with its descriptive, emotive language and moments that will genuinely move you.
The next thing I was deeply impressed with was the crossing over of worlds between the main characters of Jax and Priya. We've seen so many stories written over and over again that bring together someone from a better-off background and someone from unfortunate circumstances and somehow, defying all the odds, they make it in an impossible society. The Human Zoo has its own spin on the impossible romance trope. Lessons are genuinely spoken about and learned instead of just being glossed over, only elevating the genuine nature of the situation and the important points that are highlighted. Jax represents those of us in society who have had it easier than most, who come down of their own will to the level of others, wants to learn about a different living situation and genuinely learns from the experiences. Much respect to Kasey for writing something to pivotal and realistic with Jax and the situations and circumstances woven into this read.
Although at times it felt like the pace of the story was too slow, it did allow me time to digest what was happening, what has happened and what could possibly be happening next. Not every single scene in a book needs to be fast-paced, rushed, and the slowness of pace should be looked at as something not to be criticised but a time to reflect while reading on.
Not to forget that this is a dystopian read, it reflects on a world alternative to our own but with current real world issues. This re-imagination of another world high-lighting issues, situations and biases we are currently dealing with today is something Kasey should be proud of for putting genuine heart and soul into. The insightful nature of how difficult, emotional topics are told through the story of Jax and Priya is compelling. And that's only touching the surface.
In all honesty, this upon first glance--or read of the blurb--would not be something I would usually pick up as my go-to genre to read, but thanks to the brilliance of how Kasey has written this dystopian novel, my opinion has changed and I would be willing to read more books within this genre, and possibly another novel in this series based in the same world, highlighting a different societal situation.
For a debut novel, Kasey Rocazella should be proud of her literary efforts, and I'm looking forward to what else she will be writing next.
May 30, 2025
I’ve never actually written a review before so bear with me. My girlfriend (the authors sister) recommend I read this book a long time ago but you know, life happens and I got busy, but joe that I have down time I picked it up and safe to say I devoured it. I overall enjoyed the story but man do I hate an open ending. Nevertheless I will absolutely be read the second book when it comes out (soon I hope, I know you’re a very busy person Kasey). I have so many thoughts on the book, the general storyline, the character relationships, the societal commentary, the topic of eugenics in general. But I feel like giving constructive criticism in a review is a little strange so I shan’t, next time you see me if you even want to hear my opinion just let me know. I really enjoyed your book and it succeeded in making me think in different ways that I hadn’t before. Thank you for writing this book.
August 18, 2023
In a world where eugenics has divided those who are genetically superior to those who have original DNA. The Origins, being seen as animals and placed in zoos, remind humankind of their origins and superiority.
When Jax, the son of a wealthy zoo owner, goes undercover as an “animal” at the zoo, he gains an understanding of the humanity behind the “animals”. While in the zoo he falls in love with one of the animals.
But this is no Boy Meets Girl story. The Human Zoo will surprise you, startle you, and an ending that is both surprising and leaves you wishing for more.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Rape, violence, torture
When Jax, the son of a wealthy zoo owner, goes undercover as an “animal” at the zoo, he gains an understanding of the humanity behind the “animals”. While in the zoo he falls in love with one of the animals.
But this is no Boy Meets Girl story. The Human Zoo will surprise you, startle you, and an ending that is both surprising and leaves you wishing for more.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
Rape, violence, torture
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January 5, 2026Wow.
Not only does this book feel amazing in your hands (aesthetic quality is unsurpassable), you will love it if you are privy to science fiction with a twist of love and humanity. Though I wasn’t particularly satisfied with the size of the font on the page, I quickly got used to it. During times of insurmountable stress due to nursing school, I am grateful for such a wonderful story to fall back onto. There were many nights I chose to read over doing assignments and it was worth all the late point deductions. Please read this book, it will surprise you more than you understand!
It is a pleasure to know Kasey and I am proud to have a friend with such admirable talent!
Not only does this book feel amazing in your hands (aesthetic quality is unsurpassable), you will love it if you are privy to science fiction with a twist of love and humanity. Though I wasn’t particularly satisfied with the size of the font on the page, I quickly got used to it. During times of insurmountable stress due to nursing school, I am grateful for such a wonderful story to fall back onto. There were many nights I chose to read over doing assignments and it was worth all the late point deductions. Please read this book, it will surprise you more than you understand!
It is a pleasure to know Kasey and I am proud to have a friend with such admirable talent!
March 10, 2024
I don’t have much to say about this book other than it had an interesting concept, but the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. The concepts are kind of dark. I knew that going in. This book is thought provoking, I’ll give it that. The ending is what got me, it ripped my heart out.
I’m glad I got a chance to read something outside my comfort zone, and I like that this author wrote the story they wanted to tell. It defiantly gave me something to think about.
I’m glad I got a chance to read something outside my comfort zone, and I like that this author wrote the story they wanted to tell. It defiantly gave me something to think about.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews