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Perfected Kate Jarvik Birch Books

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Perfected Kate Jarvik Birch Books

As a fan of dystopian fiction, I found the concept of this story very intriguing; unfortunately, it did not live up to its full potential as the author was seemingly unwilling to delve into the true darkness that lurks behind the story concept.

Set in a future democratic America where genetically altered teenaged girls are cloned in "kennels" and sold as "pets" to the very wealthy, the story begins from the first person POV of pet Eight, later dubbed Ella, who is very excited to use her extensive training in her first home. Their training is similar to the way rich young ladies of the 17th century were were taught--arts, music, poise, dance, decorum, beauty, history, etc--they do not teach them to read, I assume because it would make it easier to function if they were to escape. Strangely, they teach them nothing about kissing or sexuality, which was the first thing I found difficult to believe considering that whatever Congress may have claimed when they passed a law to allow the ownership of these not-quite-humans, there is only ONE reason that people would pay over two-hundred-thousand dollars to legally own a beautiful teenaged girl raised to be utterly submissive in every way and it is NOT so she can play the piano for them. Though the story hints at the truth behind this through mentions of hair-tossling and lap-sitting, the topic, which is so very blatant and ultimately central to the theme of the story, is mostly avoided in preference of discussing the cutesy crush going on between Ella and Penn, the owner's rebellious teenaged son who spends much time teaching sweet Ella how to kiss in a secret garden behind their house.

In avoiding these darker depths, the author was left with characters who came across as shallow and underdeveloped since avoiding such obvious moral qualms made them look as though they were walking through life with a blindfold on. Slavery has not been a staple in this world for long, and many people protest it, including all of Canada, where one can seek asylum... and yet every single person in the house where Ella was taken honestly treats her like a pet... except when they want to make kissy face. By avoiding any conflicting views on this practice, the author avoids giving these characters any depth.

In fact, the author herself seems unsure whether she wanted this to be a tale that truly delved into a possible future where human beings are enslaved with the excuse of being genetically altered or a fairy tale world where rich men would actually purchase beautiful young girls who must bend to their every will and NOT attempt to abuse them terribly, just treat them poorly so they feel they need to escape. Though their last pet was obviously impregnated by the owner, the owner's wife makes only rudimentary protests to Ella being there, making it seem as though either she doesn't give a darn about life or she's perfectly happy that her husband seems to be collecting sex slaves. Of course, she's not really a sex slave, right? Except he keeps touching her and the wife keeps getting prickly about it. It swings back and forth, back and forth, but she never faces the kind of real danger a young girl in her position would face (the danger that the last slave obviously did face). Also, the entire family (including the son who falls in love with Ella) seems very quick to blame the last slave for the pregnancy... something that would be more realistic if they weren't also acting as if the slaves have minds of dogs. It is never addressed that there might be some consensuality issues there.

Ella is actually the deepest character, simply because she has been sheltered and the shallowness comes across as her learning about the world. Penn, on the other hand, is like a rebellious Ken doll with hormones. His naivete about "pets" is simply repellant considering that he quickly falls in love with one--you love her yet you still don't question slavery? The fact that Penn is also mostly oblivious to the horrors that come with this new form of slavery seems unbelievable unless he is extremely twisted. IF this were set in a world where slavery is common, this would be understandable. However, in the book it is implied that this is a relatively new law and it is confirmed that Canada, at least, finds it absolutely terrible. Yet another plot hole I attribute to poor world building. It seems like another case of the author avoiding real depth in this novel.

The love story is as shallow as the characters, but that can be forgiven, despite it being "instant love," because I can see how a teen girl who has never seen a boy before could feel lust and "fall in love," and heaven knows that teen boys "fall in love" all the time (yay hormones). It is certainly a very teenagery love, and there is a big SURPRISE moment that you would never guess at the end (which I won't spoil), but I will say this: there is NO foreshadowing which makes it seem lame rather than fantastic. Those kind of big reveals are only good if you can look back at the story and see it building up and wonder how you didn't figure that out.

Overall, I found the story enjoyable, but that is what it is: a short story, not a fully built novel with a strong foundation. It is very short (I read it in two hours), and it stops with the kind of cliffhanger that tries to force you to read the next book rather than giving true resolution. Unless the price lowers greatly, I will not waste my money on the second book--I think it would be a fun read, but it's too much money for a two hour read with little depth to it.


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Perfected Kate Jarvik Birch Books Reviews

I'm not sure why this book has gotten so many negative reviews. I almost didn't read it, but decided to give it a shot and I am so glad. And not only because New Canaan is my hometown and there could be no better setting for a dystopia based on elitism. Though I do love my hometown, it has more than its fair share of snobs.

One issue some seem to have is that the issue of sex is not brought up. I don't see how anyone could come to this conclusion, because it is definitely discussed through the character's unease in certain situations, through the fact that the previous pet had gotten pregnant, through that one guy propositioning her, etc. The author doesn't hit us over the head with it, though. It's called subtlety.

Perfected has a some great twists and surprises, and there's a good deal of character development, especially for the main character. Ella goes from a meek girl unwilling to even say what leisure activity is her favorite to (spoilers) slicing out her microchip and running off with her owner's son. This book is a good exploration of human dignity and human rights. While I don't see America ever allowing human pets, this was a fascinating picture of that scenario, its consequences, and the different reactions people have to it, based on how they value others. (spoilers) I especially loved the part at the end with the Canadian border guard. The end was a bit of a cliffhanger, but not any more so than the end of Delirium or a few other YA books. I can't wait for the sequel!
The book was well written, but there was so much unmet potential It is almost frustrating. I feel like she moved way to quickly with the "fall in love" and "escape" plot lines (if they could even be called that) when so much more character development could have been made while she was still in the house. Probably the most irritating part was the instant falling in love plot line that started way to early. She literally sees him on the porch in the first three chapters, and BAM, true love. The rest of the plot simply bowed down to the romantic spot light and took a back seat, like character development and relationship development, particularly with the younger girl and even with the other pet would have been some much needed relief from the hum drum romantic story plot. The most interesting part of the book was the last few pages of the last chapter, which had some much needed intensity I feel the rest of the story was lacking. I actually wanted to know what was going to happen to them and if the rest of the story, even the forbidden love parts, had shown that level of intensity, panic, and actual need not to be caught, I would have had many more nice things to say about it.

I also found the book incredibly short. There was one part were the author simply said something along the lines of "that went on for a few months." Instead of skipping about, writing those few months out would have added much needed character development, and probably made the whole thing a good 100 pages longer.

Over all, the idea is solid, but the worn out romance ruins the whole plot and I would have much rather spent more time getting to know the protagonist and her thought process rather than her piggy-backing off of everyone else and developing with the plot rather then the plot developing through her own changing state of mind.
As a fan of dystopian fiction, I found the concept of this story very intriguing; unfortunately, it did not live up to its full potential as the author was seemingly unwilling to delve into the true darkness that lurks behind the story concept.

Set in a future democratic America where genetically altered teenaged girls are cloned in "kennels" and sold as "pets" to the very wealthy, the story begins from the first person POV of pet Eight, later dubbed Ella, who is very excited to use her extensive training in her first home. Their training is similar to the way rich young ladies of the 17th century were were taught--arts, music, poise, dance, decorum, beauty, history, etc--they do not teach them to read, I assume because it would make it easier to function if they were to escape. Strangely, they teach them nothing about kissing or sexuality, which was the first thing I found difficult to believe considering that whatever Congress may have claimed when they passed a law to allow the ownership of these not-quite-humans, there is only ONE reason that people would pay over two-hundred-thousand dollars to legally own a beautiful teenaged girl raised to be utterly submissive in every way and it is NOT so she can play the piano for them. Though the story hints at the truth behind this through mentions of hair-tossling and lap-sitting, the topic, which is so very blatant and ultimately central to the theme of the story, is mostly avoided in preference of discussing the cutesy crush going on between Ella and Penn, the owner's rebellious teenaged son who spends much time teaching sweet Ella how to kiss in a secret garden behind their house.

In avoiding these darker depths, the author was left with characters who came across as shallow and underdeveloped since avoiding such obvious moral qualms made them look as though they were walking through life with a blindfold on. Slavery has not been a staple in this world for long, and many people protest it, including all of Canada, where one can seek asylum... and yet every single person in the house where Ella was taken honestly treats her like a pet... except when they want to make kissy face. By avoiding any conflicting views on this practice, the author avoids giving these characters any depth.

In fact, the author herself seems unsure whether she wanted this to be a tale that truly delved into a possible future where human beings are enslaved with the excuse of being genetically altered or a fairy tale world where rich men would actually purchase beautiful young girls who must bend to their every will and NOT attempt to abuse them terribly, just treat them poorly so they feel they need to escape. Though their last pet was obviously impregnated by the owner, the owner's wife makes only rudimentary protests to Ella being there, making it seem as though either she doesn't give a darn about life or she's perfectly happy that her husband seems to be collecting sex slaves. Of course, she's not really a sex slave, right? Except he keeps touching her and the wife keeps getting prickly about it. It swings back and forth, back and forth, but she never faces the kind of real danger a young girl in her position would face (the danger that the last slave obviously did face). Also, the entire family (including the son who falls in love with Ella) seems very quick to blame the last slave for the pregnancy... something that would be more realistic if they weren't also acting as if the slaves have minds of dogs. It is never addressed that there might be some consensuality issues there.

Ella is actually the deepest character, simply because she has been sheltered and the shallowness comes across as her learning about the world. Penn, on the other hand, is like a rebellious Ken doll with hormones. His naivete about "pets" is simply repellant considering that he quickly falls in love with one--you love her yet you still don't question slavery? The fact that Penn is also mostly oblivious to the horrors that come with this new form of slavery seems unbelievable unless he is extremely twisted. IF this were set in a world where slavery is common, this would be understandable. However, in the book it is implied that this is a relatively new law and it is confirmed that Canada, at least, finds it absolutely terrible. Yet another plot hole I attribute to poor world building. It seems like another case of the author avoiding real depth in this novel.

The love story is as shallow as the characters, but that can be forgiven, despite it being "instant love," because I can see how a teen girl who has never seen a boy before could feel lust and "fall in love," and heaven knows that teen boys "fall in love" all the time (yay hormones). It is certainly a very teenagery love, and there is a big SURPRISE moment that you would never guess at the end (which I won't spoil), but I will say this there is NO foreshadowing which makes it seem lame rather than fantastic. Those kind of big reveals are only good if you can look back at the story and see it building up and wonder how you didn't figure that out.

Overall, I found the story enjoyable, but that is what it is a short story, not a fully built novel with a strong foundation. It is very short (I read it in two hours), and it stops with the kind of cliffhanger that tries to force you to read the next book rather than giving true resolution. Unless the price lowers greatly, I will not waste my money on the second book--I think it would be a fun read, but it's too much money for a two hour read with little depth to it.