The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearce

Posted by : Deborah Takahashi Monday, October 3, 2011

Plot Summary:
In this sequel to The Adoration of Jenna Fox, is the story of Jenna's two best friend, Locke and Kara, who "died" in the accident as well. It has been over 260 years since Locke and Kara have been released from their prison only to learn that not only have they lost their bodies, but they have changed quite a bit. Unlike Jenna, who has been alive in well all this time, their new bodies, or BioPerfect, are much more advanced. However, Locke and Kara have no idea why they were brought back from the dead and for what purpose. Unfortunately, they were resurrected by a man named Dr. Gatsbro who not only "saved" them from purgatory, but has other plans for them that they do not agree with. Although their bodies are not real, their minds are and Kara and Locke decide to make a break for it and look for Jenna. The difficult part about this plan is that both Kara and Locke do not have registered ID's and no money. Furthermore, it has been 260 years since they last stepped outside and they have no idea where and how they will get to Jenna. The ending will leave readers biting their nails.

Critical Evaluation:
In this brilliant conclusion, Mary E. Pearce continues to provide readers with a very real situation where medical science has overstepped their ethical boundaries. In this story, two minds have been unlawfully detained to become a part of an experiment that has been deemed illegal. Like Jenna, Locke and Kara are no longer humans, but commodities that will not only make humans immortal, but are results of people's unwillingness to accept death. Pearce provides teen readers with a tale where we have to make choices that will not only affect us, but those around us. There are a bunch of twists and turns that will make the reader ponder what it is to be human even if we are not completely flesh and blood. The most touching aspect of this story is the bot named Dot who is 100% machine, but develops hopes and wishes. I truly enjoyed reading this story.

Information about the Author:
Born in 1955, Mary E. Pearson, a native Californian, decided that she was going to be an author at the ripe age of seven-years-old. Her love for writing stemmed from her second grade teacher who could really tell a story. All through elementary school, her teachers had praised her for her writing and she continued to write all the way through high school. What most people don't know about Pearson is that she absolutely loved to dress up and take on the identity of her favorite storybook character, which has helped immensely with her writing. After graduating high school, she went onto to Cal State Long Beach where she earned her BFA in Art where she spent a few years working as an artist. After giving birth to her children, she went back to school, San Diego State, to get her teaching credential and taught various grades. According to Pearson: "I went on to teach many different grades but it was my second grade students who pushed me back into writing. During Writing Workshop I would sit with them and write, loving the process, loving the stories, and lo and behold deciding I would love to return to my first love. That's a whole lot of lovin' going on and luckily for me I was able to do just that"(para. 5). Pearson currently lives in San Diego where she writes full time and has written five young adult novels.

Genre:

Teen Sci Fi

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to The Fox Inheritance: