Raven Books Girl One

The story was amazing and thought-provoking. A very intriguing, action-packed, sci-fi, mystery thriller that will surely get your attention from the beginning until the end. An imaginative, dystopian theme exploring the ideas of virgin births and children with extraordinary abilities is something I find innovative and exceptional.The story follows Josephine Morrow, the first-born girl of the nine Miracle Babies, conceived without the presence of a male reproductive cell and was raised in a community called the Homestead. When a suspicious fire broke out at the Homestead claiming the lives of its two members, the remaining mothers, and their daughters fled to live quietly and inconspicuously in different states. Several years later, Josie pursued a degree in experimental embryology at the University of Chicago to follow the footsteps of his "father". A year after leaving for college, Margaret Morrow, Mother One, was reported missing. Left with a few clues from their burned house, Josie, with the help of a news reporter named Tom, tracks down her fellow homesteaders to find her mom.Narrated in the first-person perspective, the story is well-written with fully developed world-building and interesting characters. I loved that each chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger that encourages you to keep on reading. I love the surprising revelations and unwavering bond between the main characters. I wished there was more backstory regarding Dr. Bellanger's wife and his other son, Bobby.Overall, this book is a must-read for lovers of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller, I hope the author decides to write a sequel to this amazing book.I'm grateful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Girl One was born in 1971, the first of 9 daughters, conceived without male DNA.She was being raised in an experimental commune called “The Homestead” with her creator, Dr. Joseph Bellanger, and the other mothers and daughters, until a suspicious fire takes two lives, and those remaining scatter across the USA, choosing to distance themselves from the experiment and each other.In 1994, Josephine (Girl One) is studying in Chicago with the hope of following in her “father’s” footsteps, until she learns of her mother Margaret’s disappearance on the news. She returns to her mother’s home and finds that again there has been a fire, and her mother’s car and purse are there even though she is not.The only clue to her whereabouts-a phone # for a reporter from the Kansas City Telegraph-named Thomas Abbott. With little else to go on-the pair team up to try and trace her mother’s last footsteps, taking them on a cross country road trip which leads to the other mother /daughter duos, most of who would have preferred to stay hidden.And, many new discoveries which will have them question if they are indeed, just ordinary or extraordinary young women.Every so often I am intrigued by a plot which changes or challenges the status quo of society so this caught my attention.I was surprised to discover that it was not Dystopian but rather, set in the past where this concept would have some in society observing this experiment and others wanting to record what happened, but most FEARING the ramifications of not needing men to conceive or fathers in their traditional family roles.But despite my interest, I found the pace slow-bogged down by long chapters and most of the revelations being shared through conversations rather than any action especially in the first half!The pace picked up some in the second half, but I never found myself fully invested in this one-I had not connected with the characters enough to care about the outcome.Still, books resonate differently with each of us, and I encourage you to read several reviews to see if this might be a better fit for you.

What would happen if you didn't need men for reproduction? This fascinating question is explored in this compelling and unique science fiction mystery thriller. Girl One is Josephine Morrow, she is one of nine girls in the 1970's that were born to mother's through parthenogenesis, reproduction without male DNA. All the mothers and daughters lived together in a commune in Vermont until things started to go terribly wrong. Since then the girls and mothers have spread throughout the country to live their individual lives. Josie has decided to pursue reproductive medicine and continue the research that was being done that produced the first set of "Miracle Babies." Josie and her mother, Margaret have become estranged, but when Margaret disappears under mysterious circumstances, Josie goes to great lengths to try and find her. Her journey to find her mother connects her with a journalist as well as bringing the other Girls back into her life with unforeseen consequences.This novel really grabbed me on a bunch of different levels. First, as a science geek, the idea of human parthenogenesis is certainly not anything I had really thought much about but this really presents it wonderfully, especially during the time period of the 70's at the same time as the feminist movement. Add to that all of the implications for men in potentially being removed from the process and how so many of the characters react to this possibility. Then the story is also just a darn good mystery on top of everything else. So many twists and turns along the way that keep you turning the page to finally meet another one of the Girls, track down other leads and finally uncover so many secrets that have affected so many lives. I really enjoyed reading this engrossing story that has so many layers to it, Josie, Dr. Bellanger, Tom, Cate, Fiona and all the others are all wonderfully flawed, realistic characters. Science fiction and mystery lovers will all find so much to like and enjoy from Girl One!!

Girl One, Josephine Morrow, is one of nine miracle births in which a scientific experiment achieved conception without the use of male DNA. A scientific breakthrough which some people see as an affront to God, men, and the natural order leaving the women targeted by both the media and those who want them eradicated. When a mysterious fire breaks out at their commune, killing two, the remaining mothers take their daughters and flee. Years later Margaret, Josephine's mother, goes missing after her home is set on fire. Josephine finds clues left behind that point back to the mysterious fire at the Homestead and her "sisters". Josie sets out to find the others in hopes of getting answers that may lead to her mother’s location. Josie soon uncovers secrets about the Homestead and the experiments that appear to have given each of the young women an ability...a power that some people want to use or destroy.Girl One is a fascinating feminist sci-fi novel that introduces a group of young women with powerful abilities who were born without male DNA. The story primarily focuses on Josie, the first miracle baby, after her mother goes missing. The story jumps back and forth between Josie tracking down the others and events from her childhood at the Homestead, the commune where they lived. She soon discovers that all of the "girls" possess an ability or power, which many don't realize they have, that appears to grow stronger when they are together. As much as I enjoyed this novel it wasn't as action-packed as I had hoped it would be. Most of the novel is Josie uncovering her past while searching for her mother, traveling around meeting her "sisters", and the women discovering or revealing their powers. I will warn that the novel contains some sensitive material including sexual assault. Although, I did really enjoy this novel, my only complaint is that it felt more like a mystery with sci-fi elements rather than the powerful, action packed, sci-fi novel I was hoping for.