Taylor Five

Reach for this book when your teen is wrestling with deep questions about their own identity, especially if they are navigating the complexities of being adopted or feeling 'different' from their peers. It is an ideal choice for readers who need a story that validates their anger and confusion while modeling incredible resilience. Set in the lush but dangerous jungles of Borneo, the story follows fourteen-year-old Taylor as she discovers she is a clone, only to have her world upended by a violent rebel attack. Taylor must overcome her feelings of betrayal to lead her younger brother and a semi-tame orangutan to safety. It is a high-stakes survival adventure that balances ethical dilemmas about genetic engineering with the raw, emotional reality of grief and survival. While the premise is science fiction, the heart of the book is about the universal search for belonging and the strength we find in family, whether biological or chosen. Best for ages 12 and up due to themes of loss and peril.