Deconstructing Dylan

by Lesley Choyce

Overview

The year is 2014. Dylan Gibson is 16 and knows there is something unusual about him, but he doesn't know what - aside from his fascination for things like insects, opera, old Japanese sci-fi movies, playing the didgeridoo, and the Loch Ness monster. After being dumped by his girlfriend, Caroline, who thinks he's too strange, Dylan meets Robyn, who's something of an outcast herself.

Dylan's father works for a big drug company, and his mom, a former geneticist, dropped out of research after a mysterious event. When Dylan discovers a mysterious photograph of himself at a younger age, he starts to suspect that there may be more to his identity crisis than he realized. With Robyn's help, he begins to investigate the mystery that is his own life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554885190
Publisher:	Dundurn Press
Publication date:	04/01/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	180
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lesley Choyce is one of Canada's most prolific authors. A resident of Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia, he has published more than 50 works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. His previous YA fiction includes Shoulder the Sky, winner of the Ann Connor Brimer Award, and Smoke and Mirrors, shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Canadian Book Award.

Lesley Choyce is the author of over ninety books. His previous verse novel, Jeremy Stone, was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. He has won the Dartmouth Book Award, the Atlantic Poetry Prize, and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"…a quick-paced narrative, tightly written and expertly constructed to keep the reader wanting more."

"I enjoyed reading Deconstructing Dylan. It is the story of Dylan, who has always felt out of place but can never quite figure out why.

...One Thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact it was set a few years in the future, but not too far away. It added a few futuristic tools but it was close to our time that it was very understandable. Also, the issues that the book deals with hit close to home because we are or soon will be dealing with them, too.

I also appreciated that, even though the book sometimes talked about complicated things in science, they were explained very simply and there were no confusing explanations to get lost in.

The book starts a little slowly but I eventually realized the story needs the initial set-up for the latter parts to make sense. Once the action did start, it was very exciting and did not want to put it down until I was done.

...I would recommend this book to students in high school looking for a well-written book about an identity crisis. It is an enjoyable book that really makes you think."

Jeneva Kopp, Herald Book Club, The Lethbridge Herald, June 3rd, 2006

Editorial Reviews

The year is 2014, and sixteen-year-old Dylan Gibson is a happy-go-lucky high school student whose interests include insects, the Loch Ness monster, and of course, girls. The only child of well-known genetics researchers, Dylan has always felt that he is different from his peers in some fundamental way that he cannot define. He enlists the help of Robyn, his eccentric new girlfriend, in solving the mystery. While researching his family, they discover an obituary for Dylan's older brother, Kyle, who died of cancer before Dylan was born. Dylan, who is stunned to find out that he had a sibling, confronts his parents about Kyle. They then confess that Dylan is a clone of his dead brother, the result of an experiment that they undertook while grief-stricken over the loss of their son. Dylan is shocked and torn by this revelation. Strengthened by Robyn's acceptance, however, he eventually comes to terms with his identity by reaching out to other confused young clones and serving as their mentor. Told in first person by Dylan, this mesmerizing novel explores the ethics of cloning, its possible psychological repercussions, and the question of whether or not a human clone would have a soul. Choyce uses a tantalizing story line to ask some difficult questions about the consequences of scientific progress. Dylan is an unforgettable character, and readers will not doubt his humanity for even a second. This book, with its powerful imagery and important topic, is an excellent choice for school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 5Q 3P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, BoardwalkBooks/Dundurn Press, 174p., Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.
—Dotsy Harland

VOYA

I enjoyed reading Deconstructing Dylan. It is the story of Dylan, who has always felt out of place but can never quite figure out why.

...One Thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact it was set a few years in the future, but not too far away. It added a few futuristic tools but it was close to our time that it was very understandable. Also, the issues that the book deals with hit close to home because we are or soon will be dealing with them, too.

I also appreciated that, even though the book sometimes talked about complicated things in science, they were explained very simply and there were no confusing explanations to get lost in.

The book starts a little slowly but I eventually realized the story needs the initial set-up for the latter parts to make sense. Once the action did start, it was very exciting and did not want to put it down until I was done.

...I would recommend this book to students in high school looking for a well-written book about an identity crisis. It is an enjoyable book that really makes you think.

Jeneva Kopp, Herald Book Club, The Lethbridge Herald, June 3rd, 2006

From the Publisher

... the central puzzle of the book, and of Dylan, is gripping.

Georgia Straight - John Burns

I think teenagers will find this book fascinating, and adults may also enjoy it. (I read it through in one sitting.)

Prairie Fire Magazine - Donna Gamache

Deconstructing Dylan explores a classic young adult theme of self-identity - with a fascinating twist that will grip readers' imaginations.

Atlantic Books Today - Margaret Poole

... thoughtful and enlightening ... will spark much discussion with adolescent readers and thinkers.

Brandon Sun - Sally Bender

... rewarding to read ... for seeing a secret world brought to light

Books In Canada - M. Wayne Cunningham

Author Lesley Choyce turns teen angst on its ear with this finely balanced novel.

NS) Chronicle Herald (Halifax

a quick-paced narrative, tightly written and expertly constructed to keep the reader wanting more.

NL) The Telegram (St. John's

Choyce uses a tantalizing story line to ask some difficult questions about the consequences of scientific progress. Dylan is an unforgettable character ... This book, with its powerful imagery and important topic, is an excellent choice for school and public libraries.

Dotsy Harland