conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a story titled The Unhappening of Genesis Lee about Populace, Mementi, Link with the genre: Children's Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Gr 8 UpGenesis Lee is one of the Mementi, a group of genetically enhanced humans with the ability to preserve every single one of their memories. Humans without this ability belong to the Populace. The Populace resent the Mementi's privilege, while the Mementi fiercely guard their memories, stored in valuable Link bracelets. When Gena's best friend Cora becomes the latest victim of a Link thief, a Populace boy named Kalan steps in to help. Meanwhile, two corporations are competing to create the first memory backup, a powerful technology that could both save memories and, dangerously, completely erase them. This dystopia, in which technology has a potentially degrading effect on the human mind, recalls the future M.T. Anderson created in Feed (Candlewick, 2002), but with less heart and humor. The prose is simple and and the story is fast paced, making this accessible to many readers, but the writing only exists to propel the rather convoluted plot. The dialogue contains more exposition than illuminations about the characters, who never really come to life. It's refreshing to find a main protagonist of Chinese descent, but Gena is more of a stock action hero than a compelling, nuanced being. This novel does raise some provocative questions. How much of our lives and personalities consist of our memories? Are genetic enhancements ethical? Overall, an effort that doesn't stand out from the current crowd of dystopian young adult fiction.Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first five paragraphs for this story.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Unhappening of Genesis Lee
  Book group questions, Common Core teacher discussion guides, and behind-the-scenes bonus content can be found at www.shalleemcarthur.com.
  To the WrAHM girls: Who listened to me gripe and squee, made me actually LOL, and gave me enough gifs of Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch to keep me motivated. Keep WrAHMpaging on!
  To the family I created: Danny, for your patience and love and faith—you are the reason I made it this far. Asher, for keeping me laughing and always assuring me that you like me. Amaya, for your smooshy kisses and squeezy hugs that remind me I'm more than just a writer. Hundreds of Links. Lifetimes of memories within them. The Links wrapped around gloved wrists and bulged under long sleeves and scarves. Always present, always hidden.
  Cora waved a gloved hand at the packed club. "This is number two on your list? Take earplugs when you go."
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Mementi, Link.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Unhappening of Genesis Lee
  Book group questions, Common Core teacher discussion guides, and behind-the-scenes bonus content can be found at www. shalleemcarthur. com. 
  To the WrAHM girls: Who listened to me gripe and squee, made me actually LOL, and gave me enough gifs of Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch to keep me motivated. Keep WrAHMpaging on!
  To the family I created: Danny, for your patience and love and faith—you are the reason I made it this far. Asher, for keeping me laughing and always assuring me that you like me. Amaya, for your smooshy kisses and squeezy hugs that remind me I'm more than just a writer. 
  Every Mementi in the club bore a perfect recollection of their existence inside their Link beads. Hundreds of Links. Lifetimes of memories within them. The Links wrapped around gloved wrists and bulged under long sleeves and scarves. Always present, always hidden. 
  Cora waved a gloved hand at the packed club. "This is number two on your list? Take earplugs when you go. "
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: We dashed away, the crunch of gravel leaving a trail of sound for someone to follow. Kalan yanked at the door to the stairwell, but it was locked. I skidded up and slapped my hand on the DNA scanner. The door opened, and we rushed through.
  Down the stairs, out the back door, and across the lawn. We stopped under the shade of the hospital's solar panel array to catch our breath.
  Cash would totally tell on us. At least he didn't know who we were. I unwrapped the Sidewinder from my wrist and tapped through menu options. The visitor check-in list popped up on my screen. I glanced at it, then turned off my Sidewinder.
  I typed out a text to Ren as we left. Kalan's long legs kept up with my stride and we rushed up the tramstop stairs.
  I couldn't help it. I loved that he wanted to comfort me. For a minute, I let myself fantasize about touching him. To not worry about sharing memories, to just feel his skin. My mind rebelled, spitting the thought right back out. I didn't want that from him. No matter what I may have wanted just a day ago.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last five paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: I counted my breaths. One-two-in, out-three-four. As I reached up to ring the bell, the door opened. They must have heard me laugh. Dad stood in the door frame, his face twisted and terrified.
  Dad's forehead glistened with sweat in the porch light. Funny, him scared of me now. Twenty-four hours ago, he hadn't batted an eye while I yelled at him for stealing my memories. Now he backed away from me. The ghost who haunted his home and teased his subconscious. He had no idea how he still tortured mine.
  Behind him, Mom came into view. She leaned toward me, almost reaching out. "It's you," she whispered.
  The joy in her voice wrapped around me. She had forgotten me, but she hadn't forgotten her love for me. I could bask in that tiny glory for years.
  Dad stumbled away from the door, but Mom moved forward. With a gesture she hadn't used since that day on the swings, she took my hand. I stepped inside my home.