Once We Were

In the second novel in the Hybrid Chronicles—perfect for fans of Ally Condie, Lauren Oliver, and Scott Westerfeld—Eva and Addie struggle to share their body as they clash over romance and the fight for hybrid freedom.

Addie and Eva escaped imprisonment at a horrific psychiatric hospital. Now they should be safe, living among an underground hybrid movement. But safety is starting to feel constricting. Faced with the possibility of being in hiding forever, the girls are eager to help bring about change—now. The answer seems to lie in a splinter group willing to go to extremes for hybrid freedom, but as Addie and Eva fall ever deeper into their plans, what they thought was the solution to their problems might just be the thing that destroys everything—including their bond to each other.

I am lucky just to be alive.

Eva was never supposed to have survived this long. As the recessive soul, she should have faded away years ago. Instead, she lingers in the body she shares with her sister soul, Addie. When the government discovered the truth, they tried to "cure" the girls, but Eva and Addie escaped before the doctors could strip Eva's soul away.

Now fugitives, Eva and Addie find shelter with a group of hybrids who run an underground resistance. Surrounded by others like them, the girls learn how to temporarily disappear to give each soul some much-needed privacy. Eva is thrilled at the chance to be alone with Ryan, the boy she's falling for, but troubled by the growing chasm between her and Addie. Despite clashes over their shared body, both girls are eager to join the rebellion.

Yet as they are drawn deeper into the escalating violence, they start to wonder: How far are they willing to go to fight for hybrid freedom? Faced with uncertainty and incredible danger, their answers may tear them apart forever.

Praise for WHAT’S LEFT OF ME: “A shockingly unique story that redefines what it means to be human.” - Lauren DeStefano, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of WITHER

“Zhang’s concept is original and provocative; the deep bond between Eva and Addie (the shifts between I, we, and she in Eva’s narration are especially haunting) and the mystery about why their society is so desperate to ‘fix’ hybrids are riveting. ” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A deeply original tale of longing for identity; so skillfully crafted, the words float above the page.” - Lissa Price, international bestselling author of STARTERS

“An unsettling dystopian adventure of two souls trapped in a single body. ” - Kirkus Reviews

“Uniquely imagined…Zhang’s prose is lovely, and the plot is compelling to the last page.” - School Library Journal

“An intriguing depiction of sibling relationships and the challenges of learning to live as distinct, though not physically separate, individuals.” - Booklist

Zhang’s precise prose skillfully delineates Eva’s unique first–person point of view, and the sisters’ intense relationship continues to be deeply compelling…fans will have plenty of reasons to be impatient for the third book in the series. - Kirkus Reviews

“the siblings’ desire for autonomy is intriguing, as is the exploration of the politics of enacting change.” - Booklist Online

Lovely, atmospheric storytelling…Zhang has envisioned a complex, unique world and deftly brings it to life. - School Library Journal