Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Jenna Starborn
	Author:	Shinn, Sharon
	Date Published:	2002
	Genre:	Sci-Fi
	Grade Level:	7 - 12
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
I had no biological nor adoptive mother. "Aunt" Rentley was childless and had commissioned me before the miracle of the artificial womb made Jerret possible. I had been grown in the generation tanks of Baldus to be her daughter. But, that all changed when she was able to produce her own son. Jerret was a spoiled, rich bully with no redeeming characteristics. He seemed to take pleasure in beating me, and his mother refused to believe he was possible of anything but perfection. I often went hungry for the temerity of speaking the truth about the brat. But, finally, she went too far, and left me too many days without food. I ended up in the hospital--my first time there--and my aunt ended up being accused of physical abuse and malnourishment. Aunt Rentley had a lawyer present, and tried to use her money and threats of a lawsuit to intimidate the doctors and retain control over my life. However, the physical evidence was apparently so convincing that she had no luck. The Social Services Agency representative present offered the solution of sending me to an off-planet, government funded training facility to learn a career and enable me to live a full, productive life. When they asked me what I would like to do, I responded that I would love to go away to school and learn engineering, math, religion, philosophy...so much. Anything with motors or energy or components I loved, and often watched the generators at Aunt Rentley's. There was a fine tech school on Lora the agent mentioned. When Aunt Rentley protested...for form apparently...the lawyer alleged that I had strong ties of affection to the woman and was sure that she would be a part of my life no matter how far I traveled. Not bloody likely!