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Never Let Me Go Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Never Let Me Go


At first, Kathy H. seems to be a bright, perky woman who attends a good private school, Hailsham, has a college-like experience at "The Cottages," and ends up working as a "carer" (a kind of health care professional). Eventually, the reader learns that Kathy H. is a clone.
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Kathy recounts her early years at Hailsham, a school for clones, where she befriends Tommy and Ruth. They participate in art contests, which turn out to be part of an effort to prove clones have souls.

Ruth and Tommy begin dating (clones cannot reproduce) as they all finish their schooling and head to The Cottages. There, they have sex, debate books, and search for their "possibles" (the humans they are clones of).

After leaving The Cottages, the friends are split up; Kathy cares for other clones who are donors and will "complete" when they have given too many vital organs to live. Ruth and Tommy become donors before Kathy. Kathy ends up being Tommy's carer, and they fall in love.

Before Tommy's final donation, they visit with Madame, who collected art from students at Hailsham, hoping to get a deferral. But the gallery was simply an effort to improve the short lives of clones. Tommy returns to "complete," and Kathy continues as a "carer."
Best part of story, including ending: Kathy's story is a beautiful examination of what it means to be human (through friendships, love, and art), and what it means to be part of a system.

Best scene in story: The scene where Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy gather as adults to see a boat beached in the marshes and reflect on the closure of Hailsham is exceptionally touching.

Opinion about the main character: Kathy H. can come off as too optimistic at times, but she (like her friends) genuinely believes the system, in their sacrifices.

The review of this Book prepared by Marjorie a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of Never Let Me Go

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence 10%planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 10%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 50%Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places 30% Tone of book    -   sensitive (sigh....) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?    -   science fiction story Story involving clones/duplicates?    -   good clones/duplicates Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Clones    -   Yes

Main Character

Identity:    -   Female Age:    -   20's-30's

Setting

Earth setting:    -   20th century Takes place on Earth?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only)    -   none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue?    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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