“Every morning I wake up, I'm a new person. Literally.”
— Eliza's opening narration, establishing her unique condition.
Archivist's Choice
The Originals
Cat Patrick (2013)
Genre
Fantasy / Mystery / Science Fiction / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
240 min
Key Themes
See below
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Three identical sisters, secretly sharing one identity, discover their true origins and seek individual lives, threatening their mother's carefully constructed deception.
Synopsis
Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best are identical triplets who live as one person: Elizabeth Best. They take turns being Elizabeth, going to school, joining activities, and hiding their complex secret, which their mother controls. When Lizzie falls for Sean Kelly, she starts to question her role and wants her own life. Her doubts lead her to investigate their unusual past and her mother's reasons, risking the family's secret and their fragile balance. As Lizzie learns the truth, she faces the impact of her choices on her sisters and family, seeking independence while dealing with the difficult confession she owes Sean.
Reading time
240 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Mysterious, Romantic, Thought-provoking, Emotional
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy YA mystery with a unique premise about identity, family secrets, and first love.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer hard science fiction or dislike YA romance tropes.
Plot Summary
The Best Family Secret
Lizzie Best introduces herself and her two identical sisters, Ella and Betsey. They are triplets, but to the outside world, only one daughter, Elizabeth Best, exists. This deception, set up by their mother, means they take turns being Elizabeth, going to school, joining activities, and seeing friends. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey each have specific days when they are 'on' as Elizabeth, while the other two stay hidden at home, studying or pursuing hobbies. This system has been in place since they were young, and they are good at keeping the illusion, carefully sharing information and copying each other's ways to avoid being caught. Their mother protects their secret fiercely, stressing the dangers if anyone finds out.
Sean Kelly and a Crushing Encounter
When it is Lizzie's turn to be Elizabeth, she meets Sean Kelly in an art class. They feel an instant connection, and Lizzie likes his art and kind personality. Later, at a school event, Sean approaches 'Elizabeth' again, but this time it is Betsey's turn. Betsey, who is more reserved and less interested in romance, dismisses him. This confuses and hurts Sean, who does not understand Elizabeth's sudden change. Lizzie is upset when she hears about Betsey's interaction with Sean, realizing the emotional difficulty their shared identity causes, especially when real feelings are involved. She feels growing frustration with their arrangement's limits.
An Unforgettable First Date
Despite the earlier awkwardness, Sean asks 'Elizabeth' out, and it falls on Lizzie's day. She accepts, excited but also burdened by the secret. Their date is wonderful; they connect over art, shared interests, and a comfortable closeness Lizzie has never felt before. She wants to tell him the truth, to be truly seen by him, but fear of exposing their family's secret stops her. The date strengthens Lizzie's feelings for Sean and her wish for a life beyond their shared identity. She returns home feeling both thrilled by the connection and deeply conflicted about how impossible a normal relationship is.
The Stress of Deception
The pressure of keeping up the 'Elizabeth' facade, especially with Sean in the picture, starts to wear on the sisters. Ella, who is more outgoing, finds it easy to charm Sean, but Lizzie feels jealous. Betsey, on the other hand, struggles with the romance and almost reveals their secret during a casual talk with Sean, causing a tense argument among the sisters. Their mother, increasingly watchful, notices the strain and reminds them how important their secret is, warning of severe consequences if they are discovered. The girls' individual personalities are becoming harder to hide, making the shared identity more difficult to maintain without problems.
Lizzie's Growing Doubts
Lizzie starts to feel smothered by the deception. Her unique feelings for Sean make her question everything about their lives. She sees her mother's careful planning and the extreme steps taken to protect their secret, and starts to wonder about how their situation began. Why are they triplets, yet only one is allowed to exist publicly? She begins to search for clues, subtly asking her mother questions and looking for old documents or photos that might explain their past. This growing curiosity separates her from Ella and Betsey, who accept their circumstances more, and creates a rift between Lizzie and her family.
A Troubling Discovery
Driven by her suspicions, Lizzie searches her mother's room when she is out. She finds a locked box with old medical records, newspaper clippings, and a diary. The documents show that their mother, Dr. Best, was a brilliant geneticist who worked on human cloning. The newspaper articles detail a scandal involving unethical experiments and a mysterious disappearance of a research subject. The diary entries hint at a desperate attempt to protect her 'children' from discovery. This discovery shocks Lizzie, confirming her worst fears and changing her understanding of their family's past and her mother's true role in their creation. She realizes they are not just triplets, but something far more complex and scientifically made.
The Truth Revealed
With the evidence from the box, Lizzie confronts her mother. Dr. Best, seeing that the truth cannot be hidden, finally confesses. She reveals that Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey are not natural triplets, but clones she created to bring back her deceased daughter, Elizabeth. The original Elizabeth died tragically, and Dr. Best, consumed by grief and scientific ambition, used her research to replicate her. The reason for their secrecy is to protect them from the legal and ethical problems of her actions, as human cloning is illegal and controversial. The confession devastates Lizzie, who struggles to process being a copy, not an original.
The Sisters' Reactions
Lizzie shares the shocking truth with Ella and Betsey. Ella is at first upset and angry, feeling betrayed by their mother and questioning her own identity. She struggles with being a copy, not a unique person. Betsey, always practical, is more worried about the implications and dangers if their secret is exposed. She fears for their safety and what will happen to them. The revelation divides the sisters as they each deal with their new understanding of themselves and their family, further straining their fragile bond. Their shared identity as 'Elizabeth' now feels like a cage, not a shield.
Seeking Independence
The truth inspires Lizzie. She realizes she cannot keep living as 'Elizabeth' and sharing an identity with her sisters. She wants her own life, her own name, and her own future, especially with Sean. She begins to plan to leave, to find a way to exist as Lizzie Best, a unique person, despite the risks. This decision causes more conflict with her mother, who fears for Lizzie's safety and the exposure of their secret. It also creates tension with Betsey, who thinks Lizzie is being reckless, and Ella, who is still recovering from the revelation and unsure of her next steps. Lizzie's determination, however, is strong.
A Heartbreaking Confession to Sean
Lizzie decides she can no longer lie to Sean. She arranges to meet him and, with great courage and fear, tells him everything: that she is one of three identical clones, that 'Elizabeth Best' is a shared identity, and that she is Lizzie. Sean is understandably shocked and struggles to understand the strange truth. While at first overwhelmed, his true affection for Lizzie wins out. He is hurt by the deception but ultimately understands the impossible situation she was in. This confession is a major turning point for Lizzie, representing her first true step toward individual freedom and honesty, even if it means facing an uncertain future.
The Consequences of Truth
Lizzie's confession to Sean starts a chain of events. Though Sean promises to keep her secret, the Best family's delicate balance is broken. Their mother, Dr. Best, fears exposure and legal consequences. Ella and Betsey must face their situation more directly, as Lizzie's actions make their shared identity impossible. The threat of discovery is bigger than ever, forcing the family to consider drastic measures. Lizzie, though scared, feels a sense of freedom, knowing she has finally chosen her own path, even if it leads to an uncertain and possibly dangerous future for all of them.
Principal Figures
Lizzie Best
The Protagonist
Lizzie transforms from a compliant participant in her family's deception to a determined individual who seeks her own identity and freedom, even at great personal cost.
Ella Best
The Supporting
Ella moves from easy acceptance of their shared identity to a profound crisis of self-worth after learning the truth of her origins.
Betsey Best
The Supporting
Betsey remains largely consistent in her pragmatic approach, but the unraveling of their secret forces her to confront the increasing dangers of their situation.
Dr. Best (Mother)
The Antagonist/Supporting
Dr. Best begins as a controlling figure, desperate to maintain her secret, and is eventually forced to confront the consequences of her actions and the growing independence of her daughters.
Sean Kelly
The Supporting
Sean begins as a normal high school boy, becomes entangled in Lizzie's secret, and ultimately proves his loyalty and understanding by accepting her for who she truly is.
Original Elizabeth Best
The Mentioned
N/A (already deceased)
Themes & Insights
Identity vs. Conformity
The main theme is the struggle of Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey to form individual identities while forced to be one person: Elizabeth. Lizzie's desire for individuality is especially strong, driven by her feelings for Sean. The constant need to copy each other and hide their personalities shows the psychological cost of conforming. The discovery of their cloned origins makes this struggle worse, making them question what it means to be 'original' versus a 'copy' and if they can truly be themselves. Their mother's control further shows the pressure to conform for safety.
“How could I be Elizabeth when Elizabeth was already dead? How could I be me when 'me' wasn't allowed to exist?”
The Ethics of Science and Grief
The novel explores the ethical issues of human cloning, caused by Dr. Best's deep grief. Her scientific skill is overshadowed by her moral compromise in creating the clones to replace her dead daughter. The story asks if the goal (bringing back a loved one) justifies the method (creating lives that are not truly free). The girls' existence as a secret experiment raises questions about scientific responsibility, the limits of genetic manipulation, and the harm caused when personal loss dictates scientific pursuits. Dr. Best's actions, though born of love, created a life of deception and limited freedom for her daughters.
“My mother didn't just give us life; she gave us a secret. And that secret was our cage.”
Love, Betrayal, and Family Secrets
This theme explores the complex dynamics of love and betrayal within the Best family. Dr. Best's love for her original daughter and her clones is clear, yet her actions betray their right to individual lives and freedom. The sisters' love for each other is tested by the deception and their different desires. Lizzie feels betrayed by her mother's lies, and by the limits her sisters place on her. Sean's love for Lizzie, despite the shocking revelation, contrasts with the family's complex and often harmful love. The entire family is built on a huge secret, and its slow unraveling reveals deep emotional wounds and the sacrifices made to keep it.
“Secrets are like bricks. You can build a wall around yourself, or you can use them to break free.”
The Desire for Authenticity
This theme is central to Lizzie's journey. She constantly fights the falseness of her life as 'Elizabeth,' wanting to be recognized and loved for who she truly is. Her romance with Sean increases this desire, as she realizes she cannot build a real relationship on lies. The need to express her own thoughts, pursue her own interests, and have her own name drives her to defy her mother and risk everything. The other sisters, to varying degrees, also deal with this, as their individual personalities clash with the shared persona, showing the human need for authenticity and self-expression.
“I didn't want to be a part of Elizabeth. I wanted to be Lizzie. Just Lizzie.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Shared Identity
Three individuals living as one person.
The central plot device is the shared identity of 'Elizabeth Best.' Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns portraying this single persona, complete with shared memories, mannerisms, and a meticulously coordinated schedule. This device creates inherent conflict, as the girls' individual personalities and desires clash with the need to maintain a unified front. It generates suspense, as the constant threat of exposure looms, and serves as a metaphor for the suppression of individual identity under external pressures. The device drives the narrative by forcing the protagonist, Lizzie, to confront the limitations and psychological toll of this existence, ultimately leading to her rebellion.
The Hidden Box
A physical object containing crucial backstory information.
The hidden box in Dr. Best's room functions as a classic discovery device. It contains old medical records, newspaper clippings about human cloning, and a personal diary. This collection of documents serves to reveal the critical backstory of the girls' origins as clones and their mother's unethical scientific past. Its discovery by Lizzie is the turning point in the narrative, transforming her suspicions into concrete knowledge and providing the undeniable evidence needed for her to confront her mother. The box is a tangible representation of the family's deep-seated secrets and the truth that has been suppressed for years.
First-Person Narration (Lizzie)
The story is told exclusively from Lizzie's perspective.
The novel is narrated solely by Lizzie, providing an intimate and subjective view of her internal struggles, desires, and growing doubts. This device allows the reader to deeply empathize with Lizzie's yearning for individuality and her emotional turmoil as she navigates the complex deception. It also creates dramatic tension, as the reader experiences events through her limited knowledge, gradually uncovering the truth alongside her. The first-person perspective highlights Lizzie's unique voice among her identical sisters and underscores her journey of self-discovery, making her internal conflict the driving force of the narrative.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“It's like living in a perpetual state of amnesia, but with a friendly tour guide.”
— Eliza describing her life with her parents filling her in each morning.
“How can you love someone you don't remember loving?”
— Eliza grappling with her feelings for Liam, despite her memory resets.
“My memory might reset, but my heart doesn't.”
— Eliza's internal realization about her enduring feelings for Liam.
“He looks at me like I'm the only person in the world, even though I'm a different person every day.”
— Eliza observing Liam's unwavering affection.
“What if the things I don't remember are the most important things?”
— Eliza's fear about her memory loss impacting crucial events.
“It's not about remembering every detail; it's about remembering how someone makes you feel.”
— Liam's perspective on their relationship, comforting Eliza.
“Every day is a new first date.”
— Eliza's humorous and poignant description of her ongoing relationship with Liam.
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. For me, it's a blank slate.”
— Eliza reflecting on her lack of personal history.
“I'm not broken. I'm just... rebooted.”
— Eliza asserting her resilience despite her condition.
“You can't live a life if you don't remember living it.”
— Eliza's initial despair about her condition.
“Maybe being an original isn't about being the first, but about being uniquely you, every single day.”
— Eliza's evolving understanding of her identity by the end of the book.
“The notes are my anchor, my proof that I existed yesterday.”
— Eliza relying on her daily journal to reconstruct her life.
“It's a strange kind of freedom, not being tied down by yesterday's mistakes.”
— Eliza finding an unexpected positive aspect of her memory loss.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'The Originals' revolves around Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best, three seemingly identical triplets who are actually clones sharing one public identity as 'Elizabeth'. They take turns living as Elizabeth, attending school, and managing social interactions, all while keeping their true nature a secret from everyone outside their immediate family.
