Solid by Shelley Workinger

Solid

Shelley Workinger

222 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: July 9th, 2010

Source: ARC from Author

From Goodreads:

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

   Clio Kade is a C9x-altered superhuman. But she never knew about it. Not until, she was sent, or brought, along with 99 other teens, to a state-of-the-art facility, where the military wants to find out exactly how C9x altered the teens. But maybe the military isn't telling the truth, maybe they already knew about the C9x experiment when it happened nearly 20 years ago. You have to read it yourself to find out ;)

  

   Shelley Workinger wrote a pretty interesting book. Especially noteworthy to me, would be the way Workinger expertly blended contemporary YA with supernatural YA. Though the book talks about super-powers and superhumans, most of the story is normal and readers find themselves (through Clio) making new friends, enemies, and trying to learn and figure things out.

   One thing you should know: Solid isn't a very fast-paced novel. Not until the end (about the last 25 pages), was I "dying" to turn to the next page, but at the same time, I didn't feel like putting the book down and reading something else. The plot is interesting, combining superpowers with the military is perfect science fiction for me :D And I love science fiction, though I haven't found many interesting titles in YA, or maybe I just haven't noticed...

-Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably ages 12 and up
-Is there a second book? Yes
-Will I be looking forward to book two? Definitely