Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Solid by Shelley Workinger


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...
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As Solid opens, Clio Kaid is headed into her first day at a military "summer camp" for children who were secretly given gene therapy in utero 18 years ago. When the government realized what this scientist had done, they immediately contacted all the subjects to come in for testing and monitoring. There don't seem to be any problems, but no one knows for sure. Clio quickly falls in with a friendly group of kids and they enjoy spending time getting to know each other. The exercises, classes and checkups seem pretty routine - nothing special - until Clio accidentally overhears someone talking about the kids and their "talents". As she starts to pay more attention, she unearths more secrets - with the help of her friends.

Solid was a quick, enjoyable read. I liked Clio as the narrator, she was a genuinely sweet character who wasn't obnoxiously smart or obsessing over boys. The storyline was engaging but the real plot didn't happen until quite a way through the book, then it was wrapped up too quickly. Ms. Workinger really gave us a sense of Clio and her friends - their histories and personalities, and I enjoyed "meeting" each and every one of them. I was disappointed that she did not go more into the abilities of the kids. We got that some could turn invisible, or were great at sports, or something do do with art. What are the ramifications of these abilities? How was the government planning to exploit these talents?

The storyline has the potential to delve deeper as the series continues and I would be interested to see where Ms. Workinger takes her characters next.

Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher
: CreateSpace
Relase Date
: July 9, 2010
ISBN-10: 1453624821
ISBN-13
: 978-1453624821


My Rating:


Giveaway:
I am giving away my signed copy of this book:

Just leave a comment to enter!
Ends December 8.

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

23 comments:

  1. Hi Patti :)
    Thank you for the blurb & review.
    All the best,
    RKCharron

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the review. This sounds like a really good read, please enter me
    june111@att.net

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  3. Sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  4. Not entering

    Though is sounds interesting, but more a book a friend of mine would rea

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  5. I'm always up for a new YA series. This looks great. Thanks for the review, Patti!

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  6. Sounds like a awesome good. Thanks for the review.

    Lisa B

    modokker at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this type of storyline! This one sounds really good and I'd love to be entered to win.

    follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. It only gets a lukewarm review from you and based on the blurb it doesn't sound all that good.

    However I have a young friend who might enjoy the book so please enter me if it is open worldwide.

    Thanks

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hm... I am intrigued! Count me in please! :)
    You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would love to win this ;
    (If it's open to Europe)

    raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Judging from your review it sound like a good read. would love to win the book. :)

    hrududu AT hotmail DOT de

    ReplyDelete
  12. this book seems good =o if it is open to Brazil, i want to enter :)

    sweet.sayumi@yahoo.com.br

    ReplyDelete
  13. Is this giveaway international? Please, I'd love it! *_*

    tainara.rk@hotmail.com

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  14. I love stories about people with supernatural abilities! Sounds like a good read :-)

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  15. It ends on my birthday :P
    Count me in if it's international, please
    Thanks!

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  16. Oh, this is so great. It really sounds like a really interesting book!
    Count me in if it is international! :)

    Kelly @ I Work For Books
    yvantis[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oooh I'd love to read this one! :)

    Stephanie
    thestephanieloves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds like a good read.


    Emily
    fantasizesgam AT gmail DOT com

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  19. I think I would really like this book. Please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi! Thanks for the giveaway.
    Count me in if it's international please.
    k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like a good read, thanks for the giveaway. :)

    geckyboz[at]gmail[dot]com

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  22. This giveaway is now closed. Will announce winner soon :) Thanks for entering!

    ReplyDelete