YA Science Fiction
336 pages, hardcover
Available now (January 2013)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Review copy provided by publisher via BEA
Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.
Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.
Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.
Secret government projects? Genetically enhanced teens living in glass cages in a farmhouse basement? A black ops branch of agents out to "save" the world? Yes, please.
Enjoyable and fast-paced, the majority of this story takes place at a run. A literal run. Once the four boys and Anna escape probable death at the hands of the men in black, they're on the go, trying to figure out who they are, why they were created, and what to do about it.
This need to follow the clues leads to some seriously *headdesk* moves (why, oh why would you go into enemy headquarters, people? You're five kids. They're armed, trained secret agents. Not the best idea, y'all!) but the action certainly doesn't let up.
The dynamic between the boys was intriguing and throwing Anna in the mix just stirred things up between them all. All in all, it was a crazy ride. One I'll gladly rejoin when the next book in the series comes out.
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You have to shake your head at a lot of things teens do in YA novels. Many of these characters were born without the self-preservation gene :-)
ReplyDeleteOhh, this sounds great! I must confess I was undecided about it, but what you wrote about it happening on the run definitely piqued my interest. I'm working a lot these days and thrill-ride books are the only ones that can keep my attention.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm totally excited about this now.
I can deal with a few headdesk moves if my reward is spending time with 4 hot guys. Sounds like I'm still coming out ahead in that deal Mary! Glad to know you enjoyed this one, I'm really looking forward to giving it a whirl. I'M COMING BOYS!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was good over all!! :D *hugs*
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like a crazy, exciting idea! : D
Ha ha...well the headdesk moves might just be my favorite part. I am surprised this book isn't getting more buzz. I have read several good reviews on it now and it seems like it is a sleeper. I guess I need to check it out, but who am I kidding I have a towering TBR pile that will likely smash me if it toppled on me.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't pay this one much attention but I'm definitely curious now! I don't love the cover, but the story itself sounds great (and that's really what matters, right?).
ReplyDeleteMary!! I think I shall be digging this one out of my TBR pile next since your review reminded me about it. :) Hot boys?? I'm totally in!! Glad that the action makes up for some of the not-so-smart moves the teens make. ;) That always seems to happen in the spy/dystopian/paranormal novels. It's like you want to yell at them to not do it!! DON'T GO IN THERE!! :P
ReplyDeleteHaha! They all go into the enemy headquarters? Well. No one ever said teenage boys were smart :) Sounds like a fun, action packed adventure!
ReplyDeleteJesse @ Pretty In Fiction