Deficient

by Michael Solis

The near future is progressively free from discrimination based on race, class, and sexual orientation. But in a world populated by the gifted, fifteen-year-old Alejandro Aragon (Alé) is part of the only remaining minority-he's a Deficient. Powerless. The one that accelerated genetics left behind.

Alé knows that he'll need a miracle to graduate and pursue his dream of a legal career in the capital. His only ally is his best friend Yalamba, an outspoken and exceptionally gifted artist renowned for her unique ability to draw things into existence. But when she's kidnapped in a hate crime against her ability, it appears that Alé has every motive and no believable alibi.

To prove his innocence and track down the real culprit, Alé teams up with the other outcasts in school, who each have their own reasons for getting involved. But the deeper they dig, the more they fear Yalamba's kidnapping is linked to a string of unsolved murders against the exceptionally gifted.

With time running out, Alé must discover who he really is if he and his new friends plan to track down the culprit, clear his name, and rescue Yalamba-all before she herself is drawn out of existence.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, LGBT

230 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2023

About the author

Michael Solis is from New Jersey and currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya. He has spent most of the past fifteen years working in development and humanitarianism in Sierra Leone and Latin America. A Princeton graduate, he has master's degrees in human rights law and gender studies. While traveling, he fell in love with telling thought-provoking stories based on his personal experiences. Deficient is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Kiana Stockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and refreshing read with characters brought to life by their personalities, special abilities, and quests for friendship and belonging. Relatable, funny, and sweet, this is a fast-paced and engaging YA novel for people of all ages.

[Kim Catanzarite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superhero story that's super unique. Poor Deficient Ale can't catch a break. He attends a school in which everyone has a special supertalent except for him. Consistently picked on by a large and muscled Atlas, and experiencing some serious miscommunication with his Feral best friend, Yalamba, he soon finds himself miserable and friendless. Then Yalamba goes missing and the quest to find her ramps up, but he can't do it alone. This book has all of the coming-of-age feels as well as a mystery and some serious darkness. It builds to an action-packed peak that you won't see coming. Solis's worldbuilding is as good as his storytelling. Don't miss this one!

[Lisa Philipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a boy who has no powers in a society where almost everyone has one. The kids in the school he goes to harass him and abuse him. When his best friend goes missing he has to find her and figure out what is going on. In the end he finds he has more friends than he thought, and his own special power.
This is a good book for a YA audience. The relationships between the kids, and the interactions with the authority figures are all things that young adults can relate to. A solid first novel.

I received an advanced copy in return for a review.

[Erica Knoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wondering how I was going to review Deficient because YA Science Fiction is not a genre I have ever read before. I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Solis at a book festival and I was instantly captivated by how he described Deficient.

I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. This is not just a 5-star rating because I know Michael. This is a 5-star rating because I didn’t want to put the book down!

Michael does an amazing job with bringing the characters to life. You get a clear picture of each one and I was immediately invested from Chapter 1. I felt like I knew them in real life! You want to really immerse yourself in this new world and get curious about what it would be like if it were real.

For being sci-fi, it’s actually quite relatable. There’s teenage challenges, unlikely friendships, humor, romance, pain points, heroism, and more all packed into Deficient.

Whether you are a fan of this genre or not, I highly recommend checking this book out. Michael is an excellent writer and you absolutely will not be disappointed!

[Olivia B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
It picked up a lot in the last 40-ish pages. I thought the beginning was awkward in terms of dialogue. It didn’t feel like the characters were truly interacting with each other. It got better though, and I like their dynamic now. I don’t understand some of the relationships though.

Alé and Landon are kind of weird to me. I don’t understand the big picture with Yalamba. Yalamba has probs liked him for a long time, but it seems she completely over him. Alé even tells Yalamba about him and Landon, which may make things easier, but there’s no hint of sadness.

They’ve all been through a lot, so maybe Yalamba is just happy to have Alé as a friend. I just hope that she isn’t suppressing her feelings and that it won’t come back to hurt her again later.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first listened to this book on Audible. But it was so good that I purchased the hard copy and read it in print to catch anything I might have missed. Michael hit a home run with his debut novel. He creates a deep and rich world through a clear and concise writing style that is very character driven. The plot is well written and the story arc has a great crescendo that pulls you in more and more until it resolves. I'll be purchasing yet another copy to gift to my teenage niece for the holidays. I'll also be patiently awaiting any future releases by this talented young author.

[Milica B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was perfectly immersed from the first pages! I don’t usually read futuristic themes often but was able to connect with the characters and understand this world as if I were personally witnessing their lives in front of me. Congratulations on such a perfect debut novel, and thank you for introducing us to your thoughtful and brave characters, we all needed to have them in our lives!

[Helen Kangiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book focuses on the inequality in the treatment of those with accelerated abilities vs those without. It creates a parallel with the experiences of high school students who experience the same mistreatment as Ale, who spends the entirety of the book being grossly mistreated by the majority of those around him.
The surprise ending of the book comes hard and fast, leaving the reader wanting to start the book all over again!
The futuristic setting of the story goes above the normal imagination and creates a world that the reader would love to see translated into a movie.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable YA scifi. In Deficient, the majority of humanity is gifted with certain superpowers: strength, speed, flight, telepathy, etc. Protagonist Alé is one of the unlucky few who never develop a gift, labeled deficient, and ostracized by most. His best friend/ only friend Yalamba makes his life worthwhile, until she disappears in what appears to be a hate crime targeting those with special gifts like hers. With the help of some unexpected allies, Alé must solve the mystery of Yalamba's disappearance before it's too late.

I was immediately invested in this superhuman world. Reminded me a lot of the movie Sky High, which I really enjoyed. This world is full of unique characters, and I could easily see this becoming a series. The school setting felt realistic, minus the superpowers of course. I loved watching Alé's confidence grow throughout the story. Nice friendships and an engaging mystery. Honestly the only thing I wasn't a fan of was the little romance thrown in at the end, just because I wasn't able to root for the love interest. They need to do a lot more to redeem themselves before I would be able to accept them. Other than that, I really loved this one. Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Chris P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deficient is a fun and engaging read. The characters are all relatable and interesting. They keep you guessing as they evolve and grow and adapt through the book. It is a hopeful and inspiring story of the world we can create when we look past the surface assumptions we can all make about each other.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former educator reading Deficient, I was impressed by the myriad of messages and lessons a reader of any age will be able to identify with. Solis' portrayal of characters and incorporation of controversial themes shine in this masterfully crafted novel. A must-read for all.

[Alisa Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deficient is a beautifully written debut YA novel that allows the reader to connect and feel the emotions of each and every character. Although the story takes place in a futuristic world, this world is very similar to the one we live in, in so many ways. The subliminal lessons that are revealed while reading are great learning opportunities/reminders for readers of all ages. I am so happy my elementary aged son, aged 9, is also reading this book! There are so many lessons that will help him navigate the world we live in. Hoping for a movie or sequel in the near future!

[Darcey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something for everyone in this book. Not just young adults.
Each archetypical character is intriguing and familiar.
Fast paced, smart, witty and relevant.
I loved this book and want to read more….

[Aimee Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Lots of twists I didn’t expect, amazing characters and character relationships. It was really well written and I loved it so much!

[Susan Ford · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT: I really enjoyed the story until a person who has been abusive to the main character becomes a romantic interest.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a bit of a slow start, but it provided some much-needed details for later in the story. Once the action started, however, there was no slowing down. The mystery was captivating, and there were several points where I thought I had it figured out but was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

Each of the characters in this book were so unique yet relatable. Kazuki and Gwen were probably my favorites. I loved Kazuki’s humor and Gwen’s badassness. Seeing the growth of each character throughout the book was beautiful and very well written.

There was a bit of an enemies-to-lovers situation that honestly kind of shocked me. I won’t say much so as not to spoil it, but I do wish we had been able to see that play out a bit more at the end (but that may be because I’ve been reading too many romance novels lately). I also wish there had been more of a chance to explore Gwen’s takes on gender, but I loved that this was set in a queernormative world where it wasn’t a big deal.

The author took a unique spin on the idea of superhumans, which I really enjoyed. The story was well-rounded and the world-building was very well done and easy to follow. Deficient was everything you could want (and more) from a YA novel, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, yet intense, magical mystery.

[Kevin Mwachiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I'm not the target audience and this is not a genre I'd read, it is a very well-written book. Michael does a good job of creating a sense of hope and helping us imagine what a better world would look like. Kudos, Michael.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, and a true page turner! I found myself so riveted by the protagonist’s narrative and the arcs of the supporting characters. As someone who also struggled socially as a teen and an “unseen” at my school, sometimes the MC’s setbacks resonated poignantly with me. But, ultimately, the story is such an uplifting one with a satisfying, beautiful conclusion. And after the last page, I’m now yearning for a sequel! It’s definitely a standalone tale, but if the author does decide to continue with this newfound friendship in another book—I’m there for it!

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alejandro Aragon is fifteen and attends the Achewon Egalitarian Academy. His mother, Paquita, is a teacher of accelerated students. His father Los and his brothers are very hateful towards Alejandro. At the age of eight children have gained their special abilities, for Alejandro that did not happen. He was tested for accelerated ability, because of his mother and it allowed him to attend Achewon. But Ale was considered useless because he had no abilities and was identified as a Deficient. Alejandro has a best friend, Yalamba Koroma, whose also identified as a Feral. But she gained her ability to draw objects and bring them into existence.

The Achewon Academy has an hierarchy. Those with common abilities are: Atlases, Racers, Sky Gliders, Know-it-Alls, Mind Movers, and Unseens. Those with rare abilities are: Legions and Ferals, those that are anomalies are Deficients.

The 4th year Atlases are bullies, especially Landon Waters and his followers. Landon and his friends constantly bully Alejandro. Yalamba isn’t afraid to come to Alejandro’s defense. She’s always supportive of him and encourages him to defend himself. He would be an asset as a friend to anyone. She’s also encouraging him to apply for his career plan for postgraduate assignment. But Alejandro just doesn’t have the confidence.

When Yalamba is suspected of being kidnapped Alejandro becomes immersed in finding her. The troubles don’t stop there as he’s also suspected of murder and tragic situations continue. Alejandro will do anything he can to find his best friend and figure out what’s happening with other students. Will he find he has allies? What will he discover about himself?

“Deficient” is an interesting look into a dystopian system that effects an education facility. It’s has just a touch of dark theme with the hierarchical system that was formed by humans and how it really effects young people. Michael Solis did well in bringing out what young people have to go through just trying to fit in: coming out, homophobia, abuse, being misunderstood, bulling, dealing with adults and the struggle to just be themselves. The lesson is how to be strong and be yourself while facing difficulties along life’s path.

Besides Alejandro, the author created a beautiful cast of characters that make this novel shine: Yalamba Koroma, Gwen Manghi, Kazuki Tanaka, Mixie Trait and Kaylee Kerrain.

Michael Solis has done superbly with “Deficient” his debut novel. It has high potential and will certainly appeal to the anyone not just the YA generation. It has the feel of: super powers and not necessarily a super hero but just a hero. Along with the serious issues “Deficient” has humor, surprises, suspense, action and mystery. Well done and worth the read!

[Tara Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully written, Deficient is a book that you won’t be able to put down. Every reader will see themselves in Solis’s beautifully crafted characters. You will be cheering them on while they take you on an adventure you will never forget.

[Vatsal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice story, the characters are nicely written. The story is very well written and fun to read.
I would a 100% recommend this to anyone who might be interested in reading the book!

[Amanda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-developed, compelling, and diverse cast of characters. Well-paced and intriguing story. I am not usually drawn to the YA scifi genre, but I couldn't put this one down and was left wanting for more. I think there is more to this story—hopefully we'll get it!

[Aisling Walsh]

Sitting somewhere between all my favourite Sci-fi - X-men, The Umbrella Academy, Hunger Games - Deficient has an added twist where those born with special powers are in the majority, where a small minority of powerless humans are left open to all kinds of bullying and discrimination. Solis has created a universe rich with meaning, a thrilling plot and characters which have you rooting for them from page one. Deficient could be read as a powerful allegory for (dis)ability or the experience of living on the margins for many socially excluded groups.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against a backdrop of a dystopian society where people have special abilities, this story is an intriguing mystery about the disappearance of a girl and her best friend who is intent on finding her. The main character Alé is a boy who has no special abilities and faces oppression from almost every area of his life. His is a charcater so many will be able to relate to at some point in their lives. Throughout the book he teams up with a cast of vibrant characters, learning to trust others as well as himself. Despite this being set in a superhero-esque society the book portrays the relationships (both good and bad) of young people in a very relatable way. The characters each have their own unique voice and struggles, and the plot of the book is well paced.

This isn't the type of book I wouldn't usually pick up but I'm so glad I did. I would recommend to anybody who enjoys YA mysteries or dystopian books.

[Mohsin Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of Deficient is so creative and it flips the superhero genre on its head. It imagines what the world would be like if we all had superpowers…well, everyone except for a small minority of people who have not evolved. Humans have created a hierarchical caste system that privileges those with certain abilities. For those without powers, it is a terrible existence.

The story is told through the voice of Alé, a Deficient of Latino descent who is one of the most well drawn underdogs I’ve read in a while. I related to Alé and all the negativity he went through at school and with his family, and he somehow manages to stay a good person through it all. When the one friend who loves him disappears, he has figure out what happened to her before it is too late. The odds are stacked again him in so many ways, and I couldn’t help but root for him.

The characters are rich and unique, the pacing is fast and action-filled, and the plot takes exciting twists and turns. When I finished the book, I only wanted more.

[Chad Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, I definitely knew what it was to be different and to be treated differently, but I had no vocabulary about what it meant to be queer. In Deficient, Michael Solis (who has a fascinating biography himself!) takes those themes and puts them in a world where EVERYONE is different, but still ranked by their differences. The main character's journey of self-love and pride, mixed with complex adolescent relationships in a prejudiced world, and arranged around a fun and surprising mystery, make this book one I loved reading, and one that I've passed on to my children. A beautiful book that captures some of the magic of Harry Potter and Ender's Game and puts an entirely new spin on it.

[Matti McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Solis’s debut novel is equal parts intrigue, adventure and a heaping helping of heart. Deficient is a breezy novel that is easy to pick up, exciting to get into and impossible to put down. The characters are dynamic, inclusive and delightful. The world is rich and vibrant with a great deal of creativity and effort. Deficient is definitely on my top reads of the year, and I’m eager to see what he does next.

[Alex Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun book! Creative twist on the superhero genre. Kept me riveted. I sped through it.

[Will Freshwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been a big fan of the superhero genre. Although the origin story is usually original and fun, I already know what will happen at the end of the arc. Although the newest incarnation of the classic caped crusader may start out struggling to control his strength or master the aerodynamics of flight, we all know that after a few false starts, she'll figure it all out and rise up to save the day. Unaware that power corrupts, the mighty always maintain unrealistic levels of humility while battling evildoers and effortlessly saving humanity. Luckily, Michael Solis isn't the kind of author who plays by the rules.

Set in the distant future where accelerated genetics have created a world dominated by superheroes, "Deficient" tells the story of Alejandro (Alé) Aragon, the only kid in his high school without powers. When Alé's best friend Yalamba is mysteriously kidnapped, he reluctantly bands together with an unlikely squad of misfits to find the villain and save the day.

Solis is like a crafty parent—hiding the most distasteful parts of being a teenager beneath a delicious story filled with engaging characters and unexpected twists. Rather than knocking the reader over with archetypes and predictable predicaments, Michael carefully reveals each character's flawed human nature through social interactions and interpersonal situations that feel "accelerated" but all too familiar.

The plot development and pacing of the story are spot on, but it's the time and effort Solis puts into Alé that sets the novel apart. Powerless but grounded in his love for his friend, Alé shows the kind of bravery and indomitable spirit that ultimately elevates him from "Deficient" to "Hero." I was thrilled with the ending—especially the romantic twist—and eagerly look forward to more from Michael Solis.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this title from Librarything in exchange for an honest review.

Solis has created a marvelous world filled with unforgettable characters in this debut work. All children who are going to develop accelerated abilities, such as speed, strength, levitation, or mind-reading, do so by the age of eight in Deficient. If a child does not develop an accelerated ability, then society deems them deficient and most people treat them like pariahs. The main character in Deficient, Alejandro (Alé) Aragon, was told that he did not have any accelerated abilities when he failed to manifest one by his eighth birthday. He was homeschooled for years until he was accepted into Achewon Egalitarian Academy but even at the academy, However, while abilities or lack of abilities are an inherent part of each character, it is the relationships between the characters where Solis shines. Students are vanishing from the academy without a trace and, when Alé’s best and only friend, Yalamba, becomes one of the missing, the mystery surrounding her disappearance allows Solis to skillfully develop his characters into fully realized beings that readers care about. I truly enjoyed the story arc and am hoping that Solis intends more books in this world. Readers who enjoyed Michael Grant’s Hunger series will love this debut novel.