The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley

by Shelley Wood

An inspired, sweeping, historical epic tracing the remarkable life story of a baby girl born on leap year day who grows one year older every four years. The Leap Year Gene imagines the fascinating life of Kit McKinley from WWI up to the present day, told through the voices of Kit and her family members, whose lives are forever altered by her secret. February 29, 1916: After an unusually long pregnancy, Lillian McKinley, whose husband has been killed in the war, gives birth to a baby girl on Leap Year Day. Kit proves to be a happy and intelligent child, but unnaturally slow to age. For decades, she and her family must keep on the move to protect her secret—from insatiable newshounds, Nazi scientists, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies. When Kit at last can pass for an adult, she must decide whether she wants to stay perpetually on the run or form lasting ties. Ultimately, once the human genome is mapped and research on altering it begins, she’ll need to make some difficult choices about the strange quirk in her DNA that has made her who she is.Perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, The Leap Year Gene is a race through the past century’s burgeoning understanding of genetics, eugenics, and what constitutes “normal,” while exploring the tensions, love, and sense of duty that can bind families together or split them apart.  

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Canada, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Book Club, Family

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2024

About the author

My fiction, creative non-fiction, columns, and travel-writing have appeared in a range of Canadian and international publications (here). I’ve won the Tethered by Letters fiction contest, the Frank McCourt prize for Creative Nonfiction, the Nonfiction prize from Causeway Lit, and the Fiction prize from Freefall Magazine.

My second novel, The Leap Year Gene, will be published by HarperCollins Canada and The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Union Square Press (USA) in August 2024.

The Quintland Sisters, my debut novel, was published in Canada, the United States, and internationally by William Morrow|Harper Collins|Harper360; it was one of the top 10 bestselling Canadian fiction books of 2019.

Born and raised in Vancouver, I’ve lived in Montreal, Cape Town, and the Middle East. I studied English Lit at McGill University and did a graduate degree in journalism at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver. I divide my time between Kelowna and Sechelt, BC, and telecommute to a full-time job as the Editorial Director for the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in New York, NY, which includes serving as the Editor-in-Chief at the cardiology news website, TCTMD. Before that, I worked for more than 14 years as a writer, then editor, at theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology, owned by WebMD. I was also the Global News Director for Medscape France and Medscape Germany.

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley follows a century of Kit’s life.

Kit McKinley was born on February 29, 1916. She ages one year for every four. It follows various POVs from WWI to the present day. Once Kit is a bit older, the reader also gets her perspective.

Living an exceedingly long life seems like it would be extraordinary; however, this book portrays how difficult that would be for the individual and everyone in their life.

This book is character-focused and has short chapters. It is slowly paced but easy to get through, given the brevity of the chapters. The parts leading up to WWII were some of the most tense and terrifying.

The characters are well-developed. The author makes the reader feel everything the characters do.

This book discusses eugenics, genetics, and the suffragette movement.

If you like historical fiction with a twist, I highly recommend picking up this heartfelt novel.

Thank you to Union Square and Co. for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the 29th of February 1916 Lillian McKinley gives birth to a daughter, a leap year baby and her husband died in The Great War. Baby Katherine is doted on by her mother, Aunt Natalie and Uncle Ernest, they notice she’s behind in her development and not reaching her milestones. Kip only grows one year older every four years and even in the womb her gestation time was longer.

Her family band together and protect Kip because she’s different, they move a lot to keep her condition a secret, from neighbours, the press, a Nazi scientist, and doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Kip doesn’t age like she should, a strange quirk and in some ways it makes Kip’s life not only odd, as an adult she has trouble making friends and forming relationships.

I received a copy of The Leap Gene of Kit McKinley from Edelweiss and Union Square & Co in exchange for an honest review. I must admit when I started reading this book I didn’t think I would like it, I was wrong and Shelley Wood has written a fascinating and thought provoking novel.

A story about family, secrets, what society and medical professionals thought about people who were different, her loved ones didn’t want Kip locked away in an institution, treated like a freak of nature or much worse! If you have had a child you would know people are obsessed with making comparisons and I kept thinking of this while reading the narrative and Kip's family loved and protected her.

Five stars from me, spanning a century, you discover the amazing life of Kit McKinley, she has the gift so many people crave, and she ages slowly and has the elixir of youth and is she lucky or not.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝,” 𝐄𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. “𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞.”

“𝐍𝐨, 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐚. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.”

It’s revelations such as this that elevated the story for me; the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. This Canadian author has given her readers plenty of food for thought!

Although the book is 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨, its root is ‘𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝’. Everyone is searching for the elixir! Society tells us that it’s important to stay young for our looks, for our careers, to lessen the impact of sports-related injuries, and to fend off/slow down Alzheimer’s.

If you had a magic wand would you take advantage of it to successfully stay young? How would you deal with the heartbreaking moment you realize that you’re remaining young while those you love continue to age? You’d want to make sure they had the same wand.

What if you could simply slow down ‘growing older’? Would this have heartbreaking effects, too. That’s exactly what happened to one of the characters in this book. Kit McKinley was born ‘normal’ in every way except that she ages/grows older more slowly than those around her. For those who’ve parented teenagers, can you imagine stretching those teenage years out to double or triple? What about the ‘terrible twos’? Kit’s parents keep her slow-aging to themselves as long as they can, but even then, their lives are forever changed.

Without giving too much away, know that Woods has crafted a ‘what if’ story tracing 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙥 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨. I loved Woods’ perfect balance of history, medical mystery, and love. It drove me to Google and made my STEM heart consider the pros and cons of medical advances. It really is a double-edged sword. I realized that despite thinking I’d like an internal calendar “set at a slower tempo”, it would be too heartbreaking. Although I’d taught Canadian history before, I’d not realized the scope of the suffragists nor the advancements Canadians such as Carrie Derick made to eugenics. It’s safe to say that this teacher got a wonderful education within the pages of this spectacular book!

There’s no doubt 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. Don’t miss out on it. Also, keep your eye out in the news for Julie and Phumlani’s research as it comes to fruition in real life!

I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing concept that leans towards the scientific side of magical realism: what would life be like if a unique gene meant you aged only one year for each four years an average person experiences? Such is the life of Kit McKinley, who only reaches into her early 20s before watching many generations come and go. "The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley" follows Kit from her birth in 1916 through to her biological 20s in the early 2000s. Worried at public reaction to her glacial aging, Kit's family does their best to keep her unique trait hidden from view — frequently moving countries and swapping out birth certificates to conceal her true age. It isn't until Kit reaches adulthood and can blend into society more seamlessly that she has the breathing room to truly be herself — and discover who that self is.

Thanks to the many years that slip by in this novel, it reads much like historical fiction, with a slice-of-life look at many meaningful historic moments. While I enjoyed the concept overall, this book wasn't quite a home run for me. I struggled with some uneven pacing, getting bogged down in the side story of Nazi eugenics and then again when it came to Kit's slowly developing sexuality. Like her life in general, these sections seemed to drag. I'm rating this a 3.75 rounded up, mostly out of a nod to a unique and fun concept, but lagging a bit in execution. It's hard to put my finger on what felt missing, but there's something there that kept it from fully sweeping me in.

Rachel Botchan did wonderfully as narrator, with a range of voices that helped bring dimension to the characters.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Shelley Wood, and RBMedia for an advance copy for my honest review.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems Kit McKinley is born with a gene that coordinates with Western calendar's February leap year. . .and since being born on that once in 4 years date (the 29th), she has a yearly growth rate that is 1-to-4 compared with other children. In other words, when she has been alive 8 years she's aged only to the stage of a two year old. Eight years of diapers (if she was a late learner) would be challenging.

Lucky for the long line of her caretakers who also have to move often, and become adept at ID fraud, Kit is precocious - sorta - and her adventures kept me reading. I wanted to bond with these characters with this problem that is fresh and new, but I didn't. Her keepers are in thrall to her as an 'experiment' and the end was rather dismaying - potentially she could live for centuries. Usually that presents as an intriguing promise in a read. . .for me, in this one, that feels like a sentence.

Unless. . . .she goes undercover and becomes a spy???!!? Ok. Maybe then I'll stay in. (So, 2.5 stars, rounded up.)

*A sincere thank you to Shelley Wood, RBmedia, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it all. A little disappointed in the ending, but only because it ended.

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

is the story about kit in the room with us?

[Emy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as an ARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the type of book someone who loves biographies and/or history would love. It has the "Invisible Life of Addie Larue" kind of vibes where the main characters has to live hidden, not from people close to her, but society in general. (The comparison to Addie is for those who did not go into that book expecting scifi or something, but just loved reading someone's story, slowly.)

Kit's story, almost year by year, for a hundred years while she is just 25 and under, was so fascinating to follow. I think the only thing missing for me what the fact that we only got to see her first 100 years. I definitely would've enjoyed a 500 page book starting from 1716 or something so that we'd know more about her.

It only left me wanting more, but I think the ending is satisfying overall.

[Read Walk Repeat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Such an interesting idea, well developed characters, love how it touched on science and world events, plus big bonus how the setting included different locations around the world - I actually gave it the extra 1/2 star because I loved the parts about Expo 86 and life in Vancouver, BC. This concept had such potential for an uplifting, adventurous storyline, but most of it was utterly depressing.

The audiobook version is well done and captures the somber tone of the book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your average historical fiction!

Best book I’ve read in 2024 so far.

[Aquila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood in exchange for my honest feedback.

Kit McKinley is a special sort of kid. Born on February 29th, 1916, she's a bit of a rarity. She takes her own time in all kinds of unexpected ways, most notably she ages a year for every four that pass in the world around her.

Her story is told in four parts, first from the perspective of her uncle Ernest, then her mother Lillian, next her sister Helen, and finally, from her own curious and beautiful viewpoint.

This tale spans 100 years, following Kit through numerous countries, learning experiences, new friends, and adversaries who hope to take advantage of her unique nature.

Kit's journey reminds us again and again of the importance of family, friendship, and honesty with those we love. None of us ever really knows how long we have together.

"Kit knows better than anyone: it's not eternal youth we need, but love and the chance to hold on for as long as possible."

[Taina Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Enid Wray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this title - until I didn’t!! Another one I was excited to read, as I thoroughly enjoyed her prior title, The Quintland Sisters.

I liked the first ¼ or so.
By the halfway point I was growing more than a little weary of it all.
I wanted to DNF, but kept at it only to see how she wrote her way out of it.
The ending was a cop out.

This is a really interesting concept - but the very concept itself created complicated challenges which, sadly, were not well addressed.

The idea of only aging one-year for every four years served as an interesting ‘tool’ for exploring morality/ethics around eugenics, the WW2 experiences, and then following the science up to the present day.

The author’s fundamental problem is one of time - and that the parents are aging while the child does not. She had two solutions for this and neither really worked.

There are other problems in addition to the above.

First and foremost is that this is way too long and is very uneven in how it approaches time.
Second, it depends way too much on one of my pet peeves: My 3C’s - convenient contrivance and coincidence.
Third, and this relates back to the handling of time… there is a fundamental and glaring problem with Kit’s aging process.

Fundamentally, this book didn’t know what it wanted to be.

It was just trying to do too much… and falling short on all scores.

Indeed, the second half felt like little more than an excuse to educate the reader by way of a whirlwind tour of the history of advances in our understanding of genetics and how they can advance the human condition.

And yes, there was a lot of telling going on.
Just show me - let the story speak for itself.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital copy. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up.

2.5 rounded up to 3

[Nichole Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine.  Nothing so egregiously wrong that one should DNF, but nothing so spectacular to keep one really invested.  The writing style was perfectly OK.  The audio narrator left a little to be desired.  There was little excitement added though her telling of the story, and the attempt at a small child talking early in the book was unpleasant (it's only a line or two, so bearable).  The premise of the book sounds like there is a lot of promise, and at the beginning of the book it still feels exciting.  I thought we had a lot to learn about Kit's circumstance, I thought there would be mishaps along the way, but both of those are lacking in this book.  The book has very little to do with the leap year gene, and is just a way to link together the stories of the people that have a role in Kit's life.  The title is a little bit misleading.  It's as if you read 4 separate, incomplete books. The abrupt change after the incident in the park was jarring.  I was not expecting such a dramatic change in the story and how it was being told.  The next changes like that I was expecting, so not quite as jarring.  The different sections feel a bit disjointed, and I never felt that I got closure on any part of Kit's life.   

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really disappointed with this one - the premise was so intriguing, but the book was so boring. This was more of a WWII historical fiction centered around every character other than Kit. Her aging element felt like a back-burner plot trope, while most of this novel is about her parents and their careers.

[Zsa Zsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

400 pages of convoluted boring crap strung together about a leap year disinterested uninteresting girl born in Canada, just to go through another WWII story that may or may not be a ploy for Zionist apologists. It’s 2024 and we are in the middle of multiple documented genocides, so, get with the times?
Even writing a review feels like a waste of time.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely unique and interesting take on ‘leap year’ babies!

What if the children who were born on February 29th only aged every FOUR years, instead of yearly like the rest of the world?
What if these particular children were given the ‘gift’ of the fountain of youth?
And what if, all they wanted was to be like everyone else?

Meet Kathrine (Kit) Mc Kinley . She was born in 1916, following an extraordinarily long pregnancy…and, the death of her Dad, due to the war.

From the very beginning we can see that’s she’s different. For example: On her first birthday she weighs 15 pounds. She cannot sit up, roll over, or walk…like other one year olds!

But, at this stage of the game, it’s ok.

Fast forward a few years, and Kit is say 3, but really only about 9 mos. So all her other friends are running around, talking, etc…and she’s still not able to stand…

And so it continues…

Her Mom forms a bond with her husband’s brother, and he is in the picture…along with her sister.

They all love baby Kit and vow to protect her…whatever it takes.

The story that follows spans one hundred years! 1916-2016…and what a story it is!!

We follow as Kit goes thru World Wars, The Great Depression, The stock market crash, Hitler, Rock and Roll, the introduction of cars, computers, phones and cell phones… I mean…this was just mind blowing!! 🤯

And although she remains looking very young, she has the wherewithal of someone of a certain age…

And love. Well, love has to be off the table…

This was a very original and breathtaking book. Made me stop and think on so many levels!
And, my heart broke for her over and over again. But also for her Mom…and her Aunt…and her Dad.

Loved this one and its originality!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book has already been released, so look for it on shelves now!

#TheLeapYearGeneOfKitMcKinley by #ShelleyWood and narrated nicely by #RachelBotchan.

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[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Leap Year Gene was such an interesting and complex concept. I liked how it was broken into 4 parts and 4 different points of view. I did enjoy the last half of the book better than the first. Very cool that Shelley is a local author!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley" by Shelley Wood is a combination of historical fiction with speculative fiction. This book was very good, but also very long at 400+ pages or 13 and a half hours in the audio. I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Rachel Botchan.

The premise of the book is that Katherine, aka Kit, was born on leap day, Feb. 29, 1916, and she only grows one year for every four years that she is alive. Her sister, Helen, is born twenty years later and grows at the regular 1:1 rate so that by the time she is 10 years old, she starts to look older than Kit. Her mother, Lillian, is a well-known biologist who spends her life trying to understand why her daughter is growing so slowly. Because Kit is such an anomaly, she is in danger of the press and scientists who want to experiment on her, as well as eugenics issues in Germany.

The book covers a lot of history from 1916 to 2016. Many major world events happen as they travel from one place to another, trying to protect Kit.

You might think it's a good thing to age so slowly, but it turns out to be very challenging, dangerous, and emotional. Her friends grow up and move away or marry while she only ages a few years. Some of it is heartbreaking and some is heartwarming.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 3/5 some parts are slow
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 33/8 = 4 1/8 rounded to 4 stars

I recommend this book for people who like historical fiction and the premise of the leap year gene. It's an interesting read.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Shelley Wood for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah Desrosiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good! Ending kind of disappointing, but only because I want to know what happens in the rest of Kit’s life!!

[Lila Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books with elements of historical fiction. This book touched a lot on women’s rights in the early to mid 20th century, specifically suffragettes and women in STEM. Talking about life in Nazi Germany was incredibly unsettling. Overall I felt I was lacking something from the ending, leaving the story feeling unfinished to me. I enjoyed this read though.

[Taylor Yeaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, but it just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. Rather than spend much time exploring the peculiarities of Kit, it’s a rather depressing journey though living through war, etc. Kit also never really won me over. There’s a lot of character development here, but for me this was a long, snoozy journey that I barely made it through.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the premise: a young girl born on leap year but only ages 1 year every 4.

There is so much you can do with that but here it’s barely a factor as the author seems to just want to tell a very slow and very boring historic novel.

I was hoping for something like the Age of Adeline or even Oona Out of Order but all I’ve read at 40% is this young mother and her husband (the brother of her dead husband, gross) and the child who move often because of her condition, which fine, but almost everything discussed is the nazi war or the careers of the parents. To which I say who cares. The book is supppsed to be about Kit.

DNF at 41%

Thanks netgalley

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredible concept! I love time travel and paranormal tropes and I felt like this was a blend of both. Kit, born on 29th February, only ages the equivalent of a year in every four year period and so, with her having been born in 1916, she has to live her life almost on the run as anyone discovering her “condition”, such as scientists, nazis or the media, could lead to her being experimented on.

The story is narrated by several characters, including Kit herself, when she gets older. I would have loved to hear more from Kit, especially considering that by the time she reached the biological age of 25, she would have already lived for 100 years and therefore witnessed huge changes in society and developments in the modern world.

I was disappointed that there was little reference to this aspect and it was more about Kit’s family and friends keeping her protected. Sadly this didn’t hit the mark for me and I didn’t find it as absorbing and exciting as I had hoped.

Rachel Botchan’s narration was excellent though, and she expertly brought many characters to life.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Shelley Wood and RB Media for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Sofia Panchaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a poignant family saga centered around Kit, who is born on February 29th and ages one year for every leap year that passes.

Written in four parts, we are told the story of the McKinleys over the span of a century, as they try to protect Kit's secret. From the eugenics movement, through Nazi Germany, and into modern-day DNA mapping; we visit the dangers and pitfalls that are too often seen in the face of progress.

While science and genetics are prevalent throughout The Leap Year Gene, what ultimately takes center stage is the importance of the relationships one forges and how our existence affects others. By the end, we are left with a quietly beautiful summary of the comforting weight of the lives we intersect.

[Starla Helmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had highs and lows for me. The plot is that a little girl is born on leap year and she doesn’t age. She ages 4 years to every 1. The book started off great. But then I feel like it deviated from the plot. It started talking about the world at the time in the 30s and nazis and politics. Then it goes back to the story. I did like the ending about how to still life live like you don’t have all this extra time. And even if your beauty fades and you have secrets, the people that matter will still love you.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slow one for me. I liked it a lot more once the main character was an adult. I appreciate the sentiment at the end as I am in favour of a person's right to die with dignity and compassion.

[Nabanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a baby born on the 29th of February, 1916. A year passes by, but she still doesn’t seem to be growing. You then realize that the baby takes four years to reach the growth markers of a one-year-old. Strange, very strange, but is it? Her mother was pregnant for over a year before giving birth to her. So, maybe this is her normal.
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Twenty-four long years pass by, but the baby now looks and acts like a six-year-old instead of a twenty-four-year-old. She and her family have to keep moving without forming attachments because how do they explain this ‘abnormality’ to others at a time when eugenics is the talk of the town? Also, the parents are worried that by the time the girl is old enough to take care of herself, they will be long gone. So, what do they do? How do they live their lives? How does she, Kit McKinley, live her life shrouded in secrecy with fleeting attachments outside her family because of being different? This, my friends, is what The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood is about.
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The story delves into the challenges and emotional turmoil faced by Kit and her family as they navigate a life enveloped in secrecy. Through Kit’s unique perspective, the novel explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition.
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I loved this book. This sweeping novel, spanning a century from the end of World War I, about Kit McKinley’s fascinating life, is one of my top reads this year. Thank you, @NetGalley, for this book! I cannot recommend it enough. I loved all the characters and their viewpoints. I loved the concept too. Can you imagine what it would be like if people like Kit McKinley existed? It’s so intriguing.
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So, do read it and listen to it. I’m sure you’ll like it, if not love it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spanning decades and continents this is a heartfelt story about a baby born with a rare genetic disorder that has her aging one year for every four. It's also a story about sisters, family, love, the changing course of medicine in the 20th century and so much more. Original, moving and hard to put down, this was good on audio and a fun departure from the Canadian author's debut, The Quintland sisters. It would also make for an excellent book club pick, full of controversial topics sure to inspire healthy debates. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Merilin (the_bookshelf_of_merilin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley" is a historical fiction book about Kit McKinley - a girl born on the 29th of February 1916. She's a bright young girl, but she ages slowly for some reason - to put it simply she ages one year in the span of four years. Since she was born during a time when being special was a bit taboo, her family has to hide her secret and protect her.

I listened to the audiobook version of the book. The story, in general, was fascinating and gripping enough to make me go back to it, although to me it was a rather slow-paced book. The characters were well developed and I loved that the plot took place in various places across the world.

The book is told from various Kit's family member's POVs and eventually from her POV. To me Kit's POV was definitely the weakest one. Everyone in Kit's family had to make sacrifices and it seemed like Kit was just a bit ungrateful to her family who put so much effort into keeping her and her secret safe for over 60 years (or more).

I would recommend the book to anyone who's looking for a historical fiction book with a twist.

My overall score is 3.5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to listen to the audiobook