Integrate

by Adele Jones

Trust the science - unless your life depends on it.
Blaine Colton had been handed a genetic death sentence until revolutionary gene therapy changed his life. Living a relatively normal existence, he is called to an unscheduled post-treatment appointment just weeks before his eighteenth birthday. Informed that his life saving procedure was never approved, he is held against his will for his status as an apparent illegal GMO. Subjected to constant testing, refused contact with his parents and deprived of life sustaining medication, Blaine begins to suspect that something is wrong. Wanting answers, he escapes the Institute and ambitious Chief Scientist, Dr Melissa Hartfield. Now a fugitive with a failing body, Blaine must find Professor Ramer, the developer of his therapy. But the Professor has vanished and time is running out. Fast.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Illness, Christian

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Adele is an Australian author of "Science fiction for the real world". Writing YA fringe and near sci-fi stories, she tackles complex teen issues including self-worth, disability, loss, domestic violence, youth crime and more, drawing inspiration from her passion for family, faith, friends, music and science.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast-paced debut YA novel from Adele Jones.

Blaine Colton has spent most of his young life being trapped in his own body by mitochondrial disease. His life is transformed by Professor Ramer's revolutionary gene therapy. Just when life seems to be opening up for him, the Professor disappears and Chief Scientist Melissa Hartfield holds him against his will as a supposed illegal GMO (genetically modified organism). The book is set in the very near future in Brisbane, Australia.

We follow Blaine as he struggles with the emotional impact of the lies and half-truths fed to him by Dr Hartfield and then his desperate bid for freedom. There are a number of poignant moments particularly as he recalls the cruel statements made in his hearing when he was still disabled and later as he struggles with whether he is fully loved and accepted. Yet despite dealing with some weighty themes (genetic disease and therapy, disability and human worth, adoption, faith and corporate ambition), Intergate is not a heavy read. Nor is it weighed down with techno-babble, it has moments of humour and a sweet romantic theme with a satisfying though realistic ending that leaves wriggle room for a sequel.

If Blaine's naivety seems to accept without question Melissa Hartfield's insinuations that he could be disposed of as an illegal GMO seems a bit strained, it does make sense in that he has been unable to talk or otherwise communicate for most of his 17 years and therefore probably still has a limited knowledge of the world.

As I currently live in Brisbane, recognising the many familiar landmarks was a bonus.

A great, easy to read thriller. I look forward to reading more of Adele's books in the future.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars.
I am not the intended audience for this YA novel, but even so I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story concerns Blaine Colton who has suffered from a mitochondrial disorder that has led to him being confined to a wheelchair, unable to effectively communicate for the first sixteen years of his life. Then he received some treatment and medication which changed his life around. For the first time Blaine felt like a normal teenager. That is until Professor Ramer who developed the cure, disappears and Dr Melissa Hartsfield takes over. Dr Hartsfield with her selfish ambition is a character the reader will clearly see does not have Blaine’s best interests at heart.
Blaine needs to find out what out if all he has been told is true and what is not. He needs to determine how to escape from being imprisoned by Dr Hartfield and her crew. Even if he does escape how will he survive when supply of the mediation he needs is in short supply?
This is a fast paced story that contains a bit of scientific language, but never enough to overwhelm the plot. This novel won the Caleb Award for an unpublished manuscript in 2013 and it’s not hard to see why. The characters are interesting, the story line moves at a cracking pace and it raises some interesting issues along the way. It should engage the reader from start to finish. It did me. I found this to be a thoroughly engaging novel that I think many teenagers and adults will read and enjoy.

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaine Colton's life has turned around since revolutionary gene therapy helped him recover from a mitachondrial disorder which had him confined to a wheelchair, unable to control his motor skills or communicate for the first sixteen years of his life. Just a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday, he's given some bad news at a check-up and confined to the hospital for the further tests. He's told that he is considered a GMO (genetically modified organism) which would have been killed at once if he'd been any life form other than human.

Blaine had been thankful to have been given a normal life, having never known such a luxury before, but keeps learning frightening things, such as the possibility that he could be, as he expresses it, a 'walking biohazard', to put anyone he's in contact with at risk of some bizarre new disease he may be hosting, created by the toxins Professor Ramer used for his cure treatment. The only clear thing is that neither Blaine, nor Dr Hartfield, have the full picture.

I liked having the doctors, Melissa Hartfield and Eddie Jonick, as frequent point of view characters. It's clever writing, to have their thoughts and feelings laid before us, yet we're still challenged to try to figure out whether they are goodies or baddies. Just enough information is given to intrigue us, particularly with Melissa, making us wonder whether she's on the level or playing some sort of game with Blaine. If she is, what could her motivation possibly be?

Short, succinct chapters keep the momentum rolling along, probably fast enough to please the most restless and easily distracted young adult reader. They end at crucial spots, always giving us the motivation to read just one more. The exciting, 'in the nick of time' sort of ending has an edge of the seat quality too.

I like the setting, which I personally recognised. Although I'm not a Queenslander, I've been in Brisbane a few times in the last few years and recognised some landmarks, especially those along the river. I always appreciate books with Australian settings.

Most of all, this book makes me appreciate the heroism of anonymous medical staff who strive every day to make a difference in the lives of patients. How fantastic it will be one day, if young people with conditions such as Blaine's will be given the gift of normal lives. I hope there will be a sequel to this story, as I'd like to see more of the developing relationship between Blaine and Sophie, the girl he's always admired. I was intrigued to think that she grew up with him while he was confined to his chair, unable to articulate or communicate, and now suddenly, here he is able to do all of that.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story from the first paragraph. I originally saw it as an entry in the CALEB Unpublished Manuscript competition in 2013. It stood out even in a very strong competitive field. My only misgiving was that it was set in Brisbane, my hometown, and I could picture Blaine’s every move as he tried to evade his captors. I wondered how much my enjoyment was affected by my ability to visualise the actual locations in brilliant bougainvillea Technicolor. Off it went to judges overseas and interstate who enjoyed it just as much as I did.

This is a fast-paced YA techno-thriller. Blaine’s miracle cure has already occurred before the book opens. For years, he was a drooling, disabled human vegetable whose adoptive parents have sacrificed their lives in the hope he could be cured. Their faith has been rewarded and now Blaine is a regular teenager who can walk and talk and look the girl he’s crazy about in the eye instead of the kneecap.

But his right-side-up life is about to hit a huge bump in the road. It tumbles into upside-down freefall: no one has counted on the ruthless ambition of several medical researchers.

Blaine’s regular check-up has turned into a nightmare when he is held against his will as an illegal GMO: genetically-modified organism. Chief scientist Melissa Hartfield is desperate to discover how her erstwhile mentor, Professor Ramer, brought about this radical cure. Ramer has left with no forwarding address and she’ll stop at nothing to find out the secret of his work.

She’s barred Blaine from his parents and them from him. And she’s made him think he’s carrying a potentially deadly contagion and them think he’s become violent and subject to murderous rage.

Can Blaine escape? He’s got one secret: a tiny supply of pills called Ramer’s Cure and, if he can eke them out while making Hartfield believe he is debilitated and stupid, he might stand a chance of getting out of the high security cage where he’s incarcerated.

A wonderful story about hope, love, miracles and God’s quiet oversight of every sparrow’s fall. It takes place in Brisbane and some other location. I could tell you where, as I could also tell you more about the story. But I won’t. As Professor Ramer says, if I did—then I’d have to kill you.

[Anusha Atukorala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Integrate was a fast paced, well written medical thriller that had me reaching for the book till I reached the last page. Blaine Colton is a very believable character, a likable young man with a complicated life. His options seem to be running out. Will he be able to sort out the difficulties his medical condition? And what about his dealings with those who are supposedly trying to help him?

I fully recommend Adele Jone's very enjoyable YA story - you will find it readable no matter how old you are!

[Elaine Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA novel, Integrate was a real page turner. The science behind the medical mystery was fascinating and gave an interesting insight into gene therapy.

It was also a great mystery and take of teenage romance.

The representation of positive teen characters provides an encouragement to readers to see the worth in others.

A great read for boys and girls.

[Catriona McKeown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Integrate and its action-packed fast moving story line. By the final chapters of the novel I was completely unable to put the book down, keen to know how things ended for Blaine, who had already spent far too many times on death row for my liking!

The storyline is very Science-based, in that the main character has (from what I undstood!) warped DNA that had resulted in him being severely handicapped for most of his life until fairly recently. Truthfully, much of the explanations behind Blaine's issues I didn't even bother trying to decipher (sorry Adele! Lol). But that didn't take anything away from the storyline, rather it added to it, as it sounded credible and believable.

I found it a bit annoying that a couple of characters tended to speak in sentences that dropped the first word or two, often the pronoun. I guess it was to give them a more authentic sounding voice, but it jumped out of the page too much for my liking and at times took me away from the story.

But on the whole it was a great read. I loved the Brisbane setting and the fact that I knew some of the areas that Blaine was running around. I also liked the way I was not 100% sure if Blaine was being paranoid or if people really were out to get him.

But most of all I loved the way the family's faith was gently woven into the story and Blaine was reminded from time to time that God was very much in amongst his current situation. I loved it how Blaine eventually began to realise that if he looked hard enough, he would see that God had been helping him through it, at time miraculously, all along.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaine Coulton had spent most of his life battling a debilitating condition that restricted him to a wheelchair. A miracle drug has given him a new lease of life, but the future may not be as bright as he’d hoped. He’s told his treatment was never officially sanctioned and he is now classified as an illegal GMO (genetically-modified organism). He manages to escape from the Advanced Research Institute where the power-hungry Dr Melissa Hartfield has held him captive, but his freedom will be short-lived if he can’t find the elusive professor responsible for his treatment.

This novel won the Caleb Award for unpublished manuscript in 2013 and it’s easy to see why. I was engaged right from the first chapter. The premise is intriguing and I empathised with Blaine as he tried to come to terms with his changing circumstances. I wasn’t very familiar with gene therapy before reading the book, so I found it interesting to contemplate the scientific breakthroughs that will be available in the near future. There is enough science in the book to help the reader understand the scenario, but it never gets bogged down in technical information. The plot moves along at a good clip and there’s plenty of suspense and mystery along the way. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Blaine and Sophie, and can’t wait to see what happens to them next.

The book raises a lot of ethical issues about identity and the value of life. If Blaine’s treatment ceased and he reverted back to his previous state, would life still be worth living? Would his parents have adopted him if they’d had prior knowledge of his condition? Does he have intrinsic value or would he be a burden to those who love him? These are not easy questions, but the author handles them with sensitivity.

The novel is very topical at a time when there are debates about gene patents and the ethics of technologies that can create and modify life. Although the characters of Blaine and Sophie would especially appeal to teenagers and young adults, there is still plenty to interest older readers. I also like the fact that it has a more hopeful theme than many of the YA novels today. If you like mystery and suspense, tinged with social issues that make you think, you’ll enjoy this novel.

(Disclosure: I gave feedback on an earlier draft of the manuscript, but it was already in great shape. It’s a really good story).

[Mary Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent debut book. I love discovering a new author I enjoy reading -and have to add especially a fellow Australian writer! As an ex-nurse, the theme of this book was scary but also perhaps a warning for us to be rather careful of "new" developments in health science. This book is a real page-turner and not to be missed.

[Mazzy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very impressed with Adele Jones' debut YA novel. It's a fast-paced, character driven, credible creation which speculates about the impact and outcomes of innovative biological research - and the potential for human nature to positively or negatively influence its direction. Whether readers are looking for a novel with the depth to question such serious issues, or simply seeking a genuinely good story which connects seamlessly to the stuff of contemporary life and living, not to mention the challenges of being a young adult and the challenges of relationships, 'Integrate' is a good choice. As a science lightweight, I did struggle slightly with the medical/biological terminology/concepts on occasion but this did not diminish my reading enjoyment; Jones used context with aplomb, enhancing my comprehension of the speculative premise. I've given it a four star rating mainly because I've just read the sequel, 'Replicate', which is even better than 'Integrate', and I need the extra star for that!

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most engrossing I've read in a long while. Those with little scientific knowledge – like me – might expect to be bewildered by unknown terms but we are carried along in a fast pace and the author gives clear explanations so lay persons aren't lost or alienated. Characters are well defined and they move around recognisable Brisbane settings. An enjoyable YA debut novel that also entices older readers.

[Lynne Stringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and different novel about a young man who has received radical new therapy to help him overcome a debilitating disease. However, he's then told his treatment is unauthorised and has a fight on his hands just to stay alive. While some of the plot elements went the usual way of such stories, it was still written in such an engaging manner this was a minor concern for me. The protagonist was intriguing and realistically drawn. Definitely a story worth reading.

[Jeanette Grant-Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

To my surprise - I am not a scientifically-minded reader - I enjoyed Integrate. Blaine Colton has a severe genetic disorder and is fighting for his life. Not all his 'helpers' really have his well-being in mind. Will he get his essential medication in time? Adele Jones has succeeded in creating the suspense so necessary for a YA story. I just had to keep reading! Congratulations, Adele!

[Jenny Glazebrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced book that still leaves plenty of room for deep concepts. The whole story had me intrigued. Blaine got me thinking about those people with disabilities which physically disable them but who are intellectually capable. I became completely involved and couldn't put the book down. The author is clearly highly intelligent with an intricate understanding of science - yet the story was told in such a way that I, a very 'unscientific' person could understand it all. A cleverly told, believable tale.

[R.J. Rodda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring YA read with a strong dash of science. The main character Blaine is told he is illegal because of genetic modifications made to his body. When he is told he must be locked up in a medical facility he is understandably upset and plots to escape. But is his body now dangerous to others?

What I love about this book is the emphasis on every life being valuable no matter what their capacity. Blaine's adopted parents were terrific in their affirmation of him (a nice change from the usual parents-as-villains) and Sophie was an inspirational character with her big heart.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a smart read for young adults. Started a little slowly, but was flying along as the story unfolded. Science fiction in its truest sense, with adventure and a little romance as well. Very enjoyable read, and I am sure young readers will love it. Author Adele Jones has written a highly readable, intelligent book.

Highly recommended for teens looking for something different to the usual vampire/dystopian offerings. Integrate is about believable young people in contemporary life, but with one big challenge. Medical/science theme.

[Linsey Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaine Colton is a medical miracle and he wants to be free to live the life that has been denied him. Blaine is finally free to do all the physical, mental activities that he’s been unable to do his whole life. But he’s just been told he’s an illegal GMO (genetically modified organism) and needs to kept under twenty-four hour surveillance, he can’t leave or contact his parents.
The professor who engineered his miracle has disappeared and his new doctor is determined to get to the bottom of Blaine’s miracle cure and take the credit.
Time is running out for Blaine as the medication he is dependant on for his cure dwindle and he can’t access anymore until he can get out of the clutches of Doctor Melissa Hartfield
But is he contagious? Is he illegal? Would it be better for him to be a guinea pig so that others can benefit?
Blaine begins to suspect that Dr Hartfield isn’t being completely truthful. He escapes the institution to seek answers and his missing doctor. As his body begins to fail he must rely on his parents and friends to help him. Can he trust them or will they realise that life is better without the complications and financial strain that he brings? Is he worth anything without the cure or does his worth only come from his able body?
Adele Jones’ fast paced, young adult, medical ‘what if’ will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jones does a brilliant job of keeping the reader guessing. Who can we believe and what is really going on?
Great characters and a scenario that goes from bad to worse had me turning the pages turn faster and faster.

[Anna Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think of a patient of House inserted into The Fugitive.

It was not what I expected. When I first read the back cover I imagined it would be more like the Altered series by Jennifer Rush where boys are experimented on to become bio-genetic weapons. Wrong! After the initial disappointment, I appreciated the concept of an unprecedented cure for Mitochrondrial Disease. I also liked how the story was backed up by a subtle but powerful dose of Christian faith. In saying that though, there were certain flaws in the story’s execution. Firstly, while Jones clearly researched the subject extensively, the information tended to be lost in translation. The title itself refers to contradictory particles ‘integrating’ in Blaine’s body, which is the reason why he is such an anomaly in his condition, but it was written in such a confusing way, that the title felt like a passive and abstract advertisement of its’ content. Additionally, there were medical and scientific info dumps that I found I had to reread several times and even then, I still couldn’t understand completely due to unnecessary complexity.

Another element that had me frustrated was the stereotypical direction of the characters and plot. In the first page, it was clear who the villain of the story was, and I liked the instant setup and intrigue that came with it. Unfortunately from there, I was able to predict the basic outline of what came next from there: Villain holds protagonist hostage; protagonist escapes and gets help from love interest; Villain chases after protagonist while finding a lackey in beefy ladies man who is infatuated with her; protagonist has several close encounters with villain and the law; protagonist gets caught; love interest to the rescue. It’s a classic well done and successful concept, and Jones wrote it well, and cleverly in different POVs, yet I was hoping for something a bit more unpredictable and new.

In terms of writing technique, I noticed Jones’s excessive amount of exclamation marks. Although a small thing, it was noticeable and detracted from the narrative. In my own opinion, sentences are more effective without extra embellishes.

Blaine was a unique, resilient and likable character. I had never read a book before where the main protagonist had suffered through such a debilitating illness that caused an extreme lack of cognitive senses. It made me empathize and appreciate him in a way I had never felt for other protagonists. He was truly a hero for himself, which is all one needs to be at the end of the day.

The world building only really started to develop after Blaine escaped from the institute. But when it did, it lived up to my expectations. Admittedly, I’m biased because the story is set in Brisbane – where I’ve been studying for the last 4 ½ years, but I don’t care. I loved the mentions of QUT – my last university, and all my favourite haunts in Brisbane. Due to the setting, I was so immersed in the story that I was tempted at times to type some of the incidents that occurred in the book on google to see if I would get any results.

In all, It wasn’t my favourite book, but I would recommend it to anyone who lives in Brisbane and has an interest in medical discoveries




Thanks to Rhiza Press for providing a free hardcopy for me to review.

[Zillah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ingredients of an interesting story are here in Adele Jones’ book Integrate. The plot centres around the use of gene therapy to treat a life-threatening illness — the story of a young man first imprisoned by a debilitating disease and then by an ambitious, ruthless scientist out to enhance her own reputation.

The reader’s sympathies are immediately engaged by the teenager Blaine’s desperate efforts to escape the research institute where he is being held against his will.

The book would benefit greatly by being shortened. Too much narrative slows the pace. Another possible problem is that the medical and scientific terms used may not be readily understood by all readers. For example, not everyone would know what a photovoltaic cell is, or does — without looking it up. (Of course, this may not be a bad thing to have to do, as long as it doesn’t happen too often.)

This reviewer would prefer less reliance on unusual similes to express emotion, and less use of several words where one word would do. And a preface with a brief explanation of mitochondrial disease and its effects would be a useful addition.

That said, Integrate remains an interesting story which encourages the reader to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in the end.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, fast paced story of a teenager that was physically disabled, and had gene therapy so that he would walk, and talk. That all happened before, under a different doctor, and the current doctor wants to know how it happened, so wants to keep Blaine in the institute to study him.

And Blaine knows he has to escape.

Told in multiple voices from the bad guys to the good guys to those in between. Best in Bristane, Australian, it feels as though the author knows all the landmarks and uses them well in the story. Good point of views. Very real people. I am looking forward to the next books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Judy Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this whole series. Coming from Brisbane's Southside, it was easy for me to visualise and travel with the characters through Southbank and around the city.

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into the damn thing. I felt like I had skipped some chapters as I wasn't quite grasping what was going on.
Not for me, sorry.

[Adele Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer – I am the author and this is a totally biased review, but I love this second edition of my debut novel, even more than the first. 😊

What would you do if you were born with a genetic disorder and, as a teenager, your one shot at a normal, independent life was taken from you, just when it was beginning? This is where we meet seventeen-year-old Blaine Colton, hero of ‘Integrate’. Blaine was never able to choose for himself, communicate verbally, tell the girl he likes how he feels, or go places independently. That was, until he received revolutionary gene therapy. Fast-track to the start of this novel, and Blaine is told his treatment was unapproved and he’s now an illegal, potentially harmful, genetically modified organism. According to Dr Melissa Hartfield, the medical researcher unexpectedly overseeing his situation, he must be locked up and denied contact with his family and friends, to become the focus of constant study. Without the medication that keeps him alive, Blaine’s on a fast-track road to his own demise. But why don’t those holding him seem to know about his critical medicine? And why are they saying things that don’t add up, including that his parents adopted him without knowledge of his illness? Can he trust them? Are they really on his side?

Blaine has a choice—stay there and die—or make an escape plan to find someone who can tell him the truth (not die) and try to win the girl he likes along the way (of course). A race against time, ‘Integrate’ will keep you on the edge of your seat as you run with Blaine through the streets of Brisbane’s Riverside Precincts and Southbank Parklands. This medical near sci-fi thriller is recommended to lovers of science fiction and fast-paced action stories.

[Iola]

Blaine Colton isn’t the average seventeen-year-old boy. He spent the first fourteen years of his life in a wheelchair until Professor Ramer’s experimental gene therapy turned him into a normal Australian teen. But now he’s back at the Advance Research Institute, under the care of Dr Melissa Hartfield, and something’s not quite right …

Blaine isn’t sure what’s happening, but he knows he needs to escape the Institute, and keep out of the clutches of Dr Hartfield and her cronies. And he needs to get more pills, so he seeks help from his former next-door neighbour, Sophie Faraday. But Dr Hartfield has already contacted Sophie, who now doesn’t know who’s telling the truth: Blaine, or the doctor?

Integrate is a fast-paced psychological thriller set in Brisbane, Australia. The plot is excellent, with enough science to keep it interesting, but not so much that it dissolves into technobabble. I liked the way all the little bits tied up at the end, yet still leaves room for a sequel (I’d like to see more of Blaine, Sophie and Jett).

Blaine is mature for his age, having come through the disabilities he faced in childhood with a strong sense of self, and no desire to return to the person he used to be. He’s fighting for his life in a different way, and has to persuade Sophie and others that he’s not violent or deranged—a difficult task when he’s only partway through his cure and his physical health is failing.

The other characters are good as well. They all feel like real people, with a mixture of good and bad points. They make mistakes, judge things incorrectly, and get frustrating. Annoying, but just like real people in real life. All in all, Integrate is a good read. Recommended.

Thanks to Rhiza Press for providing a free ebook for review.

[N.R. Eccles-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not originally what I thought it was (the cover made me think the book leaned toward a more sci-fi/ cat and mouse/ secret institute gig), but I ended up being pulled into the story, shadowing and feeling everything the protagonist, Blaine, goes through, and enjoying it. The book has a strong science base (the author clearly knows her stuff), but it's not sci-fi; more like science/ drama.
So if you're looking for a well-written and well-paced, real-world, close-to-home story with relatable characters (and not super-human/ espionage/ large-scale cat and mouse story), then this is a good choice!
AND, I do believe this is the first of a trilogy, so there are more mysteries and plots to unfold after Integrate ends. :)

[Ray Woodrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the first page... and the rest of the book, of course. What an intro. I was intrigued by the premise; a boy/young man with a severe medical condition and an experimental treatment, what could possibly go wrong?
I love how Adele has drawn the reader in from the first paragraphs and made you want to read to know how he fares. Alone and in need of help... like NOW.
And being familiar with some of the settings in inner city Brisbane, I could picture some of it. Well done, Adele.

[K A Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaine Colton has been given a second chance at life, but it looks like it’s about to be taken away from him.

I didn’t fully understand the science in the first few chapters, but as I continued to read, I soon found Blaine had slipped into my heart unnoticed. I needed to find out what happened. I needed to find out the truth.

Adele Jones weaves a tantalising and heart-wrenching story about a boy who struggles with understanding where he fits in the world. His doubts about himself mirror our own questions - Can any one person really make a difference? Does anyone really care?

This is a book that needs to be read.

[Melinda Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was really excited about reading this book however I am slightly disappointed. The writing, setting and plot were all good, (I especially appreciated the fact the book was set in Australia), but I wanted more. The ending didn't seem satisfying to me as there doesn't seem to be any closure. Also it would have been good to learn more about how Blaine's mitochondrial illness was cured and about Ramen's Cure. Overall, this was a good book that could have been great with some more detail woven into the plot and by a deeper exploration of Blaine's character as well as Dr. Ramen's research.

[E.M. McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read that kept me turning the pages; Blaine is a complex and well written character whom I empathized for. While the scientific info may be a bit confusing for those without a background, I found the concepts used believable in a fiction setting. Overall, I'd recommend this story for anyone that likes some good action.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing novel that I thoroughly enjoyed by the end. Blaine has a Mitochondrial Disease that has affected his life since he was young and only through the gene therapy efforts of Dr Ramer is he able to walk and talk and be a teenager. Until Dr Hartfield springs on him that he's an illegal GMO and needs to be contained. But there's more going on than Blaine realises and it's a fight for freedom. With the coats on his tail, he navigates Brisbane's South Bank to stay one step ahead.

The start of the novel was a bit slow and I found the sudden jump into the story a bit jarring considering that it seems to continue on from the blurb. There was kind of no build up about Blaine's condition so a reader who doesn't understand the science behind his condition (like me) would get quite confused about what was happening. It actually took me a bit into the book to realise what his disease actually was. However as the book progressed, it got a bit easier to understand what the author was talking about. The way that Jones 'showed' the readers the effect of his condition throughout the book was brilliant and also the effects his external symptoms had on those around him was well written and helped progress the plot. I did find at times there was a bit of repetitive information being present in each chapter but I didn't find it detracted from the story itself so much.

The characters were well-done for this novel, especially Blaine and Melissa. I quite like the change in Melissa from seemingly caring doctor at the start to vindictive protege intent on outdoing Dr Ramer by any means out of earshot from Blaine. The book also touched on homelessness and hunger from Blaine's perspective and I found the tone of Blaine's on-the-run lifestyle was light, instead of a darker tone that I expected - but that it understandable as this is a young adult novel, probably targeted towards the younger spectrum of the scale.

Overall, if you're looking for an Australia-based YA action read that involves genetic manipulation (but without the superpowers) then this is a novel you should definitely read!