Review: Solid

Title: Solid
Author: Shelley Workinger
Date Released: July 9th, 2010
Pages: 222
Rating: 4 out of 5

Description:
Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

Review:
This book was really cool!  It was about an 18 year-old girl named Calliope Kaid (but prefers to go by Clio instead) who discovers that she was genetically altered unknowingly when still in her mother's womb by an Army doctor.  She later finds out, when at a camp/army base with other kids just like her, that the chromosomes that were altered gave her superpowers.  How cool is that?? 

The book starts off just a little slow, but I was fine with it because it wasn't moving at a snail's pace.  Not a whole lot happens, but the beginning is mainly like an introduction to life at this super awesome campus that Clio is staying at.  However, slowly, Clio and her friends, Jack, Bliss, Miranda, and Garrett, start to become a little suspicious of the things going on.  All these suspicions finally lead up to the totally shocking ending.  It really sped up the book and got me hooked and wanting to find out where everything was heading to. 

Other than that, this was a GREAT book.  I liked everything else about it from the characters to the plot.  The characters were super duper awesome!  They all had a variety of personalities like Bliss and Miranda.  They're nothing alike!  Miranda seemed to fit the popular girl stereotype with her blonde hair and good looks.  Bliss was friendly and really down to earth.  The main character, Clio was definitely cool as well.  I really loved how she has a really great and solid relationship with her mom.  The guys, Jack and Garrett were pretty cool as well. 

Solid is a really quick read, too, that only took me several days to read*.  The whole idea of genetically-altered-at-birth superhumans is totally awesome!  I always love a good book with people who have superpowers because I always wish that I could be just like them (the superpower that I'd love to have is to be able to fly).

I'll definitely be looking forward to Settling, the second book in this series, to learn more about Clio and her friends.  The third book is called Sound.  I can't wait until they come out!  Solid was a really great start to this series and I can't wait to see what will happen next! 

*Keep in mind that I'm not the fastest reader in the world :)

Cover Review:
The cover is really cool!  It's not exactly the typical cover that I normally like, but I really like how there's a chromosome on it, since the story basically revolves around it.

Cleo :)

*Description from Amazon.com
**Review copy received from author for review.  Thank you Shelley Workinger!