by Jessica Kapp Genre: YA Sci-fi Thriller Release Date: August 15th 2017 Summary from Goodreads: People would kill for her body. Raised in an elite foster center off the California coast, sixteen-year-old Tabithaâs been sculpted into a world-class athlete. Her trainers have told her sheâll need to be in top physical condition to be matched with a loving family, even though personal health has taken a backseat outside the training facility. While Tabitha swims laps and shaves seconds off her mile time, hoping to find a permanent home, the rest of the community takes pills produced by pharmaceutical giant PharmPerfect to erase their wrinkles, grow hair, and develop superhuman strength. When Tabithaâs finally paired, instead of being taken to meet her new parents, she wakes up immobile on a hospital bed. Moments before sheâs sliced open, a group of renegade teenagers rescues her, and she learns the real reason for her perfect health: PharmPerfect is using her foster program as a replacement factory for their pill-addicted clientsâ failing organs. And her friends from the center, the only family sheâs ever known, are next in line to be harvested. Determined to save them, Tabitha joins forces with her rescuers, led by moody and mysterious Gavin Stiles. As they race to infiltrate the hospital and uncover the rest of PharmPerfectâs secrets, though, Tabitha finds herself with more questions than answers. Will trusting the enigmatic group of rebels lead her back to the slaughterhouse?
Buy Links:
Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781635761665
Excerpt:
The exit door buzzes. My breath catches when I notice itâs not a trainerâitâs Ms. Preen. And, sheâs holding a red file, which can only mean one thing.
One of us is getting out.
Her heels make quick, light clicks as she crosses the floor past the weight equipment and yoga mats. She crinkles her nose as she moves through the thick cloud of sweat. By the time she reaches us, Meghanâs out of the pool. We stand, two-dozen bodies huddled together, anxious to hear the news. I scan my friendsâ faces, wondering whose turn it is to go. Parker wraps his free arm around me. I imagine this is how a gymnast feels after a routine, waiting for her scores. Did I perform well enough? Could I have done more?
Will I win the ultimate prize: a family?
Ms. Preen presses through to the pool area, but stands far from our group, as if she thinks weâll throw her in.
Itâs crossed our minds before.
The light shines off her blonde bob, and her face is flawless. Freeze-dried, we like to say.
âWhere is she?â Ms. Preen looks at our group as if she canât tell us apart, which is probably true. Even though she pops in at least once a month to check on our vitals, she isnât interested in getting to know us. Sheâs the one in charge of pairing us with families, but all she knows is what weâre good at. Meghan is the fast one; Paige climbs like sheâs part monkey; Parkerâs built like a brick house; and me, I have the lungs.
âThe redhead, where is she?â
All eyes turn to me.
âWe have names, you know,â Paige says, her voice curt. âHers is Tabitha. T-A-Bâ¦â
Ms. Preen pulls a piece of paper out of the file, holding it up toward the row of skylights to read it. âYes. Sheâs the one.â
Parker tightens his hold on me and I clasp my hands together to stop them from shaking. Ms. Preen doesnât need to know Iâm nervous. Iâm supposed to be elated, ready to go. Maybe Iâve been fooling myself.
I wiggle out of Parkerâs grip to step forward. âThatâs me.â
Ms. Preen shoves the paper back into the file. âGet dressed. Iâm taking you for your final screening. If you pass, youâll be out tomorrow.â Her voice is hard and she turns to walk away.
I glance back at the group, at the faces Iâve known since childhood. Theyâre excited for me, but I can see the disappointment in their eyes. I know the look, because up until today Iâve watched friends leave, waiting for my turn.
Now that it is, I canât move.
About the Author
Jessica Kapp enjoys writing Young Adult Contemporary and Speculative Fiction. Story ideas often strike at inopportune times, and sheâs been known to text herself reminders from under the covers.
She lives on a small farm in Washington with far too many goats and an occasional cow.
3 Comments
Rita Wray
8/16/2017 04:37:12 pm
The story sounds very intriguing. I liked the excerpt.
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Dale Wilken
8/16/2017 06:52:30 pm
I loved the excerpt thank you.
Reply
Sara Zielinski
8/16/2017 07:35:46 pm
This sounds like a great book.
Reply
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