  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2017 Gr 5–7—Twelve-year-old Ada's greatest secret has been revealed after a surprise test at school. She is a chimera, or "kime," born with human and animal DNA, the result of an experiment gone horribly wrong. She has infrared vision and can see various colors floating around objects. The rest of the world fears kimes, and as a result, Ada is in danger of being hunted or worse. Ada is forced to leave her life behind. She is quarantined at the Genesis Institute with others who are like her. Ada soon finds herself surrounded by all sorts of chimera: a boy whose skin changes color, a girl with dragonfly wings, a boy with seal hands, and more. At first she struggles to fit in but soon meets friends. Ada begins to realize that Genesis may not be telling the children everything and may even be harboring a secret about the origins of the chimera. Young adult author Porter (Vassa in the Night) makes her middle grade debut with a well-written, engaging tale of friendship that is peppered with intrigue. VERDICT A strong purchase for readers who enjoy mysteries with fantasy elements.—William Anderson, Scott County Public Library, IN - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 08/01/2017 Ada has always been different—her infrared vision sets her apart—and she’s always known to keep these differences a secret. Years ago, a genetic experiment went wrong, and the result was that some children were born with chimera syndrome, their DNA meshing with animal DNA; those that survived had altered appearances and enhanced skills. Ada, a rare “kime” who can pass for human, keeps her identity secret, as most people view the kimes with fear and disgust. After she’s caught by a surprise DNA test, Ada is sent away to a quarantined school for kimes. The reception she receives there is mixed—these are children with jellyfish stingers, seal fur, and dragonfly eyes, and they don’t all take kindly to the human-passing Ada. But the school holds secrets, and as tensions mount between kimes and humans, Ada finds herself caught up in the mystery. This is a STEM-inspired adventure that focuses just as much on tolerance as it does on environmental responsibility and evolution. Animal-lovers and sci-fi addicts will be hooked. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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