Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Deficient

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available

The near future is progressively free from discrimination based on race, class, and sexual orientation. But in a world populated by the gifted, fifteen-year-old Alejandro Aragon (Alé) is part of the only remaining minority—he's a Deficient. Powerless. The one that accelerated genetics left behind.

Alé knows that he'll need a miracle to graduate and pursue his dream of a legal career in the capital. His only ally is his best friend Yalamba, an outspoken and exceptionally gifted artist renowned for her unique ability to draw things into existence. But when she's kidnapped in a hate crime against her ability, it appears that Alé has every motive and no believable alibi.

To prove his innocence and track down the real culprit, Alé teams up with the other outcasts in school, who each have their own reasons for getting involved. But the deeper they dig, the more they fear Yalamba's kidnapping is linked to a string of unsolved murders against the exceptionally gifted.

With time running out, Alé must discover who he really is if he and his new friends plan to track down the culprit, clear his name, and rescue Yalamba—all before she herself is drawn out of existence.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      July 1, 2023
      In a world where almost everyone has superpowers, Alejandro Aragon is one of the rare Deficients. Al�, as he's known to Yalamba, his only friend, is ostracized by classmates and ridiculed by bullies. Al� believes that the only reason Yalamba has stuck by him is because of her ability to draw things into existence. At school, people with abilities like hers are called Ferals, and they're regarded as only slightly better than Deficients. Al�'s mom supports him; his high-ranking Atlas father and brothers seem to barely tolerate his existence. When Al�'s Feral classmates and their families become targets of hate crimes, Al� tries to find the perpetrator and save the only friend he's ever had. Luckily, he makes new friends along the way. Mixie Trait, Kazuki Tanaka, and Gwen Manghi join Al�'s mission and give him the support and trust he so desperately craves. Together they try to solve the mystery of the brutal attacks while navigating their school's and community's harsh, unforgiving cultures. Centering the bigotry around supernatural abilities allows readers to explore the weight of identity-based hatred through a science-fiction lens, although worldbuilding and in-depth character development take a back seat to the action. However, what this fast-paced narrative lacks in layers it makes up for in its original premise. Contextual clues suggest ethnic diversity. An attention-grabbing plot-driven story that tackles themes of belonging. (ability status table) (Science fiction. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading