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Reviewed by:
  • The Gardener
  • April Spisak, Reviewer
Bodeen, S. A.. The Gardener. Feiwel, 2010. [240p]. ISBN 978-0-312-37016-9 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 7-9.

Mason has never known his father, but he may regret his lifelong quest to learn about the man when he discovers that his parents were both part of an effort to create genetically engineered children who were self-sustaining (his mother left the organization when she learned of her pregnancy, while his father continued his work). A chance encounter with a gorgeous but mysterious girl, Laila, leads [End Page 420] to a mission to keep her away from the experimental laboratory in which she was raised, even though her distance from her source is clearly killing her (too young to be truly autotrophic, she must be hooked to feeding machines and exposed to carefully regulated sunlight). Eventually, Mason saves the girl, meets his father, and thwarts plans for the use of these kids as perfect soldiers. The gripping pace and dramatic chase-scene climax through the creepy lab will certainly satisfy action-focused sci-fi fans. Unfortunately, the heavy-handed environmental messages slow the adventure, with readers frequently reminded of a looming food shortage that seemingly justifies the experiments. In addition, the romance between Mason and Laila is uncomfortable, given the fact that he is literally the first boy she's ever really seen, and that the heightened adrenaline of his saving her life is certainly clouding both of their judgments. Even so, fans of Bodeen's earlier novel, The Compound (BCCB 5/08), will appreciate the familiar elements that the author does well: a conflicted boy narrator, a lightning pace, and a murkiness around the edges of good and evil that lingers even after plot details fade.

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