Shelly's Book Blog

Genesis Alpha, by Rune Michaels, appears on YALSA's 2008 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees list. This book is a thriller/murder mystery with a very unusual twist: the accused murderer has a brother whose stem cells saved his life. Josh, the younger brother, is the main character, and he goes through a terrible, life-changing ordeal, having to face questions not only about his brother's guilt or innocence, but also about his parents' and his own. At the center of the story is an online World of Warcraft- or Runescape-like game called Genesis Alpha. Both Josh and his brother Max play the game obsessively, and the information in the book about this type of online gaming is probably a draw for many teen reluctant readers. The book is also about genetic engineering, though, and the story helps readers to think through very realistic consequences of this controversial science. I thought it was a fascinating and compelling read, and I will be surprised if this book is not chosen as one of YALSA's top ten this year.