Nobel Genes
Rune Michaels
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
(Simon & Schuster), 2010
192 pages
Following the success of Genesis Alpha and The Reminder, Michaels tells the tale of a nameless teen boy who has no idea who his father is, other than the fact that his mother tells him she picked a Nobel Prize winner as a sperm donor. What is it like to know your dad is a genius and that you'll never measure up--you're just average?
Things get progessively worse as the boy's mother shows signs of mental illness, bi-polar behavior, and suicidal tendencies. Even Drum, the renter who lives in the garage apartment, is ready to move on. When the boy's mom slips into a coma from a third attempt at suicide , the boy's grandmother and grandfather enter the picture.
Does the boy really want to know his real father? Why has his mother kept his identity secret all these years? What is happening to his mom?
Compelling, poignant, and tragic, Nobel Genes is a riveting read. For fans who liked Genesis Alpha, they will gravitate towards this book--albeit a much darker choice.
Recommended for high school collections. Not recommended for middle school due to adult content. Some language.
FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.
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