Anomaly (Anomaly, #1)

by Krista McGee

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli's birth, the world was decimated by a nuclear war. But life continued deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. There they created genetically engineered human beings who are free of emotions in the hope that war won't threaten the world again.

Thalli is an anomaly, born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far by hiding her differences. But then her secret is discovered when she's overwhelmed by the emotion of an ancient piece of music.

The Ten quickly schedule her annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk-a scientist being groomed by The Ten-convinces them to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the Scientists' Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance.

As her life ticks a way, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer-someone even more powerful than The Ten. What's more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she's been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who to trust, before her time runs out.

". . . the first in what has the potential to be a fascinating trilogy of general appeal. McGee's simple narrative belies the novel's complexity, a factor that will make this intriguing book accessible to a wide variety of teen readers." -Booklist

• ISBN10: 140168873X
• ISBN13: 9781401688738
• Publish Date: 16 July 2013 (first published 25 April 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thomas Nelson
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Joséphine]

“Anomaly” contains everything a reader expects in a good story. A protagonist, a hero, a plot with highs and lows, problems that need to be solved and an unexpected twist. Thalli knows she is different; she has known for a long time. She is also aware that being different is dangerous, so she hides it as best as she can. Hiding is becoming increasingly difficult though, especially when she player her music. She is her Pod’s designated musician but music is supposed to serve a specific purpose and that is to stimulate productivity of other Pod members. Yet she can’t help but feel that there is so much more to music. She feels things through her music, even though she knows she shouldn’t. When she can no longer contain herself, and she is determined to be a threat to the rest of her Pod, she is removed to be annihilated.

Instead of impending annihilation, she becomes a science experiment because Berk, her former Pod mate and friend, who is in training to become a Scientist, manages to convince the Scientists to preserve her life. That decision is not indefinite but it gives Berk time to figure out how to save Thalli. It is from this point onwards that things become interesting. What is humanity without emotion? Readers come to see what it must be like to learn about emotion for the first time. Happiness, anger, sadness, etc. are so integral to our lives that we rarely stop to think what life would be like if it were entirely rational. This whole concept in itself intrigued me and it is that which first drew me to this book. Also, I can rarely resist books in which music is integral, so it was a bonus when I read about Thalli’s role as a Musician and how she would lose herself in music.

While I had no problems with the outright religious messages weaved into the story, I do think it’s important to note that it very clearly is a book of Christian narrative fiction. Some readers may not appreciate this but the quest for the Designer is part of what propels the plot forward. It is also what gives Thalli glimpses of a greater purpose. It also added another facet to the discoveries of what life on earth was like before the nuclear war that wiped out most everyone besides the Scientists who managed to establish The State and save themselves.

Fuller review here.