Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In a future world in which genetic engineering is almost always necessary for conception, Cassandra Gupta is among the first wave of “geneered” babies. Academically gifted and athletic, she lands an internship at NASA for the summer before her senior year. There, she catches the eye of the man in charge of a new, top-secret NASA program. He invites her to compete against other gifted young adults from all over the world to secure a spot as a crewmember on a highly classified mission into deep space. Determined to win—not to make friends—Cass soon falls for fellow contestant, Luka. All is not as it seems in the training center, and as the competition gets tougher, Cass finds out that the stakes are much higher than she knew. This debut novel is the first book in a planned duology is well crafted. Cassandra is a relatable character, confident without arrogance, and readers will cheer for her as she works her way up from the bottom of the pack and makes friends in spite of herself. The worldbuilding is exceptional; the author includes a seamless explanation of the rise of genetic engineering with references to actual space disasters like Apollo I and Columbia. The rigors of astronaut training are vividly described, while the competition gives the story a Divergent-type feel. Several plot twists and a diverse cast of characters make for an exciting atmosphere. This book will be an easy sell to dystopian and science fiction fans.—Elizabeth Norton.

ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Cassandra Gupta has spent her whole life preparing for the opportunity to travel into space. It's been years since NASA had funding to go into space t that's about to change. Now NASA is holding a competition for people 18 to 25 to secure a spot on a classified space mission. In order to fulfill her dream of space travel, Cassie must compete against the best and the brightest that the world has to offer, but as the competition wears on, Cassie realizes the competition might be more dangerous than she originally thought. Does she have what it takes to get into space? With a diverse cast of strong, fleshed-out characters cluding an asexual protagonist ens of all sorts will find something to like in Kaczynski's debut. Though the plot seems a bit rushed by the end, Kaczynski's characters and her detailed portrayal of training for space will leave readers impatient for the next volume in this duology.

Kirkus Reviews

Cassandra Gupta, a biracial, Indian-American 17-year-old, has been working a boring intern job at NASA when she's chosen to go to Houston to compete for a seat on the next space mission. The child of an Indian dad and a white mom, Cassandra was born in the first generation of designer babies, with DNA that was altered in vitro to give her optimal traits for athleticism and intelligence. Believing this is why she may have been selected, she sets off for Houston with one goal in mind: to win. Candidates from around the world, all under the age of 25, will endure a crash-course space camp that includes astronaut classes along with physical and psychological endurance testing. As the youngest, the anti-social Cassandra slowly begins to bond with the other participants. Friendships are made, but suspicions arise after a mysterious accident, and one by one, candidates drop out. Cassandra's closest friends, Mexican-American Emilio and Japanese-American Mitsuko, believe this expensive and unlikely government program isn't what it seems. There is little new here, as this book joins a small plethora of other teen novels with similar setups. Narrator Cassandra's inner monologue becomes repetitive, as she makes the same observations about her friends over and over. Her one-note focus on winning obscures any potential complexity the author could have explored with her genetically engineered character. The slow-moving story leads to a rushed cliffhanger ending that perplexes more than it entices. (Science fiction. 13-17)

School Library Journal (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 9 Up-ith her "designer genetics," Cassandra Gupta has enhanced intelligence and physical stamina. In a future where infertility is an epidemic, "desi" children are not unusual and at barely 18, Cassie qualifies for a unique opportunity to go into deep space. A diverse group of exceptional young adults undergo punishing physical and mental tests that quickly cull the group to a handful, which includes Cassie. Denied contact with the outside world, Cassie relies on outgoing Emilio and roommate Mitsuko, who acts as a big sister to her. Participants are constantly ranked and the mysterious Luka consistently maintains the lead. When Luka is chosen first and Cassie is selected as the alternate, they learn the nature of a seemingly impossible mission. Training intensifies and Cassie realizes she is drawn to Luka, and that her role in the mission will go far beyond what she ever envisioned. An original take on the competition theme featuring a unique and flawed heroine, this sci-fi novel blasts off with tons of action balanced with authentic dialogue and characters. While the diversity is welcome, repeated references to characters as the "skinny white kid," "tall black guy," or "Hijabi girl" felt tacked on. In such close quarters, Cassie wonders if she might be asexual, which is realistically explored throughout. The science behind the premise is exciting and accessible. A major plot twist sets up a sequel readers will eagerly await. VERDICT A general purchase especially appropriate for fans of Andy Weir's The Martian and James Dashner's The Maze Runner.Lee De Groft, Jamestown High School, Williamsburg, VA

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Set in 2043, Kaczynski-s gripping debut stars Cassandra Gupta, a genetically engineered high school senior from Huntsville, Ala., who works as an intern in NASA-s legal department. Cassie dreams of becoming an astronaut, but because NASA no longer sends humans into space, she assumes that will never happen. Then she learns that the organization is planning a secret, highly experimental mission, and that she will be competing with 63 exceptional young people for a spot on the crew. Cassie travels to Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the applicants face a grueling selection process. As the field narrows, the tests grow stranger and more dangerous, forcing the candidates to wonder about the mission-s destination and purpose, as well as the nature of the winner-s role on the ship. First in a duology, this SF thriller uses a diverse, well-drawn cast and a twisty, cerebral plot to entertain readers while highlighting science, the space program, and the importance of empathy and friendship. A game-changing cliffhanger paves the way for book two. Ages 13-up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Oct.)

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

In the near future, almost-eighteen-year-old Cassandra Gupta has been chosen for "an unprecedented mission of exploration" in space and must endure a rigorous training program. Readers intrigued by the premise will be somewhat disappointed to find that most of this first volume in a planned duology is devoted to her training, so the story (and Cassandra) barely gets off the ground.