Ash wakes up in a lab on a tropical island with no idea of how he got there. With the help of Isabel, he learns their scientist parents were forced by an egomaniac, Pierce, to develop a deadly, airborne virus. Pierce then exposed their parents and boarded a plane with both the virus and the cure, and now he's headed toward civilization. With just 24 hours to administer the cure, Ash and Isabel set out in pursuit of Pierce and encounter many obstacles, including a superstrong assassin, booby traps, and very unusual animal species. Ash also discovers that he feels stronger, can see better, and can heal faster than ever before. Are there some secrets to his past his parents kept from him? Smith's novel opens with a bang and keeps up the breathless pace until the very end. Readers looking for an action-packed adventure with some mad science thrown in will enjoy Ash's story. The book wraps up nicely but leaves the possibility for a sequel, which many readers will be eagerly awaiting.

Twelve-year-old Ash wakes in an unfamiliar room with an IV in his arm, a head full of jumbled memories, and a host of superhuman abilities. He has no idea what he is capable of, but if he is going to save the world, he needs to evolve.With the lead scientists locked in quarantine, it is up to mixed-race (Indian/white) Ash to track a group of criminals intent on releasing a deadly virus into the world. Unfortunately, a dense jungle full of terrifying creatures is between the biosphere where he is being kept and the getaway boat. Thankfully he meets Isabel, a Costa Rican girl familiar with the dangers of Isla Negra. Drawing upon her local knowledge and what he's learned from his scientist mother and his memories of his deceased soldier father, Ash and Isabel begin their journey. They quickly learn there are more deadly things hiding on Isla Negra than the bizarre fauna and the deadly flora. This fast-paced adventure features both a reluctant hero and an intelligent and capable heroine. With an island full of impossible creatures and new dangers around every corner, there are few lulls in this high-stakes race. Intense, captivating, and distinctive. (Science fiction. 8-12)

Gr 4-6 Smith's latest middle grade novel is an action-packed jungle thriller. Ash awakens from his father's funeral and finds himself in a stark, clinical-looking facility on a remote island. Disoriented and searching for his mother, Ash stumbles upon Isabel, a courageous girl whose father works in the facility. The two set off together to locate Isabel's father and Ash's mother, soon discovering something is terribly wrong. Gunshots are fired, a helicopter is brought down, and the facility goes into lockdown. In addition, Ash slowly begins to realize that his senses have somehow been enhanced. The two soon find their parents locked in a room and infected with Kronos, a terrifying, horribly contagious, and deadly virus. Isabel and Ash have 24 hours to locate the cure and prevent Kronos from being released upon the masses. From then on, chapters are prefaced with a countdown clock, which communicates a feeling of urgency to readers, increasing the suspense. Ash and Isabel are likable, compelling characters in whom students can become easily invested. VERDICT Suspense fans will be captivated by the twisting, turning plot of this thriller. Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY