Urban has always pretended to be like others.¹ But in college, she can no longer fake her genetic enhancements. Candace Kade’s debut Enhanced fuses old ideas of DNA rewriting with newer concepts of social credit systems. Genetic alterations breed strange diversities, like humans with animalistic traits, while advanced social credit scoring operates in more disturbingly realistic ways. Set in futuristic China, Enhanced is imprinted with Asian influences that yield more fascinating vibrancy. With nary a glance at science’s divine Author, the story raises no ethical debates beyond the practical means of human genetic tampering. Nevertheless, this novel engineers a fun and quick-paced read, filled with inventiveness and sharp detail.

Best for: Young adult fans of sci-fi and dystopian fiction.

Discern: Some violence and persistent disregard for human life, such as in school fights with weapons and occasionally fatal games; many good and bad characters commit deception; universal acceptance of human genetic alteration.