Transferral

Gr 6 Up—Disease is a problem of the past. Thanks to the newly developed transferal technology, sickness can be removed from the body entirely. The catch: the sickness has to be placed into another person. Talia Hale understands the cost and agrees with the government's solution, created in part by her politician father. Transfer recipients are all criminals, sentenced to various levels of illness depending on the nature of the crime. Talia's beliefs, however, are challenged when her path crosses with a young girl from the wrong side of town. She begins to question the equity of the system and debates whether good intentions can outweigh questionable methods. Blair presents a new twist on the formulaic dystopian genre, developing flawed characters who are incredibly likable in a relatable world where right and wrong are more gray than black-and-white. With a nod to frustrating politics, the plot glosses over the pseudoscience behind disease transferals and focuses on the divide between the haves and the have-nots. The text is highly accessible, and the very timely themes will provide endless discussion and debate regardless of age level. This book is a natural recommendation for fans of Alex London's "Proxy" series.