“THE RULES,” by Stacey Kade, Disney-Hyperion, April 23, 2013, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
Ariane Tucker follows the rules. All the rules. That may make her seem like a goody two shoes, but it’s more than that. If she doesn’t follow them, her life could be over in the snap of your fingers.
Ariane’s first memories are of the genetics lab were she was created. It’s the only thing she knew until her adoptive father helped her escape. Now she’s hiding in plain sight — in the same town where the lab is located.
The problem — Ariane is not fully human. She’s the result of lots of tests and research, constructed of part human and part extraterrestrial DNA. The only way to stay safe is to follow the rules and blend in with full-blooded humans. And that’s what she does. Ariane becomes a face in a crowd, innocuous. Not too smart, not too dumb, just average.
Hiding in plain sight works for years, but then Ariane slips up. When the popular kids pull a cruel joke on Ariane’s only friend, she can’t walk away, and that gets her noticed. Zane Bradshaw, is not only the police chief’s son, he’s also very observant. He sees Ariane’s unique qualities and wants to know more. Soon things are unraveling and Ariane becomes the center of attention, putting her whole life at risk.
Author Stacey Kade has created a world that’s not too far of a stretch — even though it involves alien DNA — and that’s why “The Rules” works. Genetic testing is the norm. Food is most frequently in the news for benefits and negative side effects of genetic modification. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to select certain aspects of your unborn child.
It’s easy to imagine a child not wanting to remain in the lab where she was created. It’s easy to understand her curiosity about the outside world and the fear of returning to her cage.
Ariane isn’t that different from a normal teenager. Yes, she looks a little different and has certain “skills” full humans do not, but that’s not what defines her. I remember a time of just hoping to blend in. I remember watching classmates fighting to stand out. And the high school drama, well, that’s spot on.
It’s easy to care about the characters in “The Rules.” The story is interesting, too. Stacey’s pacing is nice and her writing accessible. This is Book 1 of a planned series, though it feels like a standalone novel. It will be interesting to see if Stacey continues Ariane’s story in the following books or if other characters will take center stage in companion novels.
