Tankborn

Tankborn
By Karen Sandler
Tu Books, 2011. 373 pgs. Young Adult

Kayla is a GEN, a genetically-engineered non-human, which puts her in the slave class in her world. When she turns fifteen, she is given her work assignment: to help care for an elderly trueborn, Zul Mandel, who holds the highest status in their land. He also happens to have a handsome grandson, Devak, who is absolutely off-limits for Kayla, but she can't help but be attracted to him. Her friend Mishalla has been given a work assignment as well and spends her time caring for several young children in a creche. Something seems strange with the comings and goings of the children, and soon she and Kayla find that there are other strange things going on--things that mean danger, about also hope, for the GENs.

Kudos to the author for writing a science fiction book with a non-white protagonist and for exploring an interesting caste system. The divisions within the society are a great discussion point. However, there are too many flaws in this book to make it a great book. I didn't really ever connect to the characters, which likely results from switching from Kayla's to Mishalla's to Devak's point of view. There were also plot points that seemed like they were just thrown in the story to make it interesting but weren't developed enough. The climax came a little late and the denouement was rushed. It's an okay book, but there are some things that could have been done better.

AE