Written by Jeanne Ryan
Charisma is the perfect blend of good and bad gene research. Aislyn is brilliant, but never able to express it in public. She has a crippling shyness that makes her avoid any public speaking or parties or any other fun things high school kids enjoy. She jumps at the chance to try Charisma, a drug guaranteed to make her extroverted. It works immediately, and she begins to shine. But it has devastating side effects, and the side effects are contagious. On the flip side is a gene therapy she is hoping her brother, Sammy, can be a part of. He has Cystic Fibrosis and his life is difficult with no hope of relief. Part of Aislyn’s incentive to take Charisma was to get her brother on the short list for the study of a promising vaccine for C.F.
I liked that Ryan did not vilify the pharmaceutical companies. There was the warning of unethical research, but Ryan was not preachy on that subject. Very good mystery. Very satisfying character development.
Review by Kaydean Judy, Granger High School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 9-12
Author Website: http://jeanneryan.com/
Charisma
Written by Jeanne Ryan
Dial Books
376 pages
Release Date: March 3, 2015