Welcome to Litsy!

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid. Decades before Thalli s birth, the world was decimated by a nuclear war. But life continued deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. There they created genetically engineered human beings who are free of emotions in the hope that war won t threaten the world again. Thalli is an anomaly, born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far by hiding her differences. But then her secret is discovered when she s overwhelmed by the emotion of an ancient piece of music. The Ten quickly schedule her annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk a scientist being groomed by The Ten convinces them to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the Scientists Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance. As her life ticks a way, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer someone even more powerful than The Ten. What s more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she s been looking for all along. Thalli must sort out what to believe and who to trust, before her time runs out. . . . the first in what has the potential to be a fascinating trilogy of general appeal. McGee s simple narrative belies the novel s complexity, a factor that will make this intriguing book accessible to a wide variety of teen readers. Booklist"