ALPHA GENE

A group of middle school kids learns to use their superpowers in Huerta’s debut novel.

Dr. Lucas McKenna, alongside his partner Dr. Benjamin Price, used to run a genetics lab in Portland, Maine. Together, they worked on the Gray Matter Project, which focused on helping people use more than 10 percent of their brains. Price died in a mysterious plane crash, and McKenna came under suspicion of sabotage, losing his lab funding and career. Ten years later, he’s teaching middle school science in the all-American town of Tempe Ville, Maine. He’s been lucky enough to know and instruct a group of remarkable children gifted with superpowers: Annie (invisibility), GG (super strength), Sophie (healing) and Tommy (telepathy). When a new student named Peter survives a bizarre accident, McKenna realizes he too must have powers. Peter, in fact, can move things with his mind—he only needs practice. While quick to befriend his fellow carriers of what McKenna calls the “alpha gene,” Peter also never backs down from bullies, often causing more harm than good. McKenna decides to shape these supertalented kids into a team that can work together before the shadowy group that’s been stalking him closes in. Huerta, in a fast-paced story laced with sweetness and smarts, reveals the hidden lives of blossoming superheroes. Middle school shenanigans—like shopping at a forbidden candy store or hunting a local ghost—complement scenes in which Peter masters his power. The author frequently offers his heroes, and his young audience, solid real-world advice, like when McKenna tells Peter to “practice his ability and stretch the brain muscle every day.” His female characters, sadly, feel underused. Annie, though featured in an early flashback as the miraculously disappearing baby, slides into the background as Peter’s love interest. Sophie, an introvert, only pops up when someone needs healing. That said, this coming-of-age story is clever enough to delight anyone who picks it up. Occasional grammatical glitches, like the use of “worst” when “worse” is meant, can’t change that.

An inspiring, filled-to-the-brim adventure; a great example of superpowers done right.