An edge-of-your-seat thriller from the bestselling author of, Nerve, the book behind 2016' s hottest YA film, starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco & Juliette Lewis.
A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences. . . Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness - that is, until she’ s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’ s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it' s too late.
Praise for Charisma
' . . . this fast-paced and edgy novel has enough thrills, romance, and family drama to please a wide audience. This Robin Cook– like thriller zips along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion. ' Booklist
' Ryan (Nerve) offers a cautionary tale about the perils of designer genetics and what happens when scientists' aspirations get ahead of ethics. Her take on the topic is fresh and intriguing. ' Publishers Weekly
' Suspense balances with discussions of bioethics for a provocative and entertaining read. A sympathetic protagonist combines with intriguing medical possibility for a solid thriller. ' Kirkus Reviews
' Charisma by Jeanne Ryan is at its best when it gets technical. Considering Ryan has a PHD and has worked with youth development programs and social workers, it’ s obvious she knows what she talking about. ' Hypable
' Not a far step from Ned Vizzini’ s Be More Chill. . . The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation. ' School Library Journal
' The science is both sharp and accessible here, and readers will get a sense of the nuances and messiness of genetic alterations while staying in Aislyn’ s world. ' BCCB
