School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--It's 2048, and Ace Wells's birthday. He's 11, which means his two moms, Mom and Mama Jay, are sending him off for two years at the Tower of Power, the skyscraper campus of the B.E.S.T. Program, Biological Enhancement Systems Technology. There, he'll train and study and be screened for a biological augmentation, or aug. The program was started decades earlier by Dr. Lance Bix, a secretive scientific pioneer who now runs it holographically from his home in Switzerland. Ace struggles to get outside the shadow of superstar older brother Finn, the first B.E.S.T. graduate to master the TurboLegs aug, which allows him to run at extreme speeds. Bedeviled by his own impetuousness and social awkwardness, Ace fears he'll never get on track for SuperSoar, the flight aug he's dreamed about for years. But when Bix's son, Ace's friend Grayson, suddenly disappears and a resistance movement surfaces that may implicate the moms of Gray and Jayla, another of Ace's suitemates, everybody's motivation shifts. Characters represent a diverse range of identities, and the portrayals are presented organically within the story. Dr. Bix and Gray, as well as Jayla, are Black. Friend Leo is in a wheelchair from leg surgery for a genetic anomaly and uses they pronouns. Teacher and staff name badges indicate preferred pronouns. The story ends with a number of plots in cliffhangers, setting up a possible sequel. VERDICT Fun, fast-paced, and also exploring a refreshingly complex emotional understory, this book is recommended for all libraries serving middle graders.--Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson M.S., Falls Church, VA
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a high-flying trilogy opener set in 2048, McCarthy (Sword in the Stars) follows white 11-year-old Ace Wells, the newest cadet to join the Biological Enhancement Systems Technology (B.E.S.T.), a corporate-sponsored educational track that trains its students in cybernetic augmentations that grant everything from super-strength to emotional insight, and bestows one upon its graduates. He'd like to master a tricky aug to become a winged superhero, thus escaping the shadow of his older brother, "fastest kid in the world" Finn. But though exuberant Ace, who has ADHD, is an expert on the program's offerings, he chafes at its structured timeline and has trouble making friends. Partnered with three more experienced cadets--Black tech genius Jayla; white and nonbinary athlete Leo, who uses a wheelchair; and Black celebrity Grayson, whose father founded the program--Ace must win over his classmates and teachers as well as figure out which aug is right for him. Though worldbuilding sometimes feels uneven, lacking in clear stakes, McCarthy introduces an intriguing futuristic society populated by an engaging, widely inclusive cast, making for an entertaining adventure. Ages 8--12. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Nov.)
Kirkus Review
In the year 2048, an 11-year-old boy eager to begin a new life at his dream school has a rude awakening. Ace Wells has long dreamed of attending the Biological Enhancement Systems Technology Program, or B.E.S.T., in which cadets enter tracks to receive augments that enhance their bodies and minds. Regular school was never easy for Ace--his brain doesn't focus like other kids'--but B.E.S.T. isn't all he imagined either. He soon makes an enemy; almost gets eaten by Otis, an AI elevator; loses his assigned group of cadets during orientation; and manages to alienate his illustrious boxmates, Grayson (son of the founder of B.E.S.T.), Leo (superstar BESTBall player), and Jayla (top of her cadet pack and recipient of a rare augment). Frustrated that his dream is crumbling, Ace slowly realizes that being himself and playing to his strengths may be more advantageous than he thought. Just as Ace gets assigned to his dream track and is back in good graces with his boxmates, life takes a turn that makes him question everything he thought he knew about B.E.S.T. This futuristic adventure will appeal to readers with its inclusive approach to gender identity, family structure, and neurodiversity. The author pulls readers into a brisk, third-person narrative about a world where people's characteristics are augmented to achieve great things. White Ace has two moms; Jayla and Grayson are Black; and White, nonbinary Leo uses a wheelchair. Fast-paced, imaginative, and refreshing. (pick your perfect aug) (Science fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
