Solid (Solid, #1)

Oct 12, 2012 Raquel Vega-Grieder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review Of Solid By Shelley Workinger

Solid (Solid Book 1) By Shelley Workinger
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (July 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1453624821
ISBN-13: 978-1453624821
Source: Amazon.Com (link to purchase HERE)
Purchase: Barnes And Nobel (link to purchase HERE)

Blurb:

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, kindle, from-author, ya-dystopian-scifi-thriller

Posted on:http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot...

Solid is the first book in the series by self published author Shelley Workinger.

This book see's a rouge doctor who experimented with a chromosomal drug and distributed it to a 100 pregnant women against their knowledge, eighteen years ago. When the doctor is suddenly killed, just after the children were born, its leave know-one with any knowledge - except the children themselves. When the military finally learns the truth, they have no choice but t...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-on-blog, kindle

This book was such a fast and interesting read. I really enjoyed it. It was a relatively short book, but there was a lot packed into under 250 pages. The story flowed really well, which makes reading a book so much more enjoyable. There were no slow or awkward parts.
I loved how the book was setup- there was just enough intrigue and mystery for me to not figure everything out on my own, but it was not so complex and confusing that I was completely lost. That is a really difficult balance to stri...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Petra (Safari Poet) added it

Being the new kid in school isn't as hard as it usually is for Clio since everybody is new. The reason 100 teenagers have all been brought to a compound in the woods run by the US Military is because of C9x – an unknown drug that was administered secretly to pregnant women. The doctor that was conducting this experiments was killed – leaving the effects of the drug unknown. The military claims to have just found out about C9x and are trying to learn the truth about the effects. They're pulling o...more

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May 07, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: other

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

As soon as I read the summary for Solid, I was fascinated. High school is already filled with ridiculously crazy drama. Add in superpowers and what do you get? A novel that's got great potential. I personally loved the whole idea of it, as it is so unique and fascinating. While in actuality not a whole lot happens in the novel, the way things are written and fold out are so interesting that you don't really notice at all!

The characters in this nove...more Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

As soon as I read the summary for Solid, I was fascinated. High school is already filled with ridiculously crazy drama. Add in superpowers and what do you get? A novel that's got great potential. I personally loved the whole idea of it, as it is so unique and fascinating. While in actuality not a whole lot happens in the novel, the way things are written and fold out are so interesting that you don't really notice at all!

The characters in this novel are all quite loveable. At the compound, Clio finds herself befriending a few of the other kids, who later aid her in her investigation. There's Garrett (flirty and smooth), Bliss (sweet and quirky), Jack (cute and smart) and Miranda (beautiful and vain). Bliss and Miranda share Clio's gift and Garrett is a super athlete, while Jack has no apparent specialisation. Each character brings something to the table and together they add the fun and adventurous side to Solid. Clio's eventual relationship with Jack is very sweet. Even though their infatuation and love for each other seems sudden and out of nowhere, it is not an issue for long as you'll soon be Team Jackio!

There are several mysteries that we are riddled with. Is Miranda a friend or foe? What's the deal with Clio's power? Why are these kids really at this compound? What secrets are the workers keeping? What is Jack's power? The novel is quite short so you'll fly through the pages. The climax comes and goes quickly, so the action occurs in a short time frame. I enjoyed the surprising climax very much, but just wish that it could have lasted longer and been more spread out throughout the novel, rather than being addressed and solved in just the final parts.

I think many questions that were raised are still not completely answered, so I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel, Settling, which will be released later on this year. Keep your eyes open! This series looks promising and like it will just be getting better and better!(less)

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Dec 27, 2011 Jessica Bronder rated it 5 of 5 stars

The army has released information of one of their doctors experimenting on unborn children. He had given about 100 mothers tainted vitamins to alter their children with secret abilities. Now the army is trying to figure out what all the children can do and how to help them live with their new abilities.

Clio is one of the teenagers. When she gets to the camp for the teenagers, she finds that the army has spared no expense for them. They packed up the teen’s rooms at home and set up the rooms exac...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Imagine living in a world for seventeen years and then one day you wake up to find it was all a lie ? What would you do ? For Calliope aka Clio , that's exactly what happened for her and hundreds of others . Seventeen years ago, a drug was put on the market a drug called C9x . It was implanted into pregnant women , Clio's mother being one of them. The drug was then taken off the market and lost forever until the Chief Medical Officer for the Army and his friend John Kaid found out . John Kaid wa...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Solid was a new book to me. I hadn't even heard of it. I'm so glad the author, Shelley, contacted me about reading her book because it was a great read and I really enjoyed it.

Clio is a great character. She has a strong teenage voice. Clio is curious, always looking for answers about herself and her situation. Even though she is often unsure (and runs away) she always comes back and she pushes forward. I think we call that courage.

The supporting cast of friends in Clio's world are fabulous char...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy, ya

I love science-fiction, and I love YA novels, so when I received an email from author Shelley Workinger asking if I’d be willing to work Solid (book one of the Solid trilogy) into my summer reading schedule, I said I’d love to. I hadn’t anticipated, at the time, that it would take me nearly a month to get around to reading it. I finally finished Solid on Sunday night, and my only disappointment is that it was only the first book of three. By the time this post goes live, I’ll have already purcha...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Stephanie Asbridge rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, w-z

Solid was so fluent and easy to read. I couldn’t put it down because it just holds your attention so well. The characters are great, each bringing something “to the table”. I honestly can’t even pick a favorite character because they are all so amazing. (Maybe Jack…. Hm..)
I really loved the whole setting, which is at an army base of sorts. Well, an army base that has been redesigned to house 100 teens. It was like… a boarding school but the kids got a lot more freedom. And free food. Can’t pass...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Kadbury(Young Readers) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am a HUGE fan of superhero/super powers So, I couldn’t believe my luck when the author sent me the book. I screamed in delight because I have been WAITING for a book that did not consist of vampires, werewolves or vampires and werewolves. I mean every third book is about vampires/werewolves and I wanted to read something different. Solid was different and it gets brownie points for that.

When I read the synopsis of the book I immediately thought of X-men and this was my biggest mistake. I shoul...more I am a HUGE fan of superhero/super powers So, I couldn’t believe my luck when the author sent me the book. I screamed in delight because I have been WAITING for a book that did not consist of vampires, werewolves or vampires and werewolves. I mean every third book is about vampires/werewolves and I wanted to read something different. Solid was different and it gets brownie points for that.

When I read the synopsis of the book I immediately thought of X-men and this was my biggest mistake. I should NEVER compare any book to X-men ever! Because then my expectations become very high.

This book gives us an introduction to the characters. It seems that the author is making us comfortable with the characters and giving us only a glimpse of their personality. In many ways, this book reminded me of The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong. The story was not fast paced but the end was unpredictable.

Clio was witty and fun. I could really connect with her anguish and problems. I could not, however connect with Bliss , she seemed a little too good to be true. I expected her to turn into an evil witch any second and was kind of disappointed when she didn’t (I know I have such a sinister trail of thought!) .Miranda on the other hand was a very interesting character. When she was introduced I thought “Here comes the character who is going to make the main characters lives miserable” but she didn’t. Which was quite refreshing . I loved the friendship between all the main characters and the positive energy.

My only problem was the pacing of the book. The first few chapters were good but then the story became a little slow and then sped up a lot. All in all I have a feeling that Settling will be much better than Solid as we are now very familiar with the characters. This book was more like a teaser trailer for the next book.

One thing is for sure, this book managed to keep me entertained and I finished it off in one day. Plus, the sneak peak of Settling left me hungry for more! I am definitely going to try to get my hands on Settling.(less)

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Aug 12, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tell the truth- who doesn't love a good super hero story? I definitely do, and Solid has the benefit of a good narrator as well. Calliope (but don't ever call her that) is witty, snarky enough to be funny without being a snot, and one smart cookie. The dialogue between her and the other characters was one of my favorite parts of the story.

The story features some tried and true elements of a fun YA story- a crush burning brighter than the fury of a thousand white hot suns, anxiety about fitting i...more Tell the truth- who doesn't love a good super hero story? I definitely do, and Solid has the benefit of a good narrator as well. Calliope (but don't ever call her that) is witty, snarky enough to be funny without being a snot, and one smart cookie. The dialogue between her and the other characters was one of my favorite parts of the story.

The story features some tried and true elements of a fun YA story- a crush burning brighter than the fury of a thousand white hot suns, anxiety about fitting in or at the very least, not standing out for any bad reasons, finding one's identity, and figuring out what kind of person is really a "good" one.

The drama is playing out against the backdrop of a special camp for young adults whose mothers were part of a secret experiment while they were pregnant. The whole thing was so secret that not even the women knew about it, and since established institutions like the Department of Defense can't have people running around doing whatever they like with human subjects, plans are made, supposedly, to figure out what the purpose may have been for the experiments and if the subjects need any additional medical help or support as a result.

Sounds pretty innocent, right? All is not well at Camp Sorryaboutthat, though (I made up the name myself) and Calliope and her friends decide they need to investigate. What they find out is disturbing, to say the least, as nobody likes to be lied to, and all the charitable motives that are behind their current situation go right out the window when they realize that the unfortunate incident of the mystery experiment wasn't as sudden or unexpected as they'd been led to believe.

There are lessons embedded within the story- trust your instincts, believe in yourself, etc. but my favorite one had to do with Alexis. Everyone (our intrepid narrator included) judges her harshly and writes her off, and it turns out that she's incredibly knowledgeable, not any of the horrible things they thought, and has a lot of information and skills that will help them figure out just what the heck is going on.

There's plenty of set up for the next book in the series, and the story was just long enough to get the party started. At the end of the book I cared about the characters and wanted to know what happened to them. Sign me up for book two!(less)

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Aug 11, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Secret military testing is nothing new to this era. Secret military chromosomal testing on pregnant women is new. When a military doctor is murdered, a web of lies & experiments unfolds that leads his commanders to understand that the decedent gave experimental drugs to pregnant women on military bases. His goal was to create special abilities in the offspring. Unfortunately, as his research was of his own design & management, the military is unaware of the drugs' components. That's wher...more Secret military testing is nothing new to this era. Secret military chromosomal testing on pregnant women is new. When a military doctor is murdered, a web of lies & experiments unfolds that leads his commanders to understand that the decedent gave experimental drugs to pregnant women on military bases. His goal was to create special abilities in the offspring. Unfortunately, as his research was of his own design & management, the military is unaware of the drugs' components. That's where the kids come in to play.

Although it took them eighteen years to round them all up, Clio, Bliss, Miranda, Garrett, Jack & dozens of other military brats find themselves at an altogether different kind of summer camp. For the next several weeks they will be living a very comfortable life of ease with plenty of free Starbucks, recreational activities, oh and some simple testing of their "talents."

None of the gang is too impressed or terrified of this situation because, other than them being essentially on military lock down & having to attend "sessions" to study their abilities during the day, they are given extensive leeway to do as they please. It's all pretty mesmerizing, until the gang uncovers some seriously sinister information about how long this project has really been investigated & who is behind it. It's up to this mock "Scooby gang" to solve the mystery before things get even stranger.

I must admit that Solid was a very unique story. The thought of secret government testing has always been a "conspiracy theory" of mine. I mean honestly, do we know everything they do? Is this so far fetched? Anyway, I digress.

Solid was, at it's basis, a feel good mystery. There wasn't anything too nefarious & while there were some dastardly deeds committed, there was minimal peril to the main characters. I enjoyed watching the characters come together & work off each others' strengths & weakness to make the best of the situation they found themselves in. What I didn't care for was the instant romance between two of the characters & the compressed time frame. The whole book takes place within about a week and a half. While there are many illusions to previous events only relevant to mystery solving, there just didn't seem to be enough time for everything that happened to happen. Maybe a month would have been a better time frame for this novel.

I must admit though, I really enjoyed the writing style, the characters & the details. It is obvious that Shelley Workinger put a lot of thought into how this would all play out & be perceived. A very straightforward read, Solid is one that I would recommend for readers looking for a light mystery with humor & a minor steamy romance. A job well done!

Be sure to keep an eye out for the next novel in the Solid series, Settling that is set to come out later this year!(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

For lack of better terms, Solid was a great solid start to a series. The concept behind it is something that I have not seen before, but after reading it, all I could think was, "Why hasn't no one thought about this before?" (Note: There might be some books out with something similar, I've just never come across any in my readings.)

The main female in this book, Clio, is a polka-dotted elephant in a sea of grays. She's unique from other female leads in many ways, mostly because she stays so posit...more

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Jul 21, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut-author, young-adult, self-published

Positive: An interesting story. I really enjoyed Clio, her new friends, and the situation they found themselves in. The genetically altered kids are sent to a kind of summer camp set up by the Army so they can study the kids and teach them how to use their powers. But, while most of the people are there to help the kids, there are some who are out to use Clio and the others for their own nefarious purposes (cue the bad guy music). When Clio overhears a conversation that makes her question what's...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Solid was a little slow at the get go, though still intriguing and mysterious. The last few pages of the novel made up for this however, being fast paced and action filed- leaving me anxious for it's sequel: Settling.

Clio is 17 and lives alone with her mom, her dad having died. Her life suddenly changes when she is sent to a top-secret medical facility after it is revealed that she and a group of other teens from across the country have a gene mutation that may have side-effects. Once there, s...more Solid was a little slow at the get go, though still intriguing and mysterious. The last few pages of the novel made up for this however, being fast paced and action filed- leaving me anxious for it's sequel: Settling.

Clio is 17 and lives alone with her mom, her dad having died. Her life suddenly changes when she is sent to a top-secret medical facility after it is revealed that she and a group of other teens from across the country have a gene mutation that may have side-effects. Once there, she quickly becomes friends with a group of other teens and together they unearth the mystery of what caused the gene mutation and discover the special abilities it has given each of them.

Like I said, this book was a little slow- and also a bit predictable. In the copy I got, the synopsis pretty much gave most of the story away. The characters spend a good 2/3s of the book in the facility with no plot development- to be honest, a lot of this book felt like filler. However, a level of suspense still remained- enough that I persisted, wanting to know what would happen.

Once the characters discovered their abilities however, the book really got moving. In fact, it felt almost like a different story. For the last 50 pages of the novel, I couldn't tear my eyes away. There was action, and more suspense, and then a reveal and it was everything I'd hoped for- I just wish the book had gotten there faster.

The one good thing about 2/3s of the book not being very plot-relevant was that it was very good for character development. The characters were realistic and like-able. My favorites were Bliss- the sweet, darling daughter who's mother is an important army officer- and Miranda, who impressed me by being materialistic and sometimes selfish while still likable.

Overall, this book was slow from the get-go, but the writing and characters- and plot (once it got moving) were good. I look forward to reading the sequel, Settling. I recommend this book for fans of the slightly-si-fi-y, both teens and preteens.

Rating: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Premise: 7/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Plot: 7/10
Writing: 8/10 (less)

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Jul 07, 2011 Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. An intriguing premise for a novel that Workinger carries off with aplomb. I found myself engrossed in Clio's story as soon as I dove into the book, and kept going right to the end. The book hooked me in with a well-written prologue that sets up the direction of the novel. While at the surface, it may seem a sci-fi/fantasy YA entry, I think it can be enjoyed by fans of contemporary YA, realistic fiction, or even romance.

Workinger has a good sense for teen dialogue, and uses it to great effect. I...more An intriguing premise for a novel that Workinger carries off with aplomb. I found myself engrossed in Clio's story as soon as I dove into the book, and kept going right to the end. The book hooked me in with a well-written prologue that sets up the direction of the novel. While at the surface, it may seem a sci-fi/fantasy YA entry, I think it can be enjoyed by fans of contemporary YA, realistic fiction, or even romance.

Workinger has a good sense for teen dialogue, and uses it to great effect. I think what really gels this novel together are the main characters. Clio- the protagonist, Bliss, Garrett, Jack, Miranda, (and later Alexis) make for a solid team. They each get drawn out as the novel progresses. The more you delve into the book, the more you grow to like them, and appreciate their wit, their quirkiness, and how they stick together as a team. The attraction and spark between Clio and Jack is palpable, and while they sort of get together, their relationship is not explored or discussed in too much detail after their (romantic) first official date. But I suppose there is more to be discovered in the follow up novel!

The story hits some minor bumps with certain plot developments and twists. As the reader we know to suspect that all is not what it seems; clearly some sinister forces are at work and the super-human teens are all being kept in the dark about something big. There are a few major plot points that are happening simultaneously, and I think some are carried out more successfully than others. I think I was most frustrated with the fact that when the main characters discover their special powers, their reactions are really muted. The power to turn invisible, the power to jump feet into the air with the grace of a panther? Why aren't the teens more shocked, surprised? Where are their intense conversations and/or freak outs about the discovery of what the genetic mutations have done to them? Also, when the group finally confronts their suspicions in a crucial moment, the resulting action doesn't quite take off liked I hoped it would.

Verdict: Overall, good! I enjoyed it. Elements of predictability and some story/plot imbalances are countered with zippy dialogue, genuinely likable characters, and a promise of more intrigue- and romance!- to come. The version I read contained an excerpt from the second book, Settling, which appears to kick the romance up a notch. I look forward to reading the follow-up novel.
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Jul 05, 2011 A Canadian Girl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, 3-stars

Solid by Shelley Workinger was a quick read with a good cast of characters and an interesting plot.

As someone who is in the science stream, Workinger’s explanation for her characters’ superpowers made sense without making me annoyed for being too simplistic. At the same time, those who know absolutely nothing about genetics will still be able to understand what has transpired without feeling like they’re being overloaded with scientific information.

Workinger’s characters – even Miranda once you...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

With the government's new 'open-book' policy about its past dealings, it has come to light that eighteen years ago a hundred pregnant women were exposed to a chemical that has altered the DNA of their children. In order to discover just how these children have been affected a program has been set up to bring these children together and over the course of a few short week, test and observe these children for any abnormalities. So far the results are inconclusive.

Apart from the fact that every tee...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.8/5

The premise of Solid had me interested from the start –genetically modified teenagers uncovering a conspiracy? My kind of book. I really liked the main character Clio, because she appeared to be just a nice, normal girl who was now being forced to deal with the fact someone had played with her chromosomes before she was even born (something that’s bound to shock anyone). I think she handled the situation well – I know I couldn’t have stayed as positive as she did if I were in her position....more 3.8/5

The premise of Solid had me interested from the start –genetically modified teenagers uncovering a conspiracy? My kind of book. I really liked the main character Clio, because she appeared to be just a nice, normal girl who was now being forced to deal with the fact someone had played with her chromosomes before she was even born (something that’s bound to shock anyone). I think she handled the situation well – I know I couldn’t have stayed as positive as she did if I were in her position. I also think she was pretty strong and confident too, because she tried to find out things for herself (instead of just doing what she was told), whilst also looking out for her friends. I loved her scenes with Jack, because they really made me smile (those two were so cute together!).

Jack was another character I liked, because he just seemed like an all round good guy, and he could be quite romantic when he wanted to be, which I thought was really sweet. I think there was more to him than, though, than we were actually told about – I think the fact he didn’t really belong in any group was very interesting, and will become more relevant later on in the series. He also made me laugh, but I think the prize for the funniest character has to go to Garrett who I just found completely hilarious. The things that came out of his mouth just cracked me up, and it was so funny when he was “subtly” trying to find out if Bliss liked him or not.

One character I didn’t think I’d like was Miranda – she started off annoying, but as we got to know her, I think we got to see a side of her that really cared about her friends, and though she kept sprouting the same silly stuff, it became less frustrating and more endearing as we discovered more about her, and I grew to actually like her a lot more than I thought I would. I also liked Alexis towards the end, and thought the fact she was a techie was quite cool – I’d definitely want her around if I were being isolated in a secret facility! :P

Plot-wise, I thought some aspects were slightly predictable, as I had worked out who one of the bad guys was quite a bit before we discovered it, but there was also a little twist I wasn’t expecting which I think made up for it. The book was quite slow-paced, with most of the action being towards the end, but I really enjoyed it overall, and can’t wait for the sequel.

In conclusion, Solid was a very intriguing book with a premise that is sure to appeal to a range of different readers –whether you like a bit of romance, a hint of science fiction, a spot of action or a touch of mystery, you’ll find it all in this book.
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Jun 19, 2011 JoJosBookCorner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I started reading YA novels roughly about a year ago, because I wondered what all the hype about them was. What was it about them that made everyone go nuts over them, including adults like myself? My answer to that would be: Read Solid, and will know! Yes I loved this book that much!

What was it exactly about Solid that I love? Would you believe me if I said everything? No , seriously! Shelley has created a story that will have you reading all hours of the night, with fantastic characters that i...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Rida (Raindrop Reflections) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was blown away by Solid. I was actually expecting Solid to be pretty good, and seeing all the praise around the book blogosphere helped my expectations, but it surpassed those, even.

I loved the writing in Solid; I loved the intricacy of American military described; I loved how the whole story felt as authentic as if I was reading a real-life account, and most of all, I loved the characters in Solid.

This book has a unique plot- I mean, how many genetically altered teenagers have you read abou...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Auntb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany
Reviewed at: YA Sisterhood Blog http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/201...
The Sisters say: Smart! Surprising! Super fun!
P.S. You can get the Nook and/or Kindle version for $4.99 right now! :)

The author, Shelley Workinger, was kind enough to lend us a copy of Solid in anticipation of the upcoming release of book two, Settling which is available on July 4th. Solid was the first book we’ve had the opportunity to review thanks to a gift from an author, and can I say ho...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Kate L rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy YA books, I enjoy paranormal/fantasy books, I enjoy YA paranormal/fantasy books. But sometimes in the sea of vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries and demons a person can feel like they are drowning. It was nice to get a life preserver thrown to me in the form of Solid. The concept was different, it almost had an X-Men vibe to it with the genetic mutation and super abilities aspect. The idea that a rogue government scientist was secretly treating pregnant women to cause their unborn chil...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Lillie Roberts rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Clio (Calliope Kaid) is a teen with a small difference that she's never known about, but she's always been a bit out of place. It could have been the traveling, when your mother is a best selling author, you're on the road quite a bit, seldom at home long enough to cultivate lasting friendships. She's never really known her father, an accident took his life during her infancy. Or it could be what happened more than eighteen years before... while her mother was pregnant and under the care of a ro...more Clio (Calliope Kaid) is a teen with a small difference that she's never known about, but she's always been a bit out of place. It could have been the traveling, when your mother is a best selling author, you're on the road quite a bit, seldom at home long enough to cultivate lasting friendships. She's never really known her father, an accident took his life during her infancy. Or it could be what happened more than eighteen years before... while her mother was pregnant and under the care of a rogue doctor with his own agenda.

Now, Clio is an eighteen year old girl, ready to start the next year of her life when her mother is contact by the Army. It seems Dr. Heigl, her obstetrician all those years ago, was prescribing more than prenatal vitamins. When Clio is asked to participate in an Army conducted camp to see the effects on Dr. Heigl's "children", she decides it may not be a bad way to spend part of her summer, as far as she knows, there's nothing different about her than any other teen.

Clio's and her co-conspirators start in their own investigation of the circumstances of their creation when the Army answers don't add up, when they seems to have trouble contacting the outside world. Jack, affable lovable wanna be boyfriend, Garrett, super jock, Bliss, whimsically wise almost sister, Melinda, tigress in the making, and late comer to the group, Alexis, orphaned goth-like teen techie ready for any challenge, take on the Army only way they can, sneaking out to gather evidence.

It would seem that Clio and all her new found friends all have special abilities, dealing with the solidity of their existence. All are different, but because of Dr. Heigl's mad experiments, all are the same. Janet, Clio's wanna be mentor and friend, isn't all she appears to be, is Colonel Clark, who seems to know all about Clio, all he says too? This tight group of friends need to find the answers to their questions and they need to do it quickly.

Solid by Shelley Workinger is a YA fantasy that grabs the reader's attention on the very first page, and holds it until the end. It's a quick little page turner that I had trouble putting down. Clio is a likable character who seems pretty confident, who seems pleased with her life for the most part, she's just a little out of step. In the book, Solid, the teens are divided into basically three categories: the jocks, the teens that repel others (the goth-like group, always a little angry), and the group who can influence their solidity with their very thoughts. Clio belongs to the last group, but her friends are a mixed bag of her group as well as the other groups, there's so distinct lines of belonging to only one group or the other, which I very much liked about the book. Jack, her wanna be boyfriend, doesn't belong to any group or maybe he belongs to them all, but he's likable and fun, and maybe in the next book, he'll play a bigger role or maybe not (I've read the Prologue for the Book Two, Settling.... see the bottom of the post). The teens in the story all find out the Dr. Heigl, obstetrician, was doing rogue experiments, developed drugs to try out on his patients who he went to great lengths to pick out for his experiments, traveling to different Army bases around the US. But, he's killed before the experiment can reach it's completion, and the Army claims to have just found out about what he'd been doing to his pregnant patients. But, would the Army really tell all if they did know? People have been disappeared, killed, maybe something more is going on there too.

Solid is an attention grabbing story, that YA and adult audience will enjoy, it's a fun little tale of what can happen with a rogue slightly mad scientist does his own thing with or without permission. And the experiment so far doesn't have any really bad effects yet, all the teens are nice looking, some appear to have adjust issues just like real life, but we're just entering Shelley Workinger's world, so who knows what the future holds. The ending is good as well, I knew something was up with the bad dude, but never saw the ending coming, and one of the students close to Clio's group is involved too, that kind of surprised me. I've been reading lots of YA recently, it's one of my favorite genres, and I'm adding Shelley's books to my list. I don't read many self-pub books or indie books (I know, I need to expand my horizons), and I'm surprised this wasn't pick up by one of the small publishing houses, it's definitely a good read with well developed characters, and the world building was pretty good too, there's lots going on for quick read. If you enjoy a quick fun/mad scientist/Army secrets/fantasy YA read, pick this one up. I very much enjoyed this quick read, and I'll be looking forward to the rest of the series!(less)

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Jan 04, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The blurb pretty much explains the plot of the book perfectly. You might be thinking, 'that it isn't an original premise' or ' thier have been many simular plots before', and you would be correct. But, I have to tell you, while the plot might be the foundation of this story, its characters were the heart of it. The author didn't center her focus on the mutant x abilities and it wasn't the intrigue of the coverup that kepted me glued to the pages, although they are contributing factors...no, it w...more The blurb pretty much explains the plot of the book perfectly. You might be thinking, 'that it isn't an original premise' or ' thier have been many simular plots before', and you would be correct. But, I have to tell you, while the plot might be the foundation of this story, its characters were the heart of it. The author didn't center her focus on the mutant x abilities and it wasn't the intrigue of the coverup that kepted me glued to the pages, although they are contributing factors...no, it was the engaging characters.

My favorite character was the protagonsit Clio. I loved how her character felt authentic and easy to relate to. I recognized some of her traits to be my own. For exmaple, the inner thoughts and irritations she had, when she met people for the first time. I actually giggled, as I do that too. Another familiar trait was the need to psycho-analyze things. I have a bad habit of doing it, only I constantly verbalize my thoughts and it drives my husband crazy. Clio's character was witty, sarcastic, intelligent, but unlike most protagonist, she was reserved. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't shy... she just liked to take in the scene and surroundings before jumping in...you know? It didn't take long for her to make friends. Like many stories, a small group of misfits come together and forge a friendship and I had fun watching them come together. Each character was quirky and entertainig to read and very believable. I think the author did a great job with the depth and personality for each of them . The only thing was...the "scoobie gang" scenrio had been done many times before, so much so, that it seems to have become a staple in many genres. Unfortuantely, it has become predictable. That being said, it works in this instant.

The gathering of the different personalities made for an interesting read. There was also some definate chemistry between Clio and Jake. Jake was still a mystery to me, even when I closed the book. I found Jack to be a fitting name for him...sort of like "A jack of all trades and a master of none" especially considering he couldn't manage to find a class he belong to. I wonder if that was the inspiration for his name. I also liked her friendship with Bliss. Bliss was one of those people that was easy to like. I did find it interesting that Miranda invaded, for lack of a better word, the group and became a member. Although, she constantly was preaching and whining about things..she was a force to be reckond with and definately a contridiction. I can't forget to mention the comic relief of this small group, Garrett. On several occasions, I found myself giggling...I swear I felt like a teenager all over again. That is saying something...

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. Shelley Workinger created a crediable piece of work, that not only was entertaining to read, but provoked my thoughts as well. I can't help but wonder, 'Have there been any successful genetic manipulations, and what was the outcome?' 'Is there a secret compound hidden out there - somewhere, experimenting on human with superhuman abilities?'... I also don't think, I will look at another pill, prenatal vitamin or not, the same way again. It is creepy when you think about it. You just never know....It does get the brain juices flowing. Even with all the intrigue, conspiracy theories, and suspenseful thrills, it was the characters that I enjoyed most. I loved honest emotions of first love and their curiousity of the unknown, the quirky personalities and thier bonding friendships, and the authenticity of teenage angst in each of the characters. If you are looking for a captivating young adult and science fiction novel, then I think you will like this one. Shelley did mention to me, when I finished reading this book, to take a look at the sneek peak of the sequel, Settling on her website. After reading it, I came to two conclusions...#1. Shelley Workinger likes to tease her reader's curiousity with delicious sneak peaks. #2. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series, Settling and find out what happens.

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Dec 06, 2010 Bree rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, signed

Probably closer to 3.5 stars, but I think this series has great potential. First, I have to give a shout out of appreciation to the author, who sent the book to me through the book swap. When I saw that she was the current owner I mentioned in the attached note that I'd love to have her sign it before sending it. She went above and beyond - actually signing the book to me, writing a personal post-it to me and including a SOLID bookmark. Thanks much, Shelley!

Clio (Calliope) is a seventeen year ol...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Firstly, I must say that I am a big fan of books about superheroes/people with special abilities. So when a bunch of gifted teens are placed in a school or training facility, with a strong female protagonist included as well as a love interest, that's an immediate thumbs up from me and a formula for an excellent story. I mean, how could you go wrong? Unfortunately you can, and many books do, as the fine line between believability and an imaginative yet gripping plot blur. The struggle is to make...more

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Nov 09, 2010 Dennis De Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelley Workinger has a fantastic imagination. Just imagine the US military performing secret genetic experimentation on 100 unborn babies. That's what Shelley did."Solid" is a fast exciting read, well-written, a real page-turner. The book is easy to read with very easy-to-read type, bright white pages and nice clear printing.

Imagine a demented military doctor attempting to genetically enhance 100 children while in utero. Perhaps they will be able to hear better, see better, jump higher, seem t...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

While I usually enjoy reading non-fiction, this one seemed to be very popular and I had to see what all the chatter was about. My friends said it was a YA novel, but so was the Twilight series, and that didn't stop the career woman and soccer mom's I know from reading it, so I decided to give it a try. The overwhelming impression this book made on me is how much I loved the "realness" of the characters. Clios take on how to fit in during her entrance into the cafeteria brought me right back to w...more

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