Theory of Bastards, by Audrey Schulman

[Stacey]

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, and by all means, don't let this cheezy one fool you.

I remember not voting for this STEM themed book for Week 43 in last year's poll, but in the end, I really loved this book. For one thing, it boasts one of my favorite heroines ever -- an award-winning scientist who's literally been through the wringer. For one thing, this woman's pain threshhold is off the charts; she dresses like a five-year-old and her wacky taste in food...well, you gotta read it for yourself. Feisty Frankie's story and her theory of bastards is slowly revealed over the course of the novel; her stoic, midwestern, good-guy assistant David Stotts is living through his own private pain. And although they hailed from very different worlds, I came to sympathize, yet sometimes dislike both of them.

Schulman really knows how to serve up complex characters, where every gesture, look, or statement is so intense, yet quietly nuanced, whether human or animal. Frankie's research at The Foundation has her directly interacting with bonobos: the lesser known, smaller and gentler primate species to the chimpanzee. In this, Schulman's latest novel, we get a heady blend of sci-fi, science, survival and ultimately, the messy ridiculousness of what it means to be human that makes for one truly satisfying read. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work.