Solid

Love love love this book!!

I literally just put this one down and all I can think to say right now is WOW! Shelley Workinger is a genius and I didn't want this book to end! "Solid" is the perfect balance of humor, romance, mystery, and stealth all wrapped up in a well flowing and beautifully written young adult story.

Our main character, Clio, is a sarcastic fast talking and easy to relate to teenager. This girl is hilarious, the quips and remarks she makes to her fellow peers and to herself had me laughing with tears in my eyes. I will say that Ms. Workinger does a great job bringing Clio down to earth and she has her moments, as we all did at 17. I didn't see her as the most confident of characters, but she definitely changes a lot throughout just this one book, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series will bring for her.

Along with Clio are her cohorts, all of which she meets at the camp. We have 4 other, very different, characters that I think most readers can also relate to. Cocky athletic Garrett, well manicured and health conscious Miranda, sweet Bliss, and ready for anything Jack. There is an underlying romance in this book but it doesn't consume the rest of the story. I love that while it's present, Clio is her own girl, her choices aren't blinded by a fast romance with a hot boy. There are just enough speeding heartbeats and cute passages to keep any romantic happy.

Ms. Workinger does a great job creating a well flowing book that goes smoothly from funny one liners to serious conversations. It reminds me of Xmen, supernatural teens all living together and figuring out what they can do, while also forming bonds with others going through the same thing. I also really loved the prologue, it was the perfect glimpse at the past to help us understand the present. The mystery aspect of the story is number one. It's a thrill and a lot of fun. It's simply put: an amazing paranormal story that had me laughing, I couldn't put it down. Yes. If you are considering reading this book, my answer is yes. Thank you so much to the wonderful author for the opportunity to read and review "Solid"!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book!

A group of teenagers discover they have been genetically altered before birth. They are invited to a place where they would be tested for "super abilities". Away from their families and friends, they begin to form a close friendship with each other. It is not long before they develop a tight bond.

One of the teens, Calliope "Clio" Kaid, lost her father many years ago. One of the people in charge happens to have been a close friend of her father's, but she questions the coincidence of running into him now and wonders if her father's death was truly an accident. When she can't reach her mother, she becomes even more suspicious of what is happening.

Clio stumbles upon information that could be dangerous to her and her new friends. She shares her information with them and together they search for the truth and expose a conspiracy that could destroy them all.

This book has a nice mix of mystery, suspense, thrills, and even a bit of romance. I don't usually read young adult books, but the premise of this book intrigued me and I'm glad I read it. The characters are all realistic and their motivation is believable. The story moves at a fast-paced and the characters come to life in a way that will have readers caring about them. I devoured this book in just a couple of days.

A side note, this is the first book in the "Solid" series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

US GOVT.-SECRET GENETIC EXPERIMENTS IN UTERO!

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 to disappear, etc. The story takes place 18 years after their birth. The US government, it seems, has decided to group them all together and study them to decipher their abilities; it appears that the demented military doctor died several years before. What lengths will other demented people go to in order to fulfill that doctor`s dream? Who will survive? Who will get hurt or even die? The upside is the strong bond formed by six of these "misfits"and the adventure they have while trying to get to the bottom of this mystery, their destiny. Shelley has created a fantastic book and I eagerly await the sequel,"Settling".I can easily rate this book 5 stars. Way to go Shelley.....

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Review Of Solid By Shelley Workinger

Solid (Solid Book 1) By Shelley Workinger

When I first read the description of this book I was intrigued. At first it made me think of the X-Men franchise. I have to say Shelley soon got that thought right out of my head upon starting this book. Calliope "Clio" Kaid travels to New Jersey from New Orleans to an isolated campus to find out what exactly C9x is and what that means to them. C9x is the whole reason behinds the kids super-human abilities. While Clio is there she meets Jack, Bliss, Garrett, Miranda, and eventually Alexis. They become fast friends and eventually become something like the Scooby-Doo Gang. The kids soon discover that this is not the "open-book military" that they were lead to believe. Instead they are there for a more sinister and diabolical purpose. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was very impressed by Shelley's knowledge of the military and the science behind the kids transformations. Even though there is a romance between Clio and Jack it is not the focal point of this whole book is about which is kind of refreshing. What I also enjoyed was the fact that there were not too many characters that I needed to wonder how they fit into this story or why are they even in this story. Shelley made C9x the core of her story and she did not let it fall by the way side. She made sure we, as the reader, were enthralled by the C9x experiment and the cloak and dagger secrecy of what the military is keeping from the kids. I think everyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as I did. On a scale of 1-10 I give this book a 10. I am so on the look out for Settling (Solid book 2).

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book, interesting plot!

Solid is the first book in the Solid series by Shelley Workinger. The book is about a 17 year old girl named Clio, who discovers that she has been genetically altered before she was born. Now, she is at an Army campus with other teens her age to see what is going on with their bodies.

I have to say that this cover did not pull me in, because it doesn't say Young Adult or Romance to me. The story is good though. The storyline of all these pregnant women unknowingly taking a drug as part of an experiment was interesting to me. 17 years later, you have all these teens who are developing special abilities. The author has created a wonderful back story for this book.

There is a great cast of characters who each have a distinct personality of their own. Clio is your typical teenage girl who is easy for teens to identify with. Part of the time she has these witty comebacks and the other part of the time she is very unsure of herself. She quickly becomes friends with Bliss, who is sweet and a little bit shy. She also sort of befriends Miranda, a snobby girl who thinks she's better than everyone else but wants to hang out with Clio and Bliss anyway.

There is a sweet romance that develops between Clio and a charming boy named Jack. He is a little mysterious, so I'm interested to know more about him. Garrett is another member of the group, who is athletic and funny. There isn't a big cliffhanger at the end, but it definitely lets you know that there is more to come. This book somewhat reminds me of the Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter, so if you love that I'm sure you'll love Solid as well.

I had this book since FOREVER. I always put it at the end of

I had this book since FOREVER. I always put it at the end of my TBR list but when I started seeing very positive reviews, and the second book popped up, I had to start reading it. I wish I had read it sooner!
Calliope (Clio, for short) was always the "normal" girl. She was used to travelling with her mum on book tours, and never staying too long in once place. But then, nothing stays the same for long. Clio finds out that she has been genetically-engineered before birth by a secret group of military scientists. The government has found out about the experiment 16 years after it has started. And now, they want to know what the "kids" are able to do.
Clio is transported to the base, where almost a hundred other kids are. She gets to make new friends, and learn new things. But she never expected to be able to do things normal people couldn't and find out about a conspiracy within the military.
Who conducted the experiment in the first place? Why did it take 16 years for the military to find out about it? What are Clio and the other kids able to do? Will Clio find out who started the conspiracy? Find out much more when you read this thought-provoking, action-packed novel, Solid...
I really liked this book. I have to say, it was different. I expected a "normal" paranormal read, a damsel in distress, a love triangle, an insta-love connection, and an unbelievable plot. But it was NONE of those things. Shelley Workinger has a wonderful writing style, it's simple, delicate, and straight-forward.
I liked the characters, too. Clio is funny, sarcastic, but shy and stubborn at the same time. I liked the love interest, Jack, too. But he wasn't swoon-worthy enough for my taste :P I liked all of Clio's friends, they were funny and supportive. The only complain I have about this book is that the beginning was a little "TOO" slow, I had to drag myself to the middle, but then, the pace sped up and got so action-packed and tense that I was holding my breath the whole time.
If you want an enjoyable, light paranormal read that is both, mysterious and intriguing, then Solid is the one! I will definitely be reading the second book in the series. I can't wait to get my hands on it, I have such high hopes for Shelley Workinger. You better get your hand on this!

Solid was a new book to me. I hadn't even heard of it. I'm so

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 characters. I really enjoyed them all. Of course Jack is a
standout. Just wait until you meet Jack. :) Super sweet. I loved the
scenes where the group of friends worked together. (I'm thinking of the
sneaking in the head hancho's office scene here.) Combined abilities
and personalities working together to be ever stronger than if they went
to task alone. I also love how the group is open to bringing others in.
It's not some exclusive circle. Great start to a fun series. There is
some infrequent mild swearing.

I love science-fiction, and I love YA novels, so when I received

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
purchased book two from Amazon, and set an alert to let me know when
book three is available. As to book one, however, I found Solid to be
engaging and interesting, with teen characters who reminded me a bit of
my own teen experience (though we didn’t have ipods or laptops to worry
about.) Clio Kaid, the lead character is delightfully snarky, but
realistically awkward. I like that. I like that she’s not perfect, that
she makes social gaffes and even that she regretted her choice of
spaghetti on her first day on campus because of the potential for making
a mess in front of a cute boy. As someone who cannot EVER wear white
when going out for pasta or sushi, I totally related to that concern.
Author Workinger kept a good pace going in her story, bringing in new
characters when necessary, but never glutting the plot with too many new
names to learn. While the choice of lead antagonist was a little
predictable, it would probably be less so to younger readers, and it
served the need of the story: setting up the continuation of the series.
Bottom line: while Solid is very much the first book in a trilogy, it is
also satisfying in its own right, and I look forward to seeing more from
these characters, and this author. Goes well with a plate of spaghetti,
as long as you’re not wearing white.

Great, interesting, quick read!

I really like the premise of this novel; it's something a little different, while it still has all those things we love about YA paranormal. Shelley does a great job introducing us to her characters and this new situation with which they are faced. Her writing is fun and easy and the pacing is spot on. I enjoyed the story from start to finish, and it was a fairly quick read.

I am definitely looking forward to learning more about the characters and their abilities in the rest of the series. Jack is such a sweetheart, and the turn of events involving Alexis was really exciting. I am dying to see how the relationships that began in book one play out through the following installments.

This is a great introduction to the series, and I am eager to get my hands on book two!

Great Read~~`In this first installment we meet a set of kids who

Great Read~~`In this first installment we meet a set of kids who were genetically alter by a doctor unbeknownst to the government. only after his death did they discover his research now the kids are brought together to see what has become of them.

I really enjoyed this book being a fan of the x-Men series I loved the whole genetically alter theme behind it.Not only that but the story flowed so well I found my self unable to put in down and finished it with in a day or two. this would be a great summer for any young adult or adult who enjoys a good read.either way this is a two thumbs up and so enjoyable my son is now reading it. Plus there is two more books in the series so can't wait to read them.

4.5/5 Stars!

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Shelley Workinger has crafted a truly unique story with SOLID.

SOLID is a story about one hundred teenagers who were genetically altered before birth. They¿ve been brought to a remote site in hopes of learning more about C9X ¿ the drug administered to their mothers before they were born ¿ and its effects on them. When the doctor responsible for administering the drug dies, he dies without leaving behind any information on C9X and its effects.

When the teens were brought to the site, they were told that the military had just recently found out about C9X, that it was only brought to their attention after a secret informant came forward. The military tries to make the teens feel at home ¿ even going as far as to recreate their rooms back at home on site ¿ while administering tests to test their abilities. No one seems to suspect anything, until Clio overhears a conversation one day while relaxing out on the grass. Something is going on, something is being hidden from the teens. Unsure of whether or not her friends will think she¿s crazy, Clio decides to keep the information to herself, until a late night visit to Bliss¿ room, where Bliss reminds her that they are her real friends ¿ that they are, and will be, there for her when needed.

After discussing the details of the conversation with Bliss, it isn¿t long after that they include the others in on their suspicions ¿ which forces them into their own investigation for answers. But with answers, comes trouble. And a truly unforgettable ending.

I loved Clio ¿ heck, let¿s be honest, I loved all of the characters (yes, even Miranda) ¿ she¿s witty, friendly, and extremely likable. And then there¿s Jack, who manages to make the witty Clio unable to speak in his presence. Their relationship is very sweet ¿ and their first date is adorable. Definitely a Jack fan over here.

I really enjoyed SOLID. It¿s a short book (only 221 pages long), but there is a lot that happens within those 221 pages. Talk about a thrilling ride! Reading along as Clio and her friends seek out the truth, you¿ll try to come up with your own conclusions ¿ but you¿ll never be able to guess the ending or who is responsible.

A thrilling story full of likeable characters? What more could you possibly want?

Highly Recommend-One of My Favorites!!

I really love books with boarding schools and far-away campsites. I guess because I've lived at home, with the same commute, for the past 16 years is very...routine. But these books, where the kids go off on their own, all together, is very interesting to me. In Solid, you get that, plus romance, plus conspiracy theories, plus powers. I was sold right from the start.

Solid lived up to every possible expectation I had. I was also happy to find out that the author designed the cover herself, and the cover is very eye catching. The color and just the way the chromosome looks is very unique. It makes you do a double take and want to grab it off the shelf.

Solid begins the tale of teenager Calliope 'Clio' Kaid, who just found out she was chemically altered while still inside her mother, and is being sent to a out-of-eye-shot campsite in New Jersey. Clio already knows that she was genetically altered, so there was no 'omg whAT' sequences. I have to admit, the story opens up as she's travelling there, and I totally thought I downloaded the sequel by accident. It was a little confusing, but you understand, after a few pages that she knows.

Clio makes friends easily, settling in with the funny jock, Garret; the shy, naive Bliss; outspoken Miranda; and dreamy, smart Jack. I have to say, from a self-published book, I have never seen a group of friends so realistic and true. Their friendship has to go down in the books as one of my favorite book friendships. They're just so real with each other, and they listen to each other, and they help each other out. It's very admirable and it's something that you want to be a part of.

Obviously, Solid has tons of backstories. You learn why the crazy doctor even wanted these super kids, and about the man who had to keep everything a secret. You learn the truth about Clio's father's death, because in every YA, nobody's parents can die on accident.There has to be a secret agency against them, or in this case, they found out the wrong information.

Some of the things that go on in Solid would have had be suspicious from the first second. For example, all of the food is free, and the only thing they ask of you is to join some group sessions to work on their powers. Also, nobody has computer connection except the group counselors, and none of the kids can get in contact with their parents. That would have been a big eye opener for me.

Overall, Solid is an amazing start to an awesome series. I can't wait to jump right into the next book, Settling, and back into Clio's life.

Great Teen Mystery!

Solid is a brilliant, fast paced book that I found very easy to get into and loved nearly every part of! I read the eBook version, for review and I was really pleased with the quality of the eBook. It had a little border around the numbered pages and the writing was easy to read, not so small that I had to squint all the time. Along with the fantastic writing, the whole thing gave off an air of professionalism, which I think all eBooks should be like.

The story itself was quite unique, although it reminded me off a book I read a long time ago that I can't remember the name of! I loved the idea of having a group of friends, as lately the YA Heroines seem to be loners! I loved all the main characters, especially Miranda, despite her faults! She's strangely loveable and very funny, constantly worrying about her skin - and everyone else's!
Onto the love interest. Jack was perfect - funny but thoughtful and the kissing scenes were written perfectly for him and Calliope. Hopefully there will be more in the next book...

I did find the ending rather cheesy however, very cheesy in fact. I was hoping for something with a bigger punch but what I got was kinda disappointing as I guessed everything before it had happened. The bad guy idea was straight out a Point Horror book too. Despite this, the ending did strangely fit well with the story and I can't wait to find out what will happen next!

From Missy's Reads & Reviews

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 positive and upbeat where others would be all gloom-and-doom. The other characters - students like Clio - were also the same in some ways, they all seemed to roll with the punches and just take whatever was dealt to them without complaining and whining. I'm sure that has to do with their military upraising, which is pretty spot-on from my experience as my mom and her siblings were military brats and acted the same. Well, you know, except for being genetically altered and all.

The middle of the book slowed down a little, as it centered more around the introduction of characters and some budding romantic interests. I wouldn't say that it took away from the story any because it gives great insight. Also, it picks up in the last part of the book with some twists that were unexpected and kept me on the edge of my seat.

At a little over 220+ pages, Solid is a pretty decently paced read that you can probably finish in one sitting because once you get into the story, you won't want to miss any of the good stuff. I also think this is one of those reads that has a little bit of something for everyone.

Wonderfully fun YA novel

Originally reviewed at Reading the Paranormal.

Now this was some good writing. I don't know if I can articulate this like I want to but I'm going to give it a try. I've come across a few YA books recently where the writing itself is geared toward a younger audience, not just the plot. I'm talking about a massive use of repetition, simple sentences, etc. I never had that feeling with this book. I never felt that Shelley Workinger was talking down to her reading audience, whether they're teens or adults. It was a pretty refreshing feeling. Like taking a cold shower on a hot day. Or something.

Beyond the writing, the characters were interesting and they played out realistically. The idea itself was engaging (yes, it's true that I'm a sucker for mad scientists and their mad experiments) and the romance that blossomed between two of the main characters was sweet.

I liked that the conspiracy storyline was tied up but the future of what the teens will do next was very much left up in the air. All in all, it was a very satisfying read, one that left me eyeing the calendar to see how long I have to wait until book 2.

I loved this book!

I loved this book, and I would definitely say it's the best book I've read in a while. The synopsis of the book really intrigued me, and I was really excited to read it. It didn't dissapoint. I loved all of the characters. They, along with the awesome plot, helped make the story amazing. It's really easy to follow the scientific aspect of the book because the main character knows just as much about science as the average person, so it's explained in a way that anyone can understand it. I think this is a great book for everyone to read, and I'd definitely recommend it.

Great YA Novel with Modern, Trendy Superheroes!

This novel is a fast-paced, modern sci-fi novel with a quick-witted, sassy heroine. It is definitely a fun read, especially for middle grade and young adult readers.

Clio (Calliope) Kaid has just arrived at a summer camp for 17-year-olds who were found to have been part of a mad scientist's government experiment. The government has discovered that one of its scientists was experimenting on pregnant women by giving them what they thought were prenatal vitamins, but was really a drug to alter the baby's DNA. Clio is one of those babies, all grown up, and the camp is created to uncover the results of the scientist's work. And believe me, it's pretty cool. Think "comic book hero."

Thanks to the drugs administered to their mothers as they were developing, these teenagers possess certain superhuman abilities. Upon arrival, they are quickly divided into ability groups. Everything from extraordinary athletic ability to invisibility. Clio is placed into one of these groups (and I won't give away which one) where she creates friendships with some of the other campers and, of course, develops a crush on a cute fellow camper. While she has finally found a place where she fits in, Clio begins to notice that something is not right. Someone in the camp is not as interested in helping the teenagers as they are in harnessing their power. With the help of her new superhuman friends, Clio investigates and faces potential danger.

The characters are enjoyable and each very unique. I'm reminded of some of my favorite comic book heroes. Clio and her group are the newest, trendiest group of superheroes. This novel is a fun mix of reality and science fiction. It is presented in a way that makes the situation seem plausible, which is essential for good sci-fi, and the characters will appeal to every young person. They are funny and relatable.

This book is a great way to introduce someone to science fiction. It is light and enjoyable and not overly complex. It also has drama, action, and a bit of romance.

Read and enjoy!

A great new science fiction series begins!

Clio finds out that she was part of a genetic experiment, but no one really knows what effect the manipulation may have had on all the teens in the group. She, and a bunch of other similarly afftected teens come together to figure things out. Clio, who has moved around a lot because of her mom's job, has never really made any lifelong friends.

Things change when she arrives at the "camp." Clio meets Bliss, a girl who she immediately clicks with, a fun loving semi-pervy guy named Garrett, a sometimes cranky, slightly OCD girl named Miranda, and a guy...oh, yes, a hot, smart, and sweet guy named Jack. Clio, a fountain of awesome snarkiness, occasionally loses her ability to speak around Jack, but still manages to be the glue that holds the whole group together...even when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan.

As Clio and Miranda learn they can disappear, Bliss finds she can turn herself into a human sparkler, and Garrett is an amazing athlete/superhero/gymnist, only Jack seems to lack a special talent. The more the teens figure out, though, the more they realize that there is someone out there who seems to know just a little more than they do... The teens band together to investigate and discover that not only do they make a great team, one that can really rely on each other, but that when all's said and done they have no desire to lose their newfound group.

This was a super-fast and fun read. I loved Clio's voice. I loved the group dynamic and watching Clio draw the others into her circle. The teens all played really well off of each other and Clio always felt amazingly real to me. She's a girl I would love to hang out with. It was also really cool to see their powers develop, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, now that they know what they can do...

Book two, Settling, actually comes out on this Monday, July 4th and I cannot wait to get it. I read a little preview and it is slightly more steamy and totally intriguing.

X-Men meets YA

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 out all the stops to make everybody as comfortable as possible. Clio and her friends are starting to becomes suspicious and feel like they're being kept in the dark after overhearing a suspicious conversation. Since nobody is giving them any answers, they start investigating on their own.

Solid was a quick, intriguing read with great characters. Clio is a very friendly and relatable character, who I liked from the beginning. She becomes fast friends with Bliss (shy and kind), Miranda (the mean girl you kinda like), Garrett (the funny jock) and Jack (adorable and smart).

It's different from anything I've read before which is very refreshing - made me think YA version of X-Men, but more focus on everything going on around them then their powers. I'm usually not drawn to science fiction, but I enjoyed this with it's mystery, suspense and budding romance.

Seriously enjoyable!

Do you know how much I love movies and books about government conspiracies and secret testing? So much! So I was very pleased to be able to read 'Solid', the first in a trilogy about those very subjects. This is a bit of a shorter read, but within its pages lies a very interesting story with a likable main character and great supporting characters as well. I wish there had been more time spent examining the characters' powers and building up to the conclusion, but I'm sure there will be more of the former in the 2nd book.

'Solid' is a great story rooted in science fiction, but it also has a sweet romantic aspect to it which I really enjoyed. I don't have a whole lot to say about this one except that I really enjoyed it. It was very well written, well thought out, and interesting. I definitely can't wait to read the 2nd book and see what Clio and her new friends are up to.