Impostor: A Variants Novel

by Susanne Winnacker Narrated by Emily Rankin

Overview

CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?
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Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she's spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.
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When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.
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Tessa hates everything about being an impostor-the stress, the danger, the deceit-but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she'd do anything to keep.
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Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

09/02/2013
Teenage Tessa is a “variant,” meaning she’s a mutant with special powers—in her case, the ability to take on the appearance of anyone she touches. Rejected by her mother for her “freakish” ability, she is now a member of a secret government agency that sends her to impersonate Madison—the victim of a serial killer—in order to crack the case. Narrator Emily Rankin proves perfect for the role of Tessa, conveying the character’s conflicted feelings: the desire to do a good job on her first assignment, the fear of being the killer’s next victim, and, most of all, a yearning to remain Madison, basking in the love of the girl’s unsuspecting parents. Rankin makes Tessa an authentic, sympathetic character whom listeners will root for and relate to. She differentiates the other characters well, deepening her voice for the male characters and changing her tone for the various female ones—conveying all the characters’ emotions believably. Ages 12–up. A Razorbill hardcover. (May)

From the Publisher

"An unpredictable page turner with shades of terror reminiscent of a Stephen King novel."—VOYA

"Fresh and inventive. . . . the strongly-written mystery component takes center stage."—BCCB

School Library Journal

12/01/2013
Gr 7 Up—Tessa has a special skill set: she can absorb the DNA of anyone and become that person. She is one of a group of Variants who use their talents as part of the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities (FEA). Fellow members include a boy who is inhumanly strong and a girl who can become invisible. They are under the supervision of the Major, but they do not know his talent, and Agent Summers, who can manipulate minds. Tessa is pulled from training and put into the field to help capture a serial killer whose latest victim survived, but will not for long. She assumes the form and identity of Maddy and struggles to fit in with the girl's family and friends. With her cover story of amnesia, her questioning uncovers Maddy's affair with one of her teachers, providing another suspect. As days go by, Tessa reads accounts of the murders and notices that there was a fog or mist the nights of the attacks; she suspects that the killer is a Variant who can control the weather. Trying to complete her mission before she totally loses control of her variation leads her into a situation that almost gets her killed when she is told about a group of rogue Variants (the setup for a sequel). The book should appeal to readers who like high-octane novels with a paranormal twist. Be prepared to clear up possible confusion between this and Robinson Wells's "Variants" series (HarperCollins).—Suanne B. Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FL

Kirkus Reviews

This attempt at a teen paranormal-thriller/romance novel is about as satisfying to fans of the genre as a cup of weak herbal tea would be to a thirsty vampire. Who hasn't wanted to change places with someone else…someone prettier, smarter, more popular? Tessa can. She's a Variant, born with a special skill, trained by a special--and very secret--branch of the FBI. Her ability to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches allows her to take on the identity of popular, small-town Madison, the latest victim of a serial killer. Tessa takes her form, and the news of her "survival" is leaked to the press. Using a cover story of amnesia, Tessa assumes Madison's life. This includes loving parents, an attractive brother, a close best friend, an ex-boyfriend and all the normal activities of high school--something Tessa's never known and always wanted. It's not long before Tessa feels more like Madison than herself. But the killer isn't about to leave her alone, and it's beginning to look as if this predator may be a Variant, too. There are many undeveloped plotlines that never resolve satisfactorily, and characterization is straight from central casting. Tessa's first-person narration does little to distinguish itself from the many others of its ilk, beyond a refreshing return to the past tense. Readers will probably recall the X-Men universe and wish these characters were as well-drawn. (Paranormal thriller. 12 & up)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169236101
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	05/28/2013
Series:	Variants , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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