Bionic
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Suzanne Weyn
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 25th, 2016

Mira has a great boyfriend, is in a band, and may be in line for a lacrosse scholarship after high school. A car accident seems to destroy all those dreams when she is in critical condition, and loses her arm and leg. Innovative technology grants her bionic limbs, and a chip to integrate her brain function with her movement. The chip also enhances her from the inside out, causing her hair to be long and her skin to look fantastic. She gets offered a modeling contract, and can suddenly play guitar like an ace. What comes up must come down, and soon all the positives begin to be negatives in Bionic by Suzanne Weyn.

More below.

Weyn really captures the angst and worry of teen life, with the futuristic (without being too sci-fi) aspects of robotics. One of the themes of this really relatable YA novel, is to be the best version of yourself on the inside. Your real friends and family will stick with the real you. Another theme is a common one in teen drama – the feeling as if you don’t know who you really are.

It is a very quick read, and feels even faster because of the high interest. My only complaint is that I wanted the book to be longer, as there were relationships I wanted explored more, and some loose ends I think need tied up. I would have definitely liked to continue reading about how Mira copes through college, how her bionics further develop the relationship with her family, especially her brother, and her boyfriend (cannot reveal that spoiler). Could a sequel be in the cards?

Any age and any gender (despite the female protagonist) would enjoy this story. Although the bionic parts are sci-fi (and not even that far off), the rehab from the accident is portrayed as gritty and difficult and painful and real. All in all, I highly recommend this novel for the early teen set to adults.

Synopsis:

Mira has always almost had it all… until it all crashes and burns. She’s hurt in a horrible car accident, and the only way the doctors can help is to try experimental prosthetics and chips that are implanted directly into her brain. It’s a huge risk, but after months of testing and therapy, Mira is back, and better than ever.

But soon her friends turn against her as their parents call her on unfair advantages and get her cut from lacrosse and the scholarships she was depending on for college. And with her enhanced hearing, she knows how many people in her school and her town are calling her a robot, a cyborg.

Is that true? Is Mira human, or is she somehow something other? How can she overcome the ways people see her and just be herself… especially if she’s not really sure who that is anymore?

Suzanne Weyn is always at the cutting edge when it comes to new tech and the questions it raises about the world we live in.