Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner (review)

Ever since twelve-year-old Cat Grayson fell from a tree while birdwatching, the lingering effects of a concussion have left her dizzy and confused, easily tired and forgetful. So when Cat and her family hear about the revolutionary treatment for brain injuries available at the I-CAN clinic, deep in the Florida Everglades, they jump at the chance to participate, even if it means leaving Cat alone in the care of the clinic’s mysterious if friendly doctors. Before long, though, odd things about the clinic start to make Cat nervous, and with the help of a new friend, she uncovers a dangerous secret: the clinic is part of a covert government program designed to implant the DNA of famous scientists into the minds of children and raise a new team of super-geniuses who will develop weapons for the military. Soon Cat and her fellow patients are on the run through swampland infested with poisonous snakes and enormous alligators, desperate to save their minds and themselves by finding an adult who will believe them. This fast-paced, compelling science thriller offers up plenty of suspense and action designed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Regular but subtle references to unsuspected traps create an undertone of lurking danger and, alongside Cat’s early suspicions, allow the tension to build from the very beginning. At the same time, Cat’s desperation to return to her old life makes it believable that she would maintain hope, even in the face of the increasingly undeniable truth. The DNA plotline heads toward over the top, but the underlying science of concussions is fascinating and likely to be of interest to young readers who have been warned about the dangers of not wearing a helmet.