When I received Altered by Jennifer Rush this past week in the mail at work, it intrigued me. A lot of times when I receive an ARC (advanced reading copy) I take note of what the book is about and add it to my nightstand pile for later reading. Sometimes it happens; sometimes it may take a while before I actually get to reading it. Altered didn’t need much time to wait. I was finishing reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen for my children’s/YA lit class I am taking one evening a week, so the timing was perfect. I actually couldn’t wait to read this book! I kept thinking that this book could be ‘the next big thing’ similar to The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (and upcoming movie). I read the book in two days. I could not put it down!

Anna and her dad live in a farmhouse. Her dad has a lab in the basement where he is running experiments on four genetically altered boys, young men for the Branch. Anna used to sneak down there to talk to the boys but now her dad has her helping him with simple procedures such as blood draws, taking notes or even filing. Now the Branch wants to move the boys elsewhere, but they end up escaping taking Anna with them. It is nonstop action with a bit of suspense, mystery, intrigue and a touch of romance. Anna is alone with the four young men learning their secrets as they go and maybe a few of her own secrets along the way.

I told my daughter, Loryn, that she needs to read this book and then pass it on to her friends just like she did with the other series mentioned above. We’ll see once they read it. I wonder if they will think the same as me that it is going to a well read book. Who wouldn’t want to read about a four hunky guys and a girl? (ages 12 and up) Release date: January 2013