Gabriella and Dr. Duggan’s Secret Dimensional Transport Machine by James Cardona

~ Review by Kirsten

Great story that raises important ethical questions-not just for kids!!!

While the title may evoke pictures of ‘back-to-the-future’-style, campy time travel machines, this book is far from your stereotypical sci-fi! Instead, it is about the questionable ethics of genetic research.

Cardona has crafted a mystery set in a futuristic society, where affluent folks can have their children modified through genetic upgrades. In this setting, narrator Gabriella, a sixteen-year-old girl, finds herself the only "natural" athlete in the most popular global sport, a game called "Ultraball". While
Gabriella's DNA does not show any genetic alterations, she can keep up with her modified peers and opponents. She, inevitably, becomes a target of NuGen, a prominent genetic research & modification company, and Ultraball's biggest sponsor. 

A fan favorite, Gabriella is chosen to promote Dr. Duggan's new Dimensional Transport Machine, which makes continental travel possible within seconds. During one of those transports gone awry, Gabriella encounters a mysterious man in that place between destinations called "The Void". Will she heed his ominous warnings?

With NuGen on her heels, Gabriella is on a quest to find out her true identity and solve the mystery of her dad's murder.

This book is a real page turner that kept me up several nights in a row-and I’m not even much of a sci-fi fan! A cleverly crafted story that raises strong ethical questions, it is sure to make you think. So once your teenagers tire of the usual high school dramas with the same cliché characters, simply point them to this book! I rate it a fully deserved 5 stars! Please note that this is the first installment in the upcoming NuGen series.

http://www.amazon.com/Gabriella-Duggans-Dimensional-Transport-Machine-ebook/dp/B00773Z3Q4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Disclosure: This book was purchased or borrowed by the reviewer for this review.  No compensation was received. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.