

She'd love to talk to people and advocate for gene therapies as a treatment for various illnesses, like her brother's cystic fibrosis, but she freezes up and can't get words out.

Considering Ryan has a PHD and has worked with youth development programs and social workers, it's obvious she knows what she talking about.' Hypable 'Not a far step from Ned Vizzini's Be More Chill.The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation.' School Library Journal 'The science is both sharp and accessible here, and readers will get a sense of the nuances and messiness of genetic alterations while staying in Aislyn's world.Gr 8 Up-Aislyn is cripplingly shy: she's very smart and could have won the state science fair with her research on gene therapies, if only she'd been able to bring herself to talk to the judges about it. A sympathetic protagonist combines with intriguing medical possibility for a solid thriller.' Kirkus Reviews 'Charisma by Jeanne Ryan is at its best when it gets technical. Her take on the topic is fresh and intriguing.' Publishers Weekly 'Suspense balances with discussions of bioethics for a provocative and entertaining read. This Robin Cook-like thriller zips along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion.' Booklist 'Ryan (Nerve) offers a cautionary tale about the perils of designer genetics and what happens when scientists' aspirations get ahead of ethics. Praise for Charisma '.this fast-paced and edgy novel has enough thrills, romance, and family drama to please a wide audience.

Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows.

Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness - that is, until she's offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences. An edge-of-your-seat thriller from the bestselling author of, Nerve, the book behind 2016's hottest YA film, starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco & Juliette Lewis.
