It's 100 years since the Genetic Integrity Act was passed and America's borders were closed to prevent genetic contamination. Only the enemy, dysgenic Deviants, remain beyond the heavily guarded border. The Department of Evolution carefully guides the creation of each generation and deviations from the divine plan are not permitted. When 16-year-old Jess begins to show signs of deviance she enlists in the Special Forces, with her best friend Jay, in a desperate bid to evade detection by the Devotees. Jess is good with data, not so good with a knife. When the handsome and mysterious Sergeant Matt Anderson selects her for his Black Ops squad, Jess is determined to figure out why. As her deviance continues to change her, Jess is forced to decide who to trust with her deadly secret, because if the enemy doesn't kill her first, the army will. In the maelstrom of first kisses and first kills, treason, betrayal, and heartbreak, Jess must discover what's actually out there, in the Deviant wasteland over the border, if she has any hope of making it to her 17th birthday. "...a magnificently imagined world and intriguing characters. Rix engagingly plays out Jess and Matt's relationship with subtle touches, longing looks and playful banter. She also effectively challenges her young readers to face difficult questions--what does "Human" mean, and who should decide?--while ably setting the stage for an upcoming sequel. A complex, intriguing YA sci-fi adventure."  --Kirkus Reviews