DEFICIENT

In a world where almost everyone has superpowers, Alejandro Aragon is one of the rare Deficients.

Alé, as he’s known to Yalamba, his only friend, is ostracized by classmates and ridiculed by bullies. Alé believes that the only reason Yalamba has stuck by him is because of her ability to draw things into existence. At school, people with abilities like hers are called Ferals, and they’re regarded as only slightly better than Deficients. Alé’s mom supports him; his high-ranking Atlas father and brothers seem to barely tolerate his existence. When Alé’s Feral classmates and their families become targets of hate crimes, Alé tries to find the perpetrator and save the only friend he’s ever had. Luckily, he makes new friends along the way. Mixie Trait, Kazuki Tanaka, and Gwen Manghi join Alé’s mission and give him the support and trust he so desperately craves. Together they try to solve the mystery of the brutal attacks while navigating their school’s and community’s harsh, unforgiving cultures. Centering the bigotry around supernatural abilities allows readers to explore the weight of identity-based hatred through a science-fiction lens, although worldbuilding and in-depth character development take a back seat to the action. However, what this fast-paced narrative lacks in layers it makes up for in its original premise. Contextual clues suggest ethnic diversity.

An attention-grabbing plot-driven story that tackles themes of belonging.