Book review: The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood
Genre: Historical fiction & sci-fi
Release date: August 6, 2024
Goodreads rating: 3.83
My rating: 4
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The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood is a great combination of historical and science fiction.
It follows Kit who was born on February 29, 1916. As a leap year baby, she is born with a genetic mutation that slows her aging process; she ages at the rate of 1 year every 4 years, to match her leap year birthday. This forces her family to go to great lengths to protect her from society and the growing eugenics movement of WWII.
It’s an intriguing story that pans out over an entire century. You get to follow the science and events of the century including the suffragette movement. You also get to see the impact on her different family members, from their different perspectives.
The book reads easily. It is written in short chapters that make the story move along as a good pace. It’s a great pick for a book club discussion as it tackles lots of big themes and ethical dilemmas.