Title: The Samantha Project
Series: The Samantha
Project Book #1
By: Stephanie Karpinske
Genre: YA Sci Fi
Blurb
Seventeen-year-old Samantha has a seemingly perfect life;
great parents, early admission to Stanford, and a boyfriend who happens to be
the hottest guy in school. But Sam's life takes a dark turn when she starts
developing powers brought on by her unknown involvement in a global
corporation's genetic enhancement project. Now the corporation decides it's
time to take Sam back and turn on the genetic switch that will unleash all the
powers of her enhanced genes.
During a heart-pounding race to flee from the people who
created her, Sam encounters another person who was part of the experimental
project. He's been living in hiding for years and now that Sam's found him,
she's put both their lives in danger. But they can't run for long. A
technological safeguard embedded in their cells ensures that if the corporation
can't have them, nobody will.
Links
Character Bio
Samantha. At 17, Samantha learns she’s part of a genetic enhancement
project and starts developing the powers that come with those genes. Those
powers include the ability to read minds and see future events. The genes also
give her enhanced strength, vision and hearing. But Sam will keep developing
powers as she gets older.
Erik. He was also part of GlobalLife’s genetic enhancement project
but escaped from their lab when Jack, a scientist who was against the project,
rescued him. Jack kept Erik hidden until Samantha found him, putting him on
GlobalLife’s radar again. He has some, but not all of Samantha’s powers, but
he’s had the powers longer than she has so is better at using them.
Colin. Samantha’s high school boyfriend. He’s the popular all-star
athlete. Quarterback of the football team. He loves Sam more than anything.
Jack. An expert in computer software and genetic science. He used
to work at GlobalLife until he learned what they were doing to human genes. He
took Erik from GlobalLife when Erik was just 5 years old and faked his death so
GlobalLife would never look for him.
Brittany. The twin sister Samantha never knew about. GlobalLife made
her, too. She’s the control in the experiment. But the question is why they
insist on keeping her around now that they know Samantha, their experiment, is
a success.
Dave. A close friend of Samantha’s parents, Dave is like an uncle
to Sam. Dave attended MIT with Jack and is also an expert in computers and
genetics. He worked for GlobalLife until just recently, but claims that
GlobalLife forced him to work there against his will. He knew about The
Samantha Project for years but never told her or her parents.
Allie. Samantha’s best friend from high school. Allie is an only
child and comes from a wealthy family. She’s been friends with Sam since they
were kids. But as Sam learns more about her past, she starts to wonder if Allie
was really her friend all those years.
The Founders. An elite secret society made up of world leaders,
high ranking members of the military, politicians, judges and other wealthy
influential people. This group funds The Samantha Project and will be the first
to benefit from it.
Excerpt
“What is this? Why am I here?” I
asked, still feeling like I was half asleep.
More footsteps entered the room. “I
think she’s slept most of it off,” I heard Erik say to whoever walked in.
I felt Erik’s other hand on my arm
and then felt a prick from a needle. Soon I could feel the grogginess go away
and the strength in my muscles return. I opened my eyes and could see normally.
Erik was sitting at my side, still
holding my hand. “Ready to get up now?” His smile was so warm and kind that the
anger I had prepared to unleash on him was quickly disarmed.
Jack stood behind him, arms
crossed, studying my every move.
“Amazing,” he said. “But I can’t
quite understand it.”
Erik shot him a glance of
annoyance.
“Um, yes. Well, let’s get started
then, shall we?” Jack said, sitting on a chair at the end of my bed.
Erik sighed, disappointed in how
the old man was handling things. He turned back to me. “I know it may not seem
like it, but we’re actually trying to help you.”
I gave him the look that I had
heard that line before.
“Sure. You don’t believe me,” he
continued. “I wouldn’t believe me either. Someone drugs me and I wake up in
some strange place, I’d be pretty pissed.” He flashed a slight smile. “But
here’s the deal. We have a lot of stuff to tell you and we’d like you to tell us some stuff, too.” He paused, sensing my hesitation. “If, and
only if, you want to. Okay?” He waited for me to shake my head yes.
“I’ll start with the basics.” Erik
let go of my hand and sat in the chair next to my bed. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a little like you.” I glanced
over at him, unsure of what he was trying to tell me. “You see what I mean? Not everyone can do this.”
I looked at him confused. Not do what?
I thought. This guy is cute but not at all good at explaining things in clear
and simple terms.
“So you think I’m cute, huh?” I looked up to see him smiling. “And by the way, I think my explanation is
very clear. You just need to pay attention.”
“I AM paying attention!” I said
loudly. And then it hit me. My voice had filled what had been a silent room.
Nobody had spoken for at least a minute. Erik hadn’t said anything. And yet we
were having a conversation. A two-way conversation—without spoken words. He
could read thoughts! That’s why he said we were alike.
