Welcome to our stop on Deadly Design tour for Debra Dockter. This tour is hosted by PenguinTeen.
Deadly Design Author: Debra Dockter
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: June 2nd 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
The emotional power of If I Stay meets the survival story of Maze RunnerAny of you watched Kyle XY on ABC Family? If you did, MAKE SURE TO READ DEADLY DESIGN! Gosh, this book had me on edge. Kyle (which is funny since they share the same name) is pure perfection... just Kyle from Kyle XY! The science, the guy, the story, everything was awesome. Such a suspense story!
Genetically engineered identical twins Kyle and Connor McAdams were born two years apart. Their parents figured it was safer that way, to increase their odds of survival. Connor was born first, paving an impossibly perfect path for Kyle to follow. He was the best at everything—valedictorian, star quarterback etc. Kyle never thought he’d be able to live up, so he didn’t even try.
But when Connor, 18, suddenly drops dead of a heart attack, and Kyle learns of other genetically modified kids who’ve also died on their eighteenth birthdays, he’s suddenly motivated—to save his own life. Like Connor and all the rest, Kyle was conceived at the Genesis Innovations Laboratory, where the mysterious Dr. Mueller conducted experiments on them. The clock’s ticking as Kyle searches for answers: who was Dr. Mueller really, and what did he do to cause their hearts to stop at eighteen? He must unravel the clues quickly, before, he too, becomes another perfect, blue-eyed corpse.
Interview
If you had to describe DEADLY DESIGN in 25 words or less, how would you describe it?
An underachieving, gorgeous, sixteen-year-old, with no idea of what’s lurking in his DNA, has to race against time to save himself.
Without spoilers, were there any scenes you had to cut that you wished you could have kept?
There’s one scene where Kyle was given a small shampoo bottle filled with grape juice and a date-rape drug, all while in the back of a van with a Scooby Do, Mystery Machine vibe. It was a fun, kind of absurd scene, but in the end, was annihilated by the old delete button.
Why genetics?
The field of science is so amazing. There are so many things scientists can do, but should they? Anything that’s used for good, can also be used for evil. Scientists can remove genes that cause horrible diseases, but they can also add traits – create whatever society’s idea is of a perfect person (or a crazy scientist’s idea). The field of genetics is like a playground for a writer, especially when wanting to create a character who is smart, athletic, and extremely handsome, and kind of sarcastic, like Kyle.
What were your biggest challenges in writing DEADLY DESIGN?
The scientific aspects were very difficult. I’m a psychology teacher, not a scientist, but I wanted to write a book where science fiction meets just plain science. I did countless hours of research and wanted every scenario to be potentially possible. On a positive note, I learned a lot about gene manipulations, ghost hearts and cryogenics. Hopefully the authenticity of the science will intrigue readers as much as it intrigued me. Another challenge was not letting the science get in the way of Kyle’s story. After all, it’s about him and the people he cares about.
What books would you recommend for a young adult?
There are so many great options out there right now for young adult readers. I always feel like I’m behind as far as what everyone else is reading but most recently for me, I’ve enjoyed the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, and Marie Lu’s Legend series. Currently, I’m reading Sally Green’s Half Bad, but believe me, the stack of books I want to read is very tall. As a college professor, I’m so excited that it’s summer! Time to get caught up on some reading and writing!
If you had to describe DEADLY DESIGN in 25 words or less, how would you describe it?
An underachieving, gorgeous, sixteen-year-old, with no idea of what’s lurking in his DNA, has to race against time to save himself.
Without spoilers, were there any scenes you had to cut that you wished you could have kept?
There’s one scene where Kyle was given a small shampoo bottle filled with grape juice and a date-rape drug, all while in the back of a van with a Scooby Do, Mystery Machine vibe. It was a fun, kind of absurd scene, but in the end, was annihilated by the old delete button.
Why genetics?
The field of science is so amazing. There are so many things scientists can do, but should they? Anything that’s used for good, can also be used for evil. Scientists can remove genes that cause horrible diseases, but they can also add traits – create whatever society’s idea is of a perfect person (or a crazy scientist’s idea). The field of genetics is like a playground for a writer, especially when wanting to create a character who is smart, athletic, and extremely handsome, and kind of sarcastic, like Kyle.
What were your biggest challenges in writing DEADLY DESIGN?
The scientific aspects were very difficult. I’m a psychology teacher, not a scientist, but I wanted to write a book where science fiction meets just plain science. I did countless hours of research and wanted every scenario to be potentially possible. On a positive note, I learned a lot about gene manipulations, ghost hearts and cryogenics. Hopefully the authenticity of the science will intrigue readers as much as it intrigued me. Another challenge was not letting the science get in the way of Kyle’s story. After all, it’s about him and the people he cares about.
What books would you recommend for a young adult?
There are so many great options out there right now for young adult readers. I always feel like I’m behind as far as what everyone else is reading but most recently for me, I’ve enjoyed the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, and Marie Lu’s Legend series. Currently, I’m reading Sally Green’s Half Bad, but believe me, the stack of books I want to read is very tall. As a college professor, I’m so excited that it’s summer! Time to get caught up on some reading and writing!
If you happen to be in South Florida the first week of June, make sure to stop by at Books & Books! Here is the information for the book signing event:
Saturday, June 6th – Miami, FL (Coral Gables)
Books & Books @ 5 pm
265 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Twitter: @InUraniborg
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