CHARISMA, by Jeanne Ryan

The story: When super-shy Aislyn has the chance to secretly help test a gene therapy that may cure her, she's all over it. But it's not long before all the kids who were recruited start having bad side effects--and some of them even die. Worse, it looks like the virus that loads the gene is contagious--so people around them start getting sick too. When the doctor who designed the procedure disappears, former intern Aislyn knows she's going to have to figure out the solution on her own...or maybe die trying.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG; adult themes (unsanctioned medical and the ethics of medical testing; unintended homicide, disease transmission via sexual contact) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is almost two books in one--science fiction medical story at the start, detective thriller at the end. Girls will like the "Will they or won't they?" set-up; boys will put up with it because of reasonably strong guy characters and an interesting plot. Give it to better readers of science fiction.