Project Paper Doll: The Rules
Gr 9 Up-By following five rules, Ariane Tucker and her adoptive father have managed to stay hidden from the agency searching for her. Ariane, a human/alien hybrid, was engineered in a lab as part of Project Paper Doll in hopes of being utilized by the Department of Defense. Crushes, mean girls, cliques, and other elements of high school drama are more challenging for the 16-year-old, who must also struggle to blend in with "full-blooded humans." An incident that occurs while she is standing up for her best friend draws unwanted attention from the most popular-and most vicious-girl in school. The situation also creates the opportunity for her to get to know handsome Zane Bradshaw. He has agreed to ask Ariane to Bonfire Week activities as part of a prank to put her in her place, but instead the two find themselves falling in love even as the danger of the agency finding her grows. The Rules is effectively told from alternating perspectives. Ariane describes the loneliness of being a test subject and the challenges of trying to fit in while not standing out. Zane's chapters provide insight into his unhappy home life and an outsider's view of Ariane. The conclusion is satisfactory, yet leaves open the possibility of a sequel. With elements of science fiction, humor, and romance, this title will appeal to fans of Pittacus Lore's "Lorien Legacies" (HarperCollins) and James Patterson's "Maximum Ride" (Little, Brown) series.-Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MOα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.