Defector by Susanne Winnacker

Hodder Children's Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781444916188
(Age: Teen) As a Variant, Tessa is able to absorb DNA of anyone she comes into contact with and is able to mimic their appearance. She is trained to use her power as an agent of the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. Finally accepting her life as a Variant after her first mission, Tessa is happy with the way her life is. She and Alec are finally a couple, her power is going well and she has finally found a home with the FEA. Everyone around Tessa is keeping the truth from her, including Alec. When Tessa is summoned for her second mission her life is taking a turn for the worst. Her best friend Holly is kidnapped and Tessa knows that they were after her. Why is everyone she loves keeping secrets from her? Who are after her? And why do they want her? Running away from the people she trusted, Tessa sets out, with the help of Devon, to uncover the truth and find her friend.
Defector is the follow-up to Imposter. A slow start but after a few chapters the pages really started to flow and I was hooked. Tessa seems to go through so many problems, it is hard to believe that she can still stay positive and be so determined! Tessa is full of fire and I love that, it made the novel so much more interesting. I was captivated and really wanted to know how Tessa would face each challenge that came her way. When I first picked up the book, I was confused at the cover - why were their several faces on it? Was each face a different protagonist that has an important part in the novel? The cover definitely ties into the novel and that feels important as it allows the reader to become interested the novel.
Cecilia Richards.