The Body Institute

Gr 8 Up—Morgan Dey is a teenage Reducer at the government-funded Body Institute. Through Electromagnetic Resonance Transfer (ERT), Morgan's brainmap can be temporarily removed from her own body and inserted into a client's. From there she works out, loses weight, and leaves the client with a slimmer body and a lower government tax rate. It's good for the health-care system and completely safe for Reducers and Loaners—or so the Institute says. When Morgan starts experiencing memories that belong to her Loaner body, she begins to wonder whether ERT is as technologically sound as advertised. After protests by an anti-Institute extremist group turn deadly, Morgan must decide whether Reducing is worth the risk to her body, mind, and life. Interesting and timely ideas about government-controlled health care and the obesity epidemic provide a solid foundation for this well-paced dystopia. While character development is relatively shallow and dialogue—particularly between Morgan and love interest Vonn—sometimes comes off as forced and stilted, there are enough twists and suspense to keep readers hooked. Unfortunately, the ending wraps up too abruptly and easily to be believable, and ambiguity about a sequel leaves the fate of several characters murky at best.