Review of "Mila 2.0"

"If I'm not human, why does this hurt so much?"

     In Debra Driza's Mila 2.0, sixteen-year-old Mia Lana, or "Mila" for short, has just lost her home to a terrible fire. Her books, her clothes, and even some of her memories were taken by the flames, but the loss she regrets most is that of her father, who perished in the inferno. In the wake of this disaster, Mrs. Daily takes her daughter to the nowhere town of Clearwater, Minnesota, in the hopes that the small-town atmosphere will aid in the grieving process. Although Mila misses Philly dreadfully, she has finally begun to make friends and settle into a routine--until her boy-crazy BFF tries to show off to Mila's crush and nearly gets her killed. The only sign of injury is a long, alien gash in Mila's arm--which is filled, not with blood, but with the wires and tubing of a machine. Now Mila must face the truth about herself, her mother, and the people who want her in a lab.

     Driza's writing style is gripping. From the beginning, we connect with this girl who is struggling with the loss of her father, and the empty spot in her memory where that event should take place. She struggles to fit in with her friends at school, and doesn't seem to "click" with her mom. When a new boy, Hunter, comes to town, it looks like the beginning of a story of forgiveness and recovery. Then Mila is thrown from a truck, learns a terrible secret from her mother, and begins to see glowing instructions in her head. When the Dailys finally go on the run, readers truly feel the scope of the danger. Their enemy is ruthless, his enforcer cunning. Action and romance are balanced neatly with Mila's one-of-a-kind emotions, forming the basis for a great story.

     One thing I don't like about this book was the way the villain acts. In case you haven't guessed, Mila is an android; her enemy, General Holland, is in charge of the MILA program. Despite the time, research, and money that has gone into making the three MILAs--Mobile Intel Lifelike Androids--Holland treats them like prisoners of war. He runs tests that are designed to break them down to the bare technology, never mind the fact that their humanity is just what makes the MILAs so appealing to the government. I get that he's supposed to be this despicable head-scientist figure, but really--give him some humanity. His disgust at the "creatures" he's created is over the top to the point of irritation.

     Holland aside, the characters in Mila 2.0 are very well-written. Mila grapples with a thousand complex emotions as she comes to terms with her lack of humanity. Hunter is caring, if a little oblivious; Kaylee thinks herself superior to everyone else; and Nicole Laurent, Mila's mom, is truly concerned about her daughter's welfare. Although the characters are close to flat, they have just enough dimension to make them seem real. Mila goes through a lot of development over the course of her story, although most of it is subtle. Despite her emotional turmoil, she is a great character to read.

     As an android designed specifically for military espionage, Mila goes through a lot of fights. She beats people up, gets Tasered, rushes through a deadly obstacle course, stabs a man with a lamp plug, and rushes to save her mother from a horrible death. She is also put into a situation where she is asked to torture a young man. If you are squeamish around such things, this may not be the book for you. There isn't much in the way of cussing, although characters are prone to saying "Oh my God."

     I would recommend Mila 2.0 to any teenager who was looking for a book about trust, choice, and what it means to be human. Any adult who is willing to look past the angst may find that they like it, as well. It does feature violence and mild romance, all of which contributes to the plot. The villain is a little over-the-top, however. For excitement, tension, and writing that sucks you in, I grant Mila 2.0 four stars.