Deficient
with Scott Dewey (Illustrator)
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Pub Date Jul 15 2026 | Archive Date Nov 6 2026
Mintaka Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
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Description
Alé Aragón isn’t like the other kids at school. He can’t fly, read minds, or turn invisible like the genetically accelerated majority. As a powerless Deficient, Alé’s reality is one of constant ridicule—tormented by bullies, scorned by his brothers, and barely tolerated by his father. His greatest refuge is his best friend, Yalamba, an outspoken artist whose drawings come to life.
But when Yalamba vanishes in an ability-related hate crime, Alé is the prime suspect. Desperate to find her and clear his name, he teams up with fellow outcasts to uncover the truth. As they dig deeper, they realize Yalamba’s disappearance is linked to a series of unsolved murders targeting the extraordinarily gifted.
With danger closing in, Alé must confront his deepest fears and insecurities to solve the mystery and rescue Yalamba before it’s too late. And he’ll have to do it all without an ability of his own.
A Note From the Publisher
Paperback: 9798998545511
Hardcover: 9798998545504
Audiobook ISBN: 9798998545566
Additional Book Formats with (ISBN-13):
Paperback: 9798998545511
Hardcover: 9798998545504
Audiobook ISBN: 9798998545566
Advance Praise
"Solis offers YA readers an intricate world of magic, mayhem, and self-discovery in this striking debut."
—BookLife Reviews (Editor's Pick)
“An attention-grabbing plot-driven story that tackles themes of belonging.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Visionary, action-packed, and utterly unputdownable. This book made me feel things I haven’t felt in a long, long time.”
—Rob Costello, Locus, Lambda, and Bram Stoker Award finalist for We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures
“Solis takes the themes of being different and being treated differently and puts them in a world where EVERYONE is different, but still ranked by their differences. A beautiful book that captures some of the magic of Harry Potter and Ender's Game and puts an entirely new spin on it.”
—Chad Anderson, author of Gay Mormon Dad and host of the podcast Graymalkin Lane
"A sweet and refreshing take on the superhero genre about friendship and belonging; one that will melt your heart and make you cheer. An absolute delight."
—Charles A. Bush, award-winning author of Every Variable of Us
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798998545528 |
| PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 222 |