Book Description

Growing up is hard, but she's killing it! Wendy Lockheart has been known by many names—none of them her own. With each new school, she is assigned a new identity and a new foster family, but the same mission—kill whoever she is told to kill. Most agents in her network of female teen assassins begin training at age ten, but for Wendy it has encompassed her entire life. Abducted at birth, she was engulfed in a world of psychological manipulation, brainwashing, and physical training. At seventeen years old, Wendy is the most highly trained assassin in the agency. "Wendy Lockheart" is her twenty-fourth identity and one that won't be hers much longer, which is unfortunate. She finally found a place to call home. She has an inexplicable connection to her friend, Amaya. Her foster family is caring, and she loves her foster brother, Corey, who has cerebral palsy. Nonetheless, her days as "Wendy" are limited. They always are. After carrying out a hit on an alleged drunk driver, conflicting information leads Wendy to suspect corruption within the ranks of the agency. Intent on discovering the truth, Wendy intentionally botches an operation, making her the agency's next mark. As their dark intentions come to light, Wendy realizes she must destroy the organization that shaped her in order to discover the person she truly wants to be—that is, if they don't kill her first. Wonder Rush is a thrill ride through the dangerous world of a teen assassin, but it is also a journey of self-discovery—a coming-of-age tale under the most extreme circumstances. How can a girl develop her own personal identity when she never had one to begin with? Editorial Reviews: "An immersive and suspenseful teen spy thriller with some darker edges, a positive message, originality and depth." 5/5 — Reedsy Discovery "The 'outside the lines' premise and the detail with which McKeon develops the events that have led to Wendy's current situation make this a highly engaging read that will interest adults as well as younger readers." 10/10 — The BookLife Prize "Blending a 'coming of age' story that is simply packed from cover to cover with cliff-hanger suspense, Wonder Rush is one compulsive page turning thriller of a read and showcases author Dan McKeon's impressively entertaining narrative storytelling style." — Midwest Book Review