What an absolutely unique and interesting take on ‘leap year’ babies!

What if the children who were born on February 29th only aged every FOUR years, instead of yearly like the rest of the world?
What if these particular children were given the ‘gift’ of the fountain of youth?
And what if, all they wanted was to be like everyone else?

Meet Kathrine (Kit) Mc Kinley . She was born in 1916, following an extraordinarily long pregnancy…and, the death of her Dad, due to the war.

From the very beginning we can see that’s she’s different. For example: On her first birthday she weighs 15 pounds. She cannot sit up, roll over, or walk…like other one year olds!

But, at this stage of the game, it’s ok.

Fast forward a few years, and Kit is say 3, but really only about 9 mos. So all her other friends are running around, talking, etc…and she’s still not able to stand…

And so it continues…

Her Mom forms a bond with her husband’s brother, and he is in the picture…along with her sister.

They all love baby Kit and vow to protect her…whatever it takes.

The story that follows spans one hundred years! 1916-2016…and what a story it is!!

We follow as Kit goes thru World Wars, The Great Depression, The stock market crash, Hitler, Rock and Roll, the introduction of cars, computers, phones and cell phones… I mean…this was just mind blowing!! 🤯

And although she remains looking very young, she has the wherewithal of someone of a certain age…

And love. Well, love has to be off the table…

This was a very original and breathtaking book. Made me stop and think on so many levels!
And, my heart broke for her over and over again. But also for her Mom…and her Aunt…and her Dad.

Loved this one and its originality!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book has already been released, so look for it on shelves now!

#TheLeapYearGeneOfKitMcKinley by #ShelleyWood and narrated nicely by #RachelBotchan.

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I don't know if it was being in the wrong mood for this kind of book, I don't know if it was just disliking the narrator of the audiobook quite a bit, but it just seemed like a monotonous excuse to drag a character through the 20th century and talk about things that happened. I read the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I didn't feel the need to read it again. I'm grateful for the advance copy from Netgalley but it definitely was not anything I'm going to remember when I go back over this year's reading.

I loved this: not only a great story but also presented in juxtaposition to interesting social and historical issues.

Review copy provided by publisher.