Audio format. This is a historical fiction/literary fiction book about Kit McKinley, a person born on Feb 29th of a leap year. Kit does not age at the rate of a "normal" person but rather only seems to grow or slightly age every four years. The books spans her entire life from WWII right up to present day. As the title illudes there is a lot in this book about genetics and eugenics and now Kit's family had to deal with her "condition" and keeping it quiet. While it's not crazy scientific I could see this part of the content might not be for everyone as there is a fair amount of discussions of genetics throughout the book.

What I liked:
-Narration was excellent. I enjoyed the emotion and tone of the narrator.
-I personally loved the scientific element to the story; lots about pharmaceuticals and genetics
-I loved how the story spanned so many decades - from WWII right up to present day
-I enjoyed the theme of love, family and duty throughout the book.
-I enjoyed how this story was told from 4 points of view (in four parts)

Areas for Improvement:
-My only criticism of this book was that it was LONG. Even at 1.75 speed it took me a very long time to get through this. I do feel it dragged on in parts for me (especially early to mid way through) and did seem longer than the 416 pages of the paper book. I think I would have given this book another star if 100 pages were cut out and I don't think that would have affected the story.
- Because the book so many decades and so many characters it was a little challenging to keep track by the end of the names from earlier in the book (but this might be specific to the audio format as I struggle in this area in audio sometimes)

I would recommend this book if you enjoy a long historical fiction that spans over decades AND you have a little interest in science (specifically genetics). I give this a 4/5.

Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books for a copy of this Audiobook in exchange for a review.

I was very intrigued by the premise: a young girl born on leap year but only ages 1 year every 4.

There is so much you can do with that but here it’s barely a factor as the author seems to just want to tell a very slow and very boring historic novel.

I was hoping for something like the Age of Adeline or even Oona Out of Order but all I’ve read at 40% is this young mother and her husband (the brother of her dead husband, gross) and the child who move often because of her condition, which fine, but almost everything discussed is the nazi war or the careers of the parents. To which I say who cares. The book is supppsed to be about Kit.

This is a beautiful story packed with lots of history references, geography, genetics, medicine. It's a lot but it's also beautifully written.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audio.

An intriguing concept that leans towards the scientific side of magical realism: what would life be like if a unique gene meant you aged only one year for each four years an average person experiences? Such is the life of Kit McKinley, who only reaches into her early 20s before watching many generations come and go. "The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley" follows Kit from her birth in 1916 through to her biological 20s in the early 2000s. Worried at public reaction to her glacial aging, Kit's family does their best to keep her unique trait hidden from view — frequently moving countries and swapping out birth certificates to conceal her true age. It isn't until Kit reaches adulthood and can blend into society more seamlessly that she has the breathing room to truly be herself — and discover who that self is.

Thanks to the many years that slip by in this novel, it reads much like historical fiction, with a slice-of-life look at many meaningful historic moments. While I enjoyed the concept overall, this book wasn't quite a home run for me. I struggled with some uneven pacing, getting bogged down in the side story of Nazi eugenics and then again when it came to Kit's slowly developing sexuality. Like her life in general, these sections seemed to drag. I'm rating this a 3.75 rounded up, mostly out of a nod to a unique and fun concept, but lagging a bit in execution. It's hard to put my finger on what felt missing, but there's something there that kept it from fully sweeping me in.

Rachel Botchan did wonderfully as narrator, with a range of voices that helped bring dimension to the characters.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Shelley Wood, and RBMedia for an advance copy for my honest review.

This novel is an interesting thought experiment. What if being born on a leap day (Feb. 29th) meant you only aged at 1/4th the usual speed? Imagine as a parent if after a year of life your child could barely hold up her head, and is just able to sit up on her own after two years (6 months' developmentally to her)? That's the story of Kit McKinley. Her parents have to figure out what to tell people: nosy neighbors, a succession of nannies, and, when she is older, her teachers. They must continually adjust her official birth record. It's also interesting to consider the mind of a person who has spent 20 years on the planet but looks like a 5 year-old, and who takes 4 times as long to get through the tumultuous teen years!
The story of Kit starts around 1916 and develops in intensity in the 1930s as her scientist mother searches for answers in genetic research while sidestepping discussions of eugenics in the U.S., France, and Germany. Later, as Kit comes into her own, she must make decisions about whom she will trust with her secret.
Throughout the novel there were issues with pacing. Some parts of the story drag while in other parts we take huge leaps. Some ideas presented were not fully developed, including aspects of Kit's physiology. I can't say more without spoiling parts of this interesting story. If you are curious about "what-if?" scenarios you will likely enjoy this as a book or audiobook. Since I enjoy speculative stories, I give this a 3.75 and rounded up to 4 stars.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook for review purposes. It is available now to rent, borrow, or buy.

Kit McKinley is a special sort of kid. Born on February 29th, 1916, she's a bit of a rarity. She takes her own time in all kinds of unexpected ways, most notably she ages a year for every four that pass in the world around her.

Her story is told in four parts, first from the perspective of her uncle Ernest, then her mother Lillian, next her sister Helen, and finally, from her own curious and beautiful viewpoint.

This tale spans 100 years, following Kit through numerous countries, learning experiences, new friends, and adversaries who hope to take advantage of her unique nature.

Kit's journey reminds us again and again of the importance of family, friendship, and honesty with those we love. None of us ever really knows how long we have together.

"Kit knows better than anyone: it's not eternal youth we need, but love and the chance to hold on for as long as possible."

I listened to this as an audio book. The story was just incredible, I couldn’t help but absolutely fall in love with all the characters. This book took me on an emotional ride through Kits life. Switching POVS in her family was amazing. The difficult years it travelled through particularly beginning of WW2 taught me about things I didn’t ever know about. Like eugenics, and was written in such a beautiful way although the topics could get horrifying. It’s crazy that it wasn’t completely fictional and those things really had been done by other humans. I was so fascinated on how Kits life would work with her gene and the author did it so well. I feel like looking for someone like Kit in the real world and they’re also just hiding like Kit. It felt so real. I had to listen to the very end as fast as I could cause I had to know what happened in her life and I’m grabbing a physical copy as soon as I can. This is going to be on my favorites of all time and I really recommend it !

I absolutely Loved everything about this story! I at first drawn to the fact our protagonist was born on leap year 1916 which happens to be my Grandmother's birthday. She used to joke "I have only had sixteen birthdays. I look older, because I've had a really hard life." The character in the story is completely opposite. The voice acting was superb, as I was immediately pulled into the story. Outstanding storytelling by author Shelley Wood!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this story was so good! I love the whole premise and it really explores the genetic component. I was not emotionally prepared for the WW2 timeline and how it impacted Kit and her family. The only wish I had for the story would be that it was longer. I really really wanted the story to keep going.

The narration was good; although I really don't like when adults do baby voices in books.

The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood
Narrated by Rachel Botchan

Historical fiction interests me and I often read books in the WWII era. This story centers around Kit, a very unique leap year baby. Her mother, Lillian, had an unbelievably long pregnancy which she, and the few who know of her condition, attribute to the stress of learning her husband had been killed in the war. At some point her brother in law, Ernest, is notified of this pregnancy and he rushes to Lillian's aid, to give her support as he thinks she must be near her due date. Now one more person knows of this unusual pregnancy and Ernest becomes one of Kit's staunchest protectors during the time that he's in Kit's life.

When Kit is born she is born on Leap Year Day of 1916. For anyone but the rarest of the rare, being born on a Leap Year Day means nothing other than a quirk on the calendar. But for Kit, and anyone like her if there are others like her, she actually ages at the rate of her calendar birthday. At first glance that might seem like a bonus in life but I soon knew I'd never opt for this special "gift" if I had a choice. The problems that come with a baby, child, adult aging four times slower than every other person are myriad and it soon becomes obvious that Lillian and Earnest must go to great lengths to keep Kit's secret.

Lillian works in the world of scientists and she knows just how important Kit's situation is to the science world if they could get their hands on her. Drug companies, scientists, doctors, researchers, and journalists would all love a piece of Kit if they find out about her. Could she hold the answer to anti aging? What makes her different? How did this really happen?

Imagine having a child that doesn't finish puberty until she's more than sixty years old in normal time. How does a parent raise a child that is a child longer than they will probably be around to raise that child? The only way Lillian and Earnest can keep Kit from attracting notice is to move constantly, severing ties and friendships over and over, and they continually raise suspicions, continually worry about the present and the future of their dear little girl.

What does a person like Kit do as she realizes just what her situation means? She's going to lose everyone, whole generations of everyone, over and over. The situation is mind boggling and the story doesn't have a real end which I think is a wise way to handle the telling of this story. We are presented with this life times four and there are so many questions that aren't answered. We are left with much to ponder, the story and science have a way to go to figure Kit out and in our present day that seems so realistic and fitting for Kit's journey. Rachel Botchan handled the narration very well, as she has with books I've heard in the past. She has a huge cast of characters to handle and did a fine job.

Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

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.