A Life Extended: The Leap Year Gene

The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley delivers 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 every four years an average person experiences?

Such is the life of Kit McKinley, who only reaches 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 about 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, Shelley Wood’s novel 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. The novel suffers from some uneven pacing, slowing 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. This book has a unique and fun concept, but lags a bit in execution.

This may be a good selection for those who enjoy speculative fiction, magical realism, and coming-of-age identity stories.