Deficient
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 refugeishis best friend, Yalamba, an outspoken artist whose drawings come tolife. But when Yalamba vanishes in an ability-relatedhate 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 2025 YADudeBooks Reviewers’ Choice Award Winner
A 2024 PEN/Hemingway Award Nominee
A 2024 Stonewall Award Nominee
A 2024 Pushcart Prize Award Nominee
Critical Praise for Deficient
“Solis offers YA readers an intricate world of magic, mayhem, and self-discovery in this striking debut.”
—BookLife Review
“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
“A clever premise skillfully executed. Solis creates a vivid, fantastical world populated by fully-drawn, relatable characters, and a compelling storyline that never flags. Deficient is a thoroughly entertaining read and an impressive first novel.”
—Ross LaManna, Screenwriter (Rush Hour)
"A fast-paced fusion of science fiction, film noir, and timeless teenage drama, Deficient immerses you into the rare type of journey that is as inventive as it is compassionate. Readers of every age will enjoy tagging along with young Alé and his loyal band of unlikely heroes."
—Lovell Holder, author of USA Today bestseller The Book of Luke
“Solis deftly explores themes of identity, friendship,and societal norms, all while maintaininga sense of humor and suspense.”
—YAdudebooks
“…a superb debut novel filled with humor, suspense, action, mystery, and many surprises.”
—Queer Sci-Fi
“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
“A powerful story of discrimination and friendship, in a dystopian caste system that's as frighteningly close to home as The Hunger Games, plus the vibes of the super-powered fun and complexities of X-men.”
—Ben Franscisco, author of Val Vega: Secret Ambassador of Earth
“This is a story about what it really costs to belong, who gets to decide your worth, and what happens when you stop letting them. Fierce, funny, and full of heart.”
—Andre L. Bradley, author of Trailer Park Prince
“A creative twist on the superhero genre with a riveting mystery and an insightful examination of the ways that capitalist society is intolerant of ambiguity and divergence from the norm.”
—Alex Kingsley, Author of Empress of Dust