Duplex: A Micropowers Novel

Duplex is Orson Scott Card's second micropower novel. The novel feels much more fresh than the recent Ender novel he wrote. It appears this is where is where his interest lies now. In this book, a girl has the ability to change her face so that it is exceptionally beautiful. A boy can defend others from attacks. There is also the ability to sense cats, make people yawn and all sorts of other smaller powers.

The plot centers around a boy who has a rough home life. His parents have separated, his little sister gets on his nerves and his social life is lacking. One day a new girl from Slovenia shows up at school. He befriends her and then discovers she lives next door. He struggles figuring out how to manage the social situation. He figures he needs a car, so asks his dad for a job. His dad encourages him to show responsibility first. He starts by taking out the trash and being nice to his sister.

He later discovers that there is a gang from Slovenia that is after his friend and his mother. He also learns that she can put on her "Helen of Troy" face - and that this is part of a curse that her mother put on her. Luckily, through an incident with a bee, he discovers his defense abilities. They meet up with others that have micropowers, and later have many incidents with the Slovene gang.

Dealing with social cues and hormones can be challenge enough as as awkward teenager. Life or death situations are just the icing on the cake. (Though having the external threats may make the "girl things" easier to deal with.)