Calculated

by Nova McBee

  A Look At: Simulated (Calculated Book 2)

  From Young-Adult author Nova McBee comes the second book in the gritty, action-filled Calculated series.

  Jo Rivers, safely back in Seattle, asks the same question daily – how does a math genius go from taking down international criminals and saving the world economy to living a normal teenage life? The only answer she can come up with is—she doesn’t.

  With an overprotective father on her back and Kai on the other side of the world, Jo accepts an offer from Prodigy Stealth Solutions (PSS), who may have found a way to get her gift back. Using a newly developed technology, PSS tries a simulation process on Jo to restore her abilities, but during the attempt, PSS is hacked and a blacklist file containing some of PSS’s most sensitive secrets is stolen. Meanwhile, a mysterious caller who seems to know more than he should delivers a warning to Jo about Kai, who then goes missing.

  Despite her father’s concerns, Jo sets off on a risky trip to Tunisia with a PSS team of teen prodigies to find an urgently needed solution for PSS and locate Kai. All the while, Jo has to trust the mysterious informant who, frighteningly, is like no one she has ever met before.

  “Simulated  has  all  the Mission Impossible action you could hope for, paired with a love triangle that rivals the intensity of Twilight's. Be prepared to choose  sides and  hold on tight. You're in for one wild ride." — Chelsea  Bobulski, author of  The Wood  and  Remember Me.

  AVAILABLE NOW

  Join the Wise Wolf Books Mailing List

  It’s no secret that you love books as much as we do. If you join now you’ll stay up to date on our newest releases, news and sales.

  Thank you for taking the time to read Calculated. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author's best friend and much appreciated.

  Thank you.

  Nova McBee

  Calculated Discussion Questions

  What names were given to Josephine throughout the book? What was the significance of each one?

  What does the ocean represent to Jo? What important moments in the book take place on a beach?

  Jo speaks multiple languages and changes her appearance frequently throughout the book. How does this reflect what is going on inside of her? Consider what Red tells her: "Destiny is not what you do. Destiny is who you are. Everything flows from who you are, then folds into everything you do."

  Red tells Josephine, "Orphans dream of vindication. Sons and daughters dream of destiny." How do the changes Jo experiences throughout the novel reflect this?

  How does Jo's gift with numbers shape the course of her life? What causes her to lose her gift? What will it mean for Jo to no longer have it?

  Madame is a villain but also has a tragic past. What do Jo and Madame have in common, and how are their paths different? How does knowing Madame’s past shape Jo’s feelings toward her?

  Acknowledgments

  Publishing your first book is a big deal and if I were to thank every person who impacted Calculated, this section would be impossibly long…but here’s my best shot.

  First, I’d like to thank my agent, Amy Jameson, who didn’t just sign me for my books, but believes in me as an author and person. Thank you for all the hard work behind the scenes, taking my calls and letting me process with you, and going ALL IN whenever I needed you. You’re amazing.

  Second, many, many thanks to Wise Wolf Books and the Wolfpack team—Rachel Del Grosso, my publisher, Mike Bray and Paul Bishop, Lauren Bridges, and my cover designer, Cherie Chapman. This team is a force to be reckoned with—your confidence, enthusiasm, hard work, and innovation is inspiring and has pushed me to the next level. Thank you for taking a risk on me and my books, for believing in the Calculated series–and championing it as your lead title for the imprint. I’m honored and blessed.

  Thanks to the Chengdu Crew. This book would not have been written without your encouragement and support. Katie Wong, my first writing partner in Chengdu, thank you for spending hours brainstorming things like how many gold cities we could find on the world map, lol. Garrett Jones, you spoke life to this book and my writing dream every time I saw you for years—your encouragement was priceless. Thanks to Sarah Zhang, Erin Humphrey, and Rebecca Woo-Krauss who read and edited, sometimes the whole book in a day because I needed feedback asap, then read it again—I’m overwhelmed by your devotion and kindness. To all of my favorite Ladies in Chengdu & around the world—you know who you are. You never stopped believing in this moment. This is a team victory. To the Bowens—you supported me in countless ways and loved on my kids so I could finish this book.

  Bethany Zhu, I never forgot that day you told me I should write a book about China—we never thought it would be fiction. Surprise! Your words meant more than you can imagine. Shuai Huan Huan, Annette Hu, Giulia Zhu, and Jacob Chen, Vivian Wen, Lisa Zeng, Aygul, Guzal J. and Zorigul Y. —my best Chinese friends who loved me, and took me into their homes, lives, and hearts forever. You changed my life by giving me your friendship. This book wouldn’t have been written without you.

  To my countless Chinese friends and students. I can’t possibly name you all. You taught me about your language and culture, taught me poems, how to cook chuan cai, and took me places that I could have never found on my own. You gave me the riches of China, along with friendship and belonging.

  Thank you to Master Li Quan—your dedication and passion for training the next generation in the true art of traditional Kung Fu is inspiring.

  Thank you to my Chinese reader & writer friends— Jenny Xu, Dan Ge, Annette Hu. Your insight was invaluable.

  Thank you to my PitchWars community—you changed my writing life. To Pintip Dunn, who chose this book, nurtured it, and gave it a chance to succeed in the world. To my 2016 Pitchwars clan who encouraged me for years, and to those of you who read Calculated, critiqued & endorsed it —Tara Creel, Amaris Glass, Rachel Griffin, Ernie Chiara, Adalyn Grace. Special thanks to Brenda Drake—I’ve been so blessed by your support.

  Thanks to Ellen McGinty and Lorie Langdon—your support, wisdom, laughter, encouragement, and feedback are gold. I adore you both.

  Thanks to the KidLitNet community— Elizabeth Van Tassel, Kara Swanson, Chelsea Bobulski, Shannon Dittemore, Mary Weber—you’ve been a great support during Calculated’s launch.

  Thanks to the Spinning Pen gang, my dear friends and early readers—Kim Vandel, Kathleen Freeman, Jenni Claar, Rebecca Henry, Jessica Jade, Doris Fleming, Michelle Tsang, and Hilary Bowen-Magnuson. Thank you for loving this book! To Dana Brown, Candace Mieding, Abigial O’Bryan, Katie Wong, Caleb Robinson, thank you for pursuing this writing dream with me. (Now I’m waiting for your books.)

  Big thanks to everyone on my Street Team for the Calculated launch! You are the best!

  Thank you to the Cyborons, Lundquists, our Calvary community in Kenai, and the entire Westgate family—you’ve been SO supportive as this book was birthed. Thanks to the Decker family, who let us live in their guesthouse where Calculated was conceived and outlined!

  Thanks to the London-Pakistan Crew, Uncle Zafer, Saira Peter and Stephen Smith, who spoke confidence to my writing dream. To James and Dolly, your faith and generosity inspire others to achieve the impossible.

  Thanks to my wonderful in-laws, Diane and Terry, (and the whole McBee clan.) You go above and beyond for your kids and their dreams, even flying to multiple countries!

  A huge thanks to my parents, Richard and Hellen, you gave your kids every chance to explore, create, or make a mess—no matter what we did, you always believed in us. Dad, you were the first reader, storyteller, and writer in my life—you gave me the gift of creativity and showed me how to work hard. Mom, you taught me not to fear and if I had a dream to pursue it. Thanks to my big brother, Isaac, for always dreaming big with me. To my sister Olivia & brother in law, Ishmael—true team players—you fought for this book as if it was yours and your support was deeply heart felt. To my sister, L
eanne, an amazing creative force running at my side, thanks for always believing in me.

  Thanks to my three little wild things—for loving my stories, for patience as I wrote, and for believing in this moment before it happened.

  Biggest thanks to Ira, my husband and best friend. You read Calculated a hundred times because I asked you to, you listened to every new plot twist and idea, gave amazing feedback, but most of all you gave me your unfailing love and support. You never doubted this book and when I did, you got me back on track and did everything possible for me to get it done. The backbone of this book belongs to you.

  And to the one who inspires my greatest adventures and wildest dreams, the one who gives me the strength, creativity, and faith to do them. Jesus, you are my infinity.

  About the Author

  Nova McBee is a hopeless nomad and culture nerd who has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She speaks multiple languages, including Mandarin, and lived in China for more than a decade writing books and teaching English and Creative Writing to teens and adults. She thrives on complex plots, adventure, making cross-cultural connections and coffee. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children.