Claire is upset with her father when he creates a new species in his lab that he says will revolutionize the future. He doesn't understand her revulsion at this strange creature and only her pen-pal Maisie seems to really connect with why Claire is so taken a back. After all, this creature isn't anything like Claire herself....
This book reminded me a lot of one I read in the early 80s about a girl who is left on the planet in the care of an android and the android genetically modifies the human girl so she looks like a lizard to adapt to the harsh environment on the planet. When humans do eventually land, the android makes her wear a spacesuit to hide what he has done. The Keeper of the Isis Light it was called and it was fantastic. ( )