Darwin's Children — Greg Bear

Eleven years have passed since the human race suddenly underwent a leap in evolution and a generation of genetically enhanced humans was born. The product of an ancient retrovirus that altered their DNA, the "virus babies" have reached adolescence in a world that grows increasingly wary of their existence. For these special children not only display extraordinary communication abilities, but may also harbor a host of viruses that could exterminate the "old" human race.

Once at the forefront of viral research, scientists Kaye Lang and Mitch Rafelson now live as virtual exiles with their daughter, Stella--a bright, inquisitive virus child. But the government agencies fanatically devoted to segregating the new-breed children monitor their every move--waiting to strike the next blow in their escalating war to preserve "humankind" at any cost.