Stacy Juba (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews
Print List Price: $10.99
Kindle Price: $2.99 You Save: $8.00 (73%)
Book Description from amazon.com
Publication Date: September 24, 2011 | Age Level: 12 - 18 | Grade Level: 6 - 12 If you could control minds...would you? A chilling teen supernatural thriller from the bestselling author of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, Sink or Swim and Face-Off. It's hard enough for Dawn hiding that she's psychic from her new classmates and new step-family, but things gets even worse after she learns that E-S-P spells D-A-N-G-E-R. Dawn has been psychic since she was seven years old and has always considered herself an outcast. Even her own mother discourages her talent, so Dawn has kept her abilities quiet and feared a lifetime of loneliness. When she gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious perception, Dawn finally belongs to a group. As her intuition strengthens, so does Dawn's self esteem. However, when she discovers her new friends may be tied to freak "accidents" in their Maine beach town, Dawn has an impossible choice to make - continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her. This blend of suspenseful psychic novel and New England mystery is aimed at young adults and at adults who enjoy supernatural YA. The Audible edition is performed by Cassandra Morris, who has also narrated books in the Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars series.
My Review:
Dawn is a teenager whose mother just got remarried, so guess what? Dawn gets relocated to a new home, with a new brother, new step-father and, the best part, a new high school. If that isn’t stressful enough, Dawn is also psychic. Yep, as in she can tell what team will win with what score. Awesome right? Not to Dawn, mainly because most of her premonitions are about which classmate is next on the reaper’s list. Dawn faces a new challenge: warn those w/ an impending death and obliterate any chance she has in having a normal life OR walk away and live w/ the guilt. Of course Dawn, chooses the former and in doing so she makes new friends. Friends that have a lot more in common w/ her, friends that help Dawn understand her psychic powers. As the story progresses, Dawn learns to control her powers, she becomes stronger and she also learns about her family history. What I liked about this novel: Dawn is your typical teenager (sans the psychic powers), with typical parental problems. This is good because the readers can relate more with the characters situation. Also, the message that the author is portraying, at least the message that I got, is to follow your intuition even when your brain is screaming the opposite. After all, the heart/soul knows more than the brain. Also, that it is better to know the truth because in doing so you will be better prepared to handle whatever comes your way. Parents want to protect their children by hiding the truth from them. This doesn’t always work (like never). We find out, we get mad, go do stupid things, trust those that shouldn’t be trusted. Why? Because the truth is a powerful ally and an even more powerful weapon. Read the book, so you can understand me. :)
What I didn’t like about this book:
The pace is a bit slow for me. It didn’t have enough movement, for lack of a better word. It was building up to the ending of course but it seemed like Dawn just took way, WAY, too long in figuring out what we already knew halfway through the book. There were a lot of unexpected twists, which is what propelled me to continue reading. Oh…Why was the cute, nice, potential-boyfriend murdered? This was not cool. Let Dawn have a love life!
Overall:
It’s a good novel. I am sure that BOOK #2 will be better. I recommend this book for teens, there is no mature content so parents, your kids will not be corrupted. I look forward to reading the next installment. The ending, as in the last page, pretty much sold itself for me.
