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A review by onceuponacarm
The Ability by M.M. Vaughan
4.0
12 year olds possess the Ability to control the world with their minds. This includes learning at an incredible rate, telekinesis, telepathy, and mind control. Pretty exciting idea for readers who are approaching or are at the age of twelve. Chris, a poor student who cares for his severely depressed mother, is on the verge of being kicked out of school when he is select my for an elite program because his Ability is particularly strong. With his 5 classmates, he learns to strengthen and control his ability in order to protect the prime minister and others around him from a woman bent on revenge.
I found the prologue quite confusing and think it would have been better to include that part of the story a few chapters in when the character Dulcia shares her history with her sons. And Chris's mom is pretty awful, though not unrealistic as others have argued--just perhaps a bit much for many young readers to understand. This is a book that won't appeal to all kids, but my students (strong readers at a gifted school between the ages of 8 and 11) loved this book and just awarded it our annual Newbery-inspired medal. Upon a rereading, I don't know if the quality of the writing would really warrant an award or if the story is unique enough, but it is certainly appealing to kids.
I found the prologue quite confusing and think it would have been better to include that part of the story a few chapters in when the character Dulcia shares her history with her sons. And Chris's mom is pretty awful, though not unrealistic as others have argued--just perhaps a bit much for many young readers to understand. This is a book that won't appeal to all kids, but my students (strong readers at a gifted school between the ages of 8 and 11) loved this book and just awarded it our annual Newbery-inspired medal. Upon a rereading, I don't know if the quality of the writing would really warrant an award or if the story is unique enough, but it is certainly appealing to kids.