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An engaging and fast-paced science fiction thriller, Others See Us is the story of a young boy who stumbles upon an amazing power�the ability to read people�s minds. Easily accepted by teenagers perhaps due to the fact that they may at times wish they knew people�s opinions on them, this book offers adventure, suspense, and even romance. Jared is a sixteen year old whose summer vacation is off to an adventurous start. Headed to a family reunion, where he will finally see Annelise, the sweet, beautiful cousin he has been thinking about all year, Jared�s first day at the family compound turns out to be a disaster. He loses control of his bike and falls into a swamp filled with toxic waste. Moments later, he begins to experience signs of psychic powers. He is able to experience some of the feelings of those around him as well as hear the voices of their inner thoughts. He soon learns that few people, even his closest and most beloved relatives mean what they say or say what they mean. Behind their words and actions lies a whole different world of worries, anxieties, and even evil thoughts. The reader will encounter many unexpected twists within the story, which is what makes the book very engaging. It is often difficult to predict what the author will brings us next, yet the plot is easy to follow.
The author does a wonderful job of keeping the readers interested and an even better job at following the rules he has set up for this type of plot. Jared is not able to fully read more than one mind at a time, and when he is reading someone�s mind, his own mind is exposed to being read by others with the same powers. William Sleator creates a different type of setting for each of the mind reader�s brains, for example, his grandmother�s mind has a small, cozy cottage as its setting, while Annelise�s is like a �barren, paved wasteland, like an endless parking lot.� This makes the reader able to follow the plot more easily, understanding which mind the main character is reading the minute the setting is described. From beginning to end, this book is full of suspense and surprises.
Sleator, William. 1993. Others see us. New York: Dutton Children's Books.
ISBN: 0-525-45104-8. |
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