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Book Review One

Title: True Talents, by David Lubar

Brief description: This is a book about six teenagers with "hidden talents". The main character is Eddie Thalmeyer, also known as Trash. Most of the chapters are written in the perspective of Trash. Trash has the talents to move things with his mind (telekinesis) ; Torchie is a fire-starter; Cheater is able to read others' minds; Flinch can predict the future; Martin can see into people's souls; Lastly, Lucky can find objects. A year agp, they met at Edgeview Alternative School, as they were "different" from the others and caused alot of problems in public schools. Before they parted ways for their summer holiday, they made a blood oath to never let out the secret as Flinch said that there are nasty people in the outside world who would endanger their lives should they know about their "hidden talent".

Summary: When Trash tests his power in a bank and accidentally steals a fistful of cash, he is kidnapped by the ruthless leader, Bowdler, of a shadowy company. The boook begins with Trash waking up in the lab room, and then he escapes from it, with the help from Thurson. Thurson will appear again later in the book. Then the writer continues to write another few chapters on the lifes of the other five teenagers. E.g. Flinch went on to become a comedian as he knows how to rebutt what others have to say about his performance; Cheater ended in the hospital after being beaten up in a match of poker; Lucky went crazy as there were too many lost objects around him; Torchie went to an accordion(music instrument) camp as he really has a talent for music. The funny and amazing thing is that they all ended in Philadephia from another state unknowingly.

Most of the book is about Bowdler chasing after Trash, as he wants to make him into a weapon that can be sold to the government. Bowdler was once an army major during the cold war and Thurson was his assistant. After the cold war ended, they set up a private company together to research on telekinesis. However, Thurson found it too cruel and helped Trash escape by feeding him with plain water instead of drugs, which would weaken Trash. In the end, Lucky,whon was left alone in the hospital was kidnapped by Bowdler as a last resort to obtain Trash. However, Bowdler could not outwit them as the teenagers worked together and that was their "true talent". P.s. Turns out to be that Thurson also has a "hidden talent" and that was to heal.

My thoughts: I think this book is kind of interesting. But the writer begins the story from a weird scene and i didnt get to read the first book "Hidden Talent", so I was abit lost in the beginning. However, as I continue to read on, it became more and more interesting with the plots and I am always curious what the teenagers could do with their powers.

Zhiye