Review: Everyone can be a hero. You will be on the edge of your seat
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 19, 2013
First thoughts: I didn't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting this!Wow, what can I say? This book grabs you at the beginning with the prologue. You are slightly confused and left wanting more.The book is told in third person, which gives you an insight to everyone's thoughts. Normally, I don't like it this way but it really works.  I think I would have been more opinionated and lost without it.I am not sure if I like Ryan or not.The ending is a cliffhanger. Gah! I need it now.Other than a few typos and grammer errors, it flowed well.Our very own Anjana is acknowledged by the author at the end. You have got to check it out if you like nonstop action, xmen, the avengers, marvel comics in general, Susan Quinn's Mindjack Trilogy, The Hunger Games, geeks, hackers, if you hate bullies, good friends, forgiveness, lost families, kindness, small towns, good friends who are enemies, an intense story, a belief that everyone can be a hero.Story: We jump right into the story with only what we are given from the synopsis and the prologue to guide us to figure out what is going on. Normally that would bug me but she makes it easy to jump right into it and try to figure things out along with the characters. You have little to go by and it makes for an intriguing mystery.This story is mostly about Donna. She lost her brother who ran away years ago. Her mother died. Her father has sacrificed everything to find his son. Donna has even spent time with no gas, where the water doesn't work and gets her clothes at goodwill. She has lost a lot of weight and has been the source of bullying about her weight. Even though she lost it, she is still bullied by the head cheerleader. Her clothes are too big for her now. She is a gymnast. Donna is humble and sweet. Her only friends are Spencer and Rebecca. Ryan used to be her best friend growing up until they weren't even talking to each other any more.Donna knows something is wrong with her after a car hits her but doesn't because it goes right through her. She burns up and Spencer and Rebecca witness it and Donna pretty much passes out and Spencer takes her and carries her to the river because she is so hot. She is so hot that she burns Spencer in the process of him carrying her to the river. Spencer and Rebecca freak out about it for different reasons and kind of abandon Donna.Donna feels alone and afraid because she doesn't know what is happening to her. Her father is too busy helping others who seem to have "lost" their child and finding her brother that Donna isn't really able to talk to him about it. So, Donna has to figure out what is happening to her and how to control this thing that makes her translucent and glowing and absorbing and discharging electricity.Ryan's girlfriend is Lynn, the head cheerleader. Ryan does nothing when Lynn humiliates Donna. Ryan runs with Donna everyday but they never talk. On birthday's, they leave a note or a little gift for the other on a bench they run by, but don't run that day with the other. You can tell Ryan cares about her and buys her these running shoes that he saw her try on but couldn't afford. Donna figured it was him who left it at her doorstep. Donna doesn't even know how Ryan feels about her. That's why I am not sure either how I feel about him. He is the son of Mr. Applegate and obvious bad guy (Mr. Applegate that is).Rebecca is a very smart girl, literally. She starts to hang with Paul another very smart kid. In fact he is so smart that he uncovers something very powerful and knows he is in trouble from what he has uncovered.Spencer is in hiding with his attractive mother who gets hit on by Ryan's older brother who has been held back twice in school. We learn more about Spencer through the book.In the end: I don't want to give much more away, but there are others in the small town who also have abilities and when things come to full light. Someone will make the ultimate sacrifice in aiding to uncover the evil that is lurking in this town.Everyone can become a hero. That is what I got out of it. Well a lot more but that was a really powerful message. It keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what will happen next. I can't wait for the next book and look forward to more from this new author!