Review: The Mindshifter
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 3, 2014
Unelmoija: The MindShifter: Elle BocaWhat would you do if you could read someone’s mind and hear their every thought without their knowledge? What would you do if you could separate from your body and be in two places at once? What would you do if you could touch an object and sense where someone has been, a specific location or surrounding?  What would you do if you found out that you were part human and part Weeia and had special abilities that had to remain secret and could not be shared with anyone but another Weeia? What would happen if you accidentally let on who you are or told someone else about your power?Amy and Krissa are best friends and with their friend Lilly decided to celebrate the end of their classes and have some real fun. Lilly seemed to get friendly with a guy that Amy found odd and began to feel might be trouble. When entering the bar something caught Amy’s eye and from then on the plot takes off and the story will send readers on a roller coaster ride on a hunt for a young girl that was kidnapped and might have been sold to slavers. Seeing something that looked like Lilly’s Amy noticed to be her wrap but no Lilly in sight. As Krissa touches it something happens that would surprise them both. An odd feeling and a split second thought or vision as Krissa felt that she was next to both Lilly and this strange guy for a split second. But, where was Lilly and by touching the material or fabric Krissa sensed her presence but where?The guy was nothing special and to Amy looked like a real loser and what they decided to do would send them on a hunt for a young girl that seemed to be caught up with this man, placed in a van and then the two of them find themselves face to face with someone that claimed they botched up their plan to catch this man. Slavers: just who were they and how many girls did they have and how did this relate to Lilly?Human trafficking is the theme of this book but just one theme. Imagine young girls being sold into slavery, bought and paid for and forced to do things that would make you cringe. Often starved, tortured and drugged these young girls are sometimes victims of their own family’s greed, kidnapped or in this case staked out at this bar and taken.Amy has Weeia abilities that allowed her to figure out that Lilly was drugged and taken by the guy in the nightclub. Her plan along with her friend Charlie and Krissa was to find Lilly. But, how? A plan developed and with Krissa’s help they found themselves facing two men in black clothes, with serious weapons and trying to enter a dark building. But, Amy is quick and sharp but the next face she sees would be a shock facing her missing sister, Kat. The circumstances are quite compelling and the reunion short lived when Amy learns what her sister was doing, what she endured and why. But, first the man who took the young girls from the bar faces more than just those who paid him as Kat and her team extract what they want from him and the end result will surprise you. Human traffickers pay a lot of money for these young girls. Holding up the pictures of young girls that were killed, maimed and tortured to this man nothing seem to phase him but the pain she inflicted on him would be nothing compared to what happened to those missing. Afraid for his own life he gave up some information but not all. But, Krissa used her powers and you won’t believe what she found out.This is where the story takes another turn as Kat, Amy’s sister enlightens her into her life, her goal to close down the human trafficking business and find out who is behind it. Introducing her team and one hot guy that both Amy and Krissa would not mind knowing better, both girls become involved in trying to help find Lilly and hopefully bonding as sisters.With the police on the take the author brings to light why this secret group of talented young people with extraordinary abilities decided to take on this dangerous task. As Kat reveals that she can often hear what people are thinking and their thoughts both sisters relating how that feels and how that has helped her in the past. So, how do they prevent humans from knowing about them? What is the punishment if they reveal themselves? Who is the enforcer? Kat reveals that not only can she mind read and has object moving abilities. But, not everyone in her team is happy that Krissa and Amy are there and they explain that everyone time they get close to an address that might lead them to these people they give them the slip. But, a plan comes to light and with Krissa’s ability and Ernie’s brilliant technological skills, an address is found and a plan is formed. Weapons decided but not the conventional and decisions as to who would handle what you have to read what happens when they arrive in the van and Kat and Krissa are told to remain inside but things change. Since their actions and whereabouts are supposed to be a secret I can only reveal that you will have to find out what happens when they rescue on girl by reading Chapters 8 and 9 for yourself. But, the danger was far from over and one member named Melanie did not want the girls in on the next phase as they learned where the warehouse was that these people might have Lilly and the end result is horrifying.  Flashbacks are told as Amy relates and Kat are reminded about the time during which they were a near captive at Douglas Estate and how she learned the art of dreamshifting and why meditation was vital to her abilities. Imagine being able to undo your bindings, think about getting free and getting free using your mind. Imagine being able to unlock a door and go back to your normal state. The rest remains within the pages of Chapter 11 for readers to learn more about Amy, her powers and the plan that would take them to this warehouse, Melanie’s thoughts about why she wanted Amy out of the way and why Kat agreed to allow her to come if she and Krissa remained in the van. But, not all plans go the way they are supposed to go and what happens that causes them to become more involved just might save some lives. Imagine what happens when so many girls are found drugged, bruised and disoriented. Imagine their fear and learn just how both Krissa and Amy are able to work with them, talk them into seeing the doctor and remaining in the shelter for their own safety. Hear their voices and understand why this issue is very important because it is something that is happening right now and not stopped by many government officials that are paid off, don’t care and police that are corrupt.The story is far from over as the family reunites and Kat returns home and someone close to both Amy and her mother appears once more. Meet Duncan and learn about his place in the Weeia’s and join both Amy and Kat as they attend Weeia youth meetings, begin to understand their heritage, meet others just like them but don’t think the danger is over. But, first hear Kat’s voice as she relives her captivity, the betrayal of one young girl and her ability to survive as the author shares Kat’s story in Chapter 15. Duncan is colorful and really interesting as you begin to see his connection to Amy and things in their relationship start to change. But, taking her along with him on Youth For Change Meeting helped her grow along with both Kat and Krissa but something happens when they return home and Amy is taken, the reason revenge and the end result might take her life or worse. Hear the voice of her captor and find out his reasons for taking her and what he hopes to accomplish. Will she get away? Will she be able to use her mindshifting? Will she be able to contact Duncan or Kat to save her? Will these people who are running this business make her one of their slaves?A story quite compelling and issue that is in the news in many countries and often hidden beneath the pages unnoticed. Once again author Elle Boca has penned a novel that brings to light not just human trafficking and the need for laws to protect these young girls and boys from those that take them but loyalty, trust, friendship and an organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor). ([...])These types of crimes do not require smuggling or movement of the victim. Undocumented migrants can be and are vulnerable to being coerced because they are afraid of the authorities allowing these traffickers as you will learn in this novel to use their ability to exploit these populations, nave young girls that go to bars and do not realize that men will drug their drinks thinking they find them pretty and forcing minors into prostitution and slavery. Some governments are working hard to stop this crime taking down escort services and suburban mansions and bars. Let’s hope that someday this crime will be permanently stopped and young girls will be more vigilant when going out to bars, talking to strange men and learn to stay in groups and be more careful. This is one powerful novel.