Book review: Minder by Kate Kaynak

Title: Minder

Series: Ganzfield #2

Author: Kate Kaynak

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: May 21, 2012

Source: arc, publisher (BEA)

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams

My Thoughts:

Minder reminded me strongly of X-men. A facility/school of gifted teens? Yeah, totally X-men. Heck! Even the main character felt the same. :) 

The story began right in the middle of the action, which I like. Maddie was almost raped and she unknowingly zapped her harrassers. Days after, a certain Dr. Williamson invited her to join the facility called 'Ganzfield'. Totally X-men, right? Anyway, soon after, we are delved into the story, well I was. Maddie learns more of her ability- a mind reader. Everything was turning good, for the story and for the characters. Then, she discovered a social hierarchy and bullying going on inside the school. She took it upon herself to help resolve this. Oops, before I forget, there's also a boy. A YA novel wouldn't be complete if there weren't any romance in it. In Ganzfield, Maddie met Trevor, and they soon discovered they are soulmates. At first the zap and zips of their electrically-charged feelngs and mind sharing, soul- forming connection was swooning. But later on it became too sappy, even for me. Normally I can tolerate sappy moments in novels, but people, I felt at some point that it was too much! They were too infatuated with each other. I found myself saying 'wait til you encounter a different kind of relationship block', but I'm certain they'll get pass it, but a SPACE is really needed for those two. Anyway, later in the story, finally the main twist came! Some thrilling action there. The ending was good.

Overall, it was a good novel. I probably wouldn't buy the next novel in the series, But I can read it when given an opportunity. It's not that I didn't like it, because I did. And the values presented were actually good too, like no sex yet, and not taking advantage of your abilities and abusing other people. But overall it was good.