The Ability

Brief Description: While Chris and five other twelve-year-olds learn to make the most of their mental abilities in a secret, government-run school last used in 1977, twins Ernest and Mort are studying under someone with much more sinister motives. Review Quotes: "Readers will enjoy the candy-shop wish fulfillment in this fast-paced, superhero-tinged spy novel. With its comics-style origin stories and vows of revenge, this first book in a planned series has an intriguing concept that could hit a middle-grade sweet spot."Review Quotes: "Mystery intertwined with fantasy, and chapters arranged by date, give urgency to the fantasy-mystery-action hybrid."Marc Notes: Copyright date 2013.; Includes an excerpt from Mindscape.; While Chris and five other twelve-year-olds learn to make the most of their mental abilities in a secret, government-run school last used in 1977, twins Ernest and Mort are studying under someone with much more sinister motives.; 8; Ages 8-12. Publisher Marketing: Delve into the extraordinary abilities of the twelve-year-old mind in this "fast-paced, superhero-tinged spy novel" ("Publishers Weekly"), the thrilling start to a middle grade series that expands the possibilities of power. No one has any confidence in twelve-year-old Christopher Lane. His teachers discount him as a liar and a thief, and his mom doesn't have the energy to deal with him. But a mysterious visit from the Ministry of Education indicates that Chris might have some potential after all: He is invited to attend the prestigious Myers Holt Academy. When Christopher begins at his new school, he is astounded at what he can do. It seems that age twelve is a special time for the human brain, which is capable of remarkable feats--as also evidenced by Chris's peers Ernest and Mortimer Genver, who, at the direction of their vengeful and manipulative mother, are testing the boundaries of the human mind. But all this experimentation has consequences, and Chris soon finds himself forced to face them--or his new life will be over before it can begin."" Review Citations:

Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2013 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 03/04/2013 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Booklist 04/15/2013 pg. 59 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2013 pg. 440 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 05/01/2013 pg. 130 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Kirkus Reviews 01/01/0001 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2013 pg. 96 (EAN 9781442452008, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2013 (EAN 9781442452022, Open Ebook)

Contributor Bio:  Vaughan, M M M. M. Vaughan (also known as Monica Meira) lives in the UK. She loves to write, to listen to Janis Joplin, and to embark on adventures of any kind. She is the author of "The Ability", "Mindscape", and "Six".