Jason Lethcoe, Amazing Adventures from Zoom’s Academy

Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy

Jason Lethcoe

Ballantine, Nov 2005, $12.95, 146 pp.

ISBN 0345483553

Summer Jones feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and she has no special talent. Her father Jasper is a nerd like her, who invents things that don't work. One day while playing in a soccer game, Summer does something that makes Jasper feel that she is very special, and to prove his assertion he places a ring on her finger. It emits a blue glow which means she has a superpower.

Jasper takes her by rocket to Zoom's Academy, where she is tested to find out what powers she may have. She flunks all of the tests, but the faculty allows her to stay on at the academy in the hopes her power will manifest itself. The school's enemies, the students from the Graves Academy for the Villainous Arts, attack the academy, and Summer is the only one who can assure the heroes a victory, but first she must believe in herself and her power.

This tale will appeal to the Harry Potter crowd. Readers will empathize and sympathize with Summer, because almost everyone at one time or another feels like the odd person out; Summer feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and she doesn't have what it takes to be a hero. Although aimed at the young teen crowd, adults will enjoy this bold tale, and will want to see the movie version of Zoom's Academy coming out soon.