David Lubar, True Talents

True Talents

David Lubar

Starscape (Tor), March 2007, $17.95

ISBN: 0765309777

The young teens met at the Edgeview Alternative School, but bonded as hopeless misfits, dealing with the abusive bullying hulk Lester Bloodbath and the shock therapy punishments for alleged misbehavior of Principal Davis. A year has passed since "Trash" learned he has telekinetic powers and his mates found their skills too. Torchie lights fires, Cheater reads minds which enables him to cheat on tests, Lucky finds missing objects, Flinch forecasts the future, and Martin sees souls. Though each relishes a secret power, each also wants to be normal, especially as they go to the American torture camp for dweebs: high school.

Back home Trash wonders if he dreamed of his super friends and his own psychic ability, just like he dreamt of killing a gorilla. He tests his skill by mentally pick pocketing a wallet, though he returns it to the owner; albeit with a reward. He next decides to see what he could do at the nearby Ben Franklin bank, but is caught with a successful telekinetic withdrawal of cash. Major Bowdler and a top secret squad looking into psychic phenomena have captured Trash, and they plan to use his skills for nefarious research purposes, with their subject being an expendable butterfly. His only hope resides with the nerd squad of Edgeview, Torchie, Cheater, Lucky, Flinch, and Martin using their HIDDEN TALENTS as a team, but each first must escape from curfew imposed by adult supervision.

This sequel continues the adventures of the six nerdy psychic teens who became friends at Edgeview, but though they are moving on to high school remain in touch with one another. These six musketeers know the truth of one for all and all for one, so when Trash gets into trouble his five banditos risk their freedom to try to rescue him from an immoral research group looking into psychic phenomena. TRUE TALENTS is a fun tale for middle school children, and those adults who appreciate Potter-mania.