Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliant, thrilling story of kids training in mind control.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
A mysterious secret operation involving telepathic kids goes badly awry, with one boy killed and a girl deserted by her companions and kidnapped by evil people. Thirty years later, in present-day London, 12-year-old Christopher Lane has been lying, stealing, and doing anything else he can to keep his family going, because his mother has been in a state of mental collapse since his soldier father was killed seven years earlier. His bleak life takes an unexpected turn when he's given an unusual test and suddenly whisked from his awful school to a top-secret government program where he and other kids with THE ABILITY get intensive mind-control training. Meanwhile, not far away, twin boys are getting the same training from their scary mom. How these plots converge, and what they reveal about the characters, make for a thrilling, touching, and thought-provoking read, whose ending leaves plenty of room for sequels.
Is It Any Good?
This is a brilliantly crafted tale. First-time author Monica Meira Vaughan, born to South American parents living in Spain who moved to London when she was 5, taught herself English by watching Sesame Street and reading lots of Roald Dahl. This foundation is evident here, from the quality of the writing to the twistiness of the plot and the complexity of the real-life issues the characters are dealing with (not to mention one kid who comes from Spain and speaks fractured English). There are strong themes of responsibility, loyalty, and friendship, and complex ethical questions. Iacopo Bruno's Gothic-tinged illustrations add to the intrigue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why books about mind control are so popular. What others do you know?
Do you know kids like Chris who are dealing with dysfunctional parents? How do they cope?
Do you think Mortimer and Ernest's mom is justified in pursuing her horrible revenge? What would you do if you were in her place and had been through what she'd been through?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Iacopo Bruno
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry
- Publication date : April 23, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate