Age: 17
Title: The Exceptionals
Author: Erin Cashman
Publisher: Holiday House
Pub Date: 4/1/2012
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The Exceptionals is a fast paced, modern day novel about a school of talented teens who spend their days studying and developing their "specials." Claire's parent's are teachers at the school and after an incident in public school, it is decided that she should attend Cambial Academy under her parents' supervision. After the disappearance of talented students and her parents, Claire leads a band of her friends to rescue them and find the truth behind an old prophecy. Claire is a decisive character, confident in her actions and believable. Her relationship with her parents is like that of any teen, although it would have been nice to see a kinder mother, even if she was strict.
Memorable or Forgettable: Although the characters in this books had exceptional qualities or skills, the author did not give them a name, such as magic. Instead, all the students' were said to have abilities, which made the story believable, but fiction at the same time. Although the book was short, it moved fast and had enough detail in in to maintain the reader's attention. The beginning of the story did not quite make sense, as in it was quickly forgotten. How a book is introduced is always important, and the rest of the story fits together, but the beginning sticks out like a sore thumb.
Cover: The cover of the Exceptionals was all wrong. It contained main elements of the plot, but the title font was too small and didn't fit the story. The colors on the cover appear to blend into each other giving it a murky appearance, There is no focal point with which to draw the reader in. This cover needs a lot of improvement.
Age Range: 12-15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Additional Comments: Although the book was short, it moved fast and had enough detail in in to maintain the reader's attention. The beginning of the story did not quite make sense, as in it was quickly forgotten. How a book is introduced is always important, and the rest of the story fits together, but the beginning sticks out like a sore thumb.
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