Book review - Mysterious Ways

 

Title: Mysterious Ways

Author: Wendy Wunder

Genre: realistic (?) fiction

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Rating: 

Well done

Summary (provided by publisher): Seventeen-year-old Maya knows everything. When she looks at someone, she instantly knows their history, their private thoughts, their secret desires, their most tragic failures. Combine these private miseries with the general state of the world, and it's easy to see why Maya's power starts to get her down…

Which is why she was sent to the Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, and also why starting at a new school is going to be such a challenge. Now, faced with Tyler, a cute guy she actually wants to know everything about, Maya realizes that maybe her power isn't so horrible after all. Maybe she can use it for good. Maybe she can even get the guy. Or maybe there really is such a thing as knowing too much.

My opinion: There is a sort of emotional distance in this narrative that normally would be a negative but which works surprisingly well in this case. It parallels the overall unreality of the narrative and keeps the tone fairly light. But don't take that to mean that this is a silly story. The light tone keeps it from becoming maudlin but allows it to address serious issues. Through her efforts to save people and the world, Maya explores ideas of responsibility. Reading this once is surprisingly fun. Reading it a second time is more reflective and digs deep into the ideas. A strong novvel well worth your time.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley