In Book One, after an accident, Jade discovers that she has psychic abilities. As a typical teenager, being able to see the future presents all kinds of difficulties. Although the author captures the right tone and voice for this teen novel, the plot is predictable. The Judaic content is contained in one of the main plot points when Jade foils an anti- Semitic classmate’s attempt to bomb the synagogue on Yom Kippur. Jade is aided by her “Baba,” a stock Jewish grandmother, who believes in her psychic power. The love interest is supplied by a handsome East Indian Hindu who is a twelfth grader.
In Book Two, Jade risks losing her best friend because of her strange behavior. She has dreams warning her of attacks on women and of a dark cloud around her friend Susie. She decides to tell her friend the truth about her abilities, and she solves the mystery through her psychic powers and a communication with her dead grandfather. These books are like junk food: The fast pace and dangerous situations will appeal to younger teens, and the experience doesn’t last long, but fans will grab the next installment the minute it comes out. Grades 6 – 8.
