The Mind's Eye

Gr 7 Up—A paranormal romance set during World War II, The Mind's Eye offers an engaging adventure with a physically challenged female protagonist. Kit Cavendish and her brother have been evacuated from London to a small Welsh village. They are housed with the lively Price family, whose male members have all gone to war. Kit spends most of her time in a wheelchair due to a long-term illness, but she is able to wander the world through telepathy. With the help of the surly village doctor and her steely determination, the teen continues to try to improve her physical condition and also focus her clairvoyant skills. Her desire to walk independently and hone her power become desperate after her first mental encounter with Henri, a Norwegian teen facing Nazi occupation. She must enter Henri's mind to help him navigate his way to safety without being discovered by the other occupants of Ty Gwyn, her home. Kit isn't the only one with a secret. Blod, the Prices's churlish daughter; the doctor; Kit's parents; and even her little brother all have something to hide. Subplots aside, the focus is always the sweet romance between Kit and Henri. Readers will enthusiastically root for the couple to overcome the dangers of war and reunite for a bright future. The horrors of war are authentically presented without gratuitous violence, while the romance between Kit and Henri is innocently portrayed. The gentle realism makes this well-written book perfect to share with teens and tweens.—Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT