The Samantha Granger Experiment

Gr 6—8—Eighth-grader Samantha Granger is going to a new school, wondering how to get her crush to notice her, and dealing with her parents' separation when an encounter with a glowing "crystal-type thingy" in the woods leaves her screaming and then fused with her cell phone. Sam now has an internal GPS and Internet browser, and her hand is a fully functional phone. She's also able to snap photos and record video with the blink of an eye or wiggle of her nose. Trying to hide these new powers from her parents and classmates is not easy. Things are further complicated when Sam is physically compelled to rescue people whose 911 calls have been mysteriously blocked, and it seems there is a connection between those she helps and recent crimes in town. The literal fusion of technology and teen in this debut novel is interesting, though at times the way Samantha discovers new aspects of her transformation just as she needs them is too convenient. In addition, some gaps in the narrative may lead to confusion about how much time has passed between passages or about events. Though Sam is likable, her character is not fully fleshed out as her feelings about her parents' separation and her relationship with her grandmother are merely touched upon.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL