The Twelve-Fingered Boy

Gr 8–10—Though basically a good kid, 15-year-old Shreve Cannon is serving two years in an Arkansas juvenile detention center for stealing. His survival strategies of dealing candy and being sarcastic add humor to this suspenseful novel. When 13-year-old Jack Graves becomes his new roommate, Shreve concludes that Jack is different for more than just his additional fingers. It is revealed during an interview with the mysterious Mr. Quincrux that when Jack gets scared or angry, he is able to send out a violent wave of energy. After a particularly brutal incident, the teens decide to break out of the center. Shreve discovers that he has acquired the ability to manipulate others' minds, a skill that comes in handy for survival on the road as he and Jack try to evade Quincrux and his creepy "watchers." They must also commit minor offenses, which forces them to question the ambiguity often associated with morality (Is it okay to invade someone's mind if it means it will save someone else's life?). Shreve is an admirable, wise protagonist. He recognizes that pain is simply a part of life, and that despite his rough upbringing, he will survive. Fans of Alexander Gordon Smith's "Escape from Furnace" series (Farrar) will enjoy the fast-paced paranormal twists this novel offers, and the ending will leave them wanting more.—Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO