THE GIVEN

In this YA dystopian series starter, superpowered teenagers dodge government operatives as they try to locate a fabled safe haven.

Eighteen-year-old Jay and her empathetic younger brother, Sammy,have grown up listening to their father tell stories of Interland, a place where people with powers, known as the Given, can be safe from those that hunt them. Jay has known for a long time that that she has a talent for mind reading, but when a special mark appears on her wrist—a rite of passage for those with special abilities—it reveals her remarkably high power level. People who don’t have powers, however, fear the Given for what they can do and what they might become. After herfather is captured by government-employed superpowered types known as Readers, Jay knows that she’ll be next if she doesn’t go on the run. The problem is that Readers have the ability to locate the Given, wherever they go—except Interland. Using an oddly notated map given to her by a local bookshop owner, and clues in their father’s notebook, Jay and Sammy, along with their friends Stitch and Cassie, manage to escape a powerful Reader and go on a quest to find Interland. Clark presents the first of two novels about teens who are simply trying to find a place to be themselves and be safe from harm. Some people may have a hard time acclimating to this fictional world at first, as some of the fantasy elements, including the history of Readers, aren’t explained in great detail, and the narrative point of view switches frequently among the various characters. Still, the story is fairly streamlined, and it will reward those who persevere. The main players—specifically Jay, Sammy, and Stitch—feel genuine and are easy to root for. Some others, though, feel more like plot conveniences, such as Jay and Sammy’s mother and the aforementioned bookshop owner. Overall, this is an engaging adventure tale that will leave readers looking forward to the second and final installment.

A solid fantasy for teens with an appealing cast.