Cameron reads minds, and she always has, something she has learned to hide as it tends to freak people out. In addition, she and her grandmother have spent years running and hiding from a vague threat. So, when we first meet her she is a people pleaser, trying to fit in and get people to like her, eager to have a normal life.
Normal life? Not super interesting. A murder takes place. A mysterious, handsome new boy appears in school, one that makes Cameron get all tingly, and one who seems to be able to read her mind, while hiding his own thoughts.
Whaaaaat?
Naturally, chemistry ensues, and soon Cameron is swept off to a special academy for mind readers, where she is promised she will learn to use her powers, and also be accepted for herself, with no need to hide.
As the book progresses, one of the themes that emerges is freedom. Everyone wants to control Cameron. First, her grandmother, then the leader of her school. More and more, she finds that people want to use her, while few seem to really care about her beyond what they can get from her.
A fast-paced read, the book teases mercilessly as Cameron constantly asks questions and rarely gets answers. Cameron is a admirable but flawed character, who often sabotages herself as she alternately depends too much on others and then rejects them when they fail to live up to her expectations, only to sometimes swing right back to them. How many of us do the same thing, right?
It’s a fun, frustrating read, and one that leads to many more books with twists and surprises, so if you love series, check these books out!