Special Abilites, and Scary Bad Guys

 

The Hidden Gifted Series

By M.L. Roble

Book 1: The Magician’s Doll

Series: The Hidden Gifted (Book 1)

Paperback: 318 pages

Publisher: M.L. Roble (February 1, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0988421313

ISBN-13: 978-0988421318
Approximate Lexile: 8201

 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Twelve-year-old Natalie has a lot to handle this school year, what with the bullies and the sudden development of her rather unusual abilities. But a circus is approaching, a storm is brewing, and with them comes the arrival of Beausoleil the Magician, his daughter, Louisa, his mysterious doll, and Natalie's biggest challenge yet!

The Magician's Doll sparks readers' imaginations with a tale of magical discoveries, profound friendship, a battle against evil, and the growth that comes with facing your fears and accepting who you are.

 Book 2: The Worlds Traveler

Series: The Hidden Gifted (Book 2)

Paperback: 260 pages

Publisher: M.L. Roble (December 1, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0988421348

ISBN-13: 978-0988421349
Apprixomate Lexile: 820

Publisher’s Blurb:

 Life on the run from madman Martin Reimer gets in the way of everything.

For fourteen-year-old Phillip, it has meant having to stay hidden, unable to use his gift of moving through maps to search for his missing father. But the arrival of a stranger named Delroy brings unexpected opportunity, for Delroy is a man with the ability to travel worlds hidden within our own, and he was sent by Phillip's father. Now Phillip will do everything he can to find his dad, even if it means tricking Delroy into helping him, or a quest through those hidden worlds.

Even if leaving home means Martin can now find him.

Follow in the adventures of Phillip Stone and Natalie Bristol in this sequel to the award-winning book The Magician's Doll!

My Thoughts:

There are many series that deal with groups of people who have special abilities that the rest of us lack. This series approaches it in a way I haven’t encountered before. The abilities vary from person to person, and they extend from the standard clairvoyance/telepathy/telekinesis/precognition vein. Some of the abilities Robles gives his characters are fascinating, such as the ability to have whatever you need by simply drawing it and pulling it out of your picture. (Too bad I can’t draw.)

That’s the high point. The low point is that—and maybe this is because I’m an adult reading work that is meant for middle grades—the protagonists, Phillip and Natalie, disregard adult advice, warnings, and even commands time and time again. They have the classic “I am the only one who can make things right” mindset, and their actions frequently put others in danger. Drives. Me. Nuts.

Natalie is the focus of the first book, and she and Phillip both are rocked by many revelations about their lives. This sets them on a path to fighting evil powers.

That path continues in the second book, in which Phillip is the focus.

Secondary characters are interesting; I especially like Delroy. Ullbipt is adorable.

Unfortunately, there are frequent trope incidents, like when Phillip has the chance to destroy a source of power for one of the baddies, but doesn’t, or when there are frequent acts of self-sacrifice for someone else—even though the victim urges that the sacrifice not take place and it does, in fact, make things worse.

Of the two books, I preferred the second one, although the first chapter was completely unnecessary. It did nothing to advance the plot, and what little it revealed about the growth of Phillip’s and Natalie’s talents was easily covered later on. The author acknowledges a friend who told him of the setting, and it seems that it was just something cool that got stuck in there just because.

Speaking of abilities, Natalie is a little too good to be true—she has remarkable powers of her own, AND is able to use and enhance the powers of those nearby. Obviously, it’s going to be all on her to defeat the bad guys, although probably not alone. Of course, that’s going to be complicated, but I won’t spoil it by saying why.

I will definitely read the continuation of this series. I hope that the kids will mature and get enough sense to stop doing stupid things that put them and others into danger and, instead, work with the adults for the benefit of all.

Hey, a parent’s gotta dream, right?

 

Possible Objectionable Material:

Disobedience galore. Kids roaming unaccompanied. “Magical” powers, if you are bothered by such things. Some violence and lots of danger, threatened and acted upon.

 Who Would Like These Books:

People who like fantasy, struggles between good and evil. Focus is equally weighted between boys and girls, although there are more male characters overall. The protagonists are early teens, and that’s a good market for these books.

 

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARCs.