Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
This book is not listed as the second to Ablaze, but it absolutely is! Why isn’t it listed as a series?
You could get away with not reading the first because they explain the main points of the first book, but then you really can’t go back and read the first one because this book spoiled it. Would you really want to read it after all the twists were given away? Speaking of twists being given away, if you still need to read Ablaze, don’t read this review!
Aly, Simon, and their parents have been on the run since the last book. After Rachael recovered from Simon’s attack, she went after the family. She burned down their house at one point. While Simon is dealing with loneliness, Aly is obsessed with keeping track of Rachael’s moves. One day at school, Simon peeks into one of his classmates’ minds when he finds something weird. It’s like nothing he has ever seen before. Who is this girl? Is she like him? Like his sister? Is she a friend or foe?
Again, a lot is going on in this short book. I liked how Simon is working through what he is capable of regarding his powers. He has a choice to be evil like Rachael or good. He could use his powers to help people and make money or help from afar in secret. He can cause people pain or help them in little ways. He gives both of these choices a try in the book. I can see how hard it would be always to be good. He can easily control people’s actions, and it’s hard to stop himself sometimes. Could you imagine sitting in traffic and someone trying to cut you off or tailgating you? How easy would it be to make them move away from you? Is someone on their phone in the movie theater? I would make them leave. Is someone chewing loudly? I could make them stop or leave! I see someone with a hard-to-find item in their shopping cart. They will be putting that back so I can snag it! Oh, I would use that power for my good so often! I would make a horrible superhero.
Back to the book! Simon has some decisions to make, but he also has a new friend to help him. This book has some interesting new characters. Will the family get Rachael back? What new adventures await them?
The book does end in a way that leaves an opening for a third book. I would read that book, no question.
Literary Coffee 