Chasing Power

by Sarah Beth Durst

Sixteen-year-old Kayla was born with the ability to move things with her mind-things like credit cards and buttons on cash registers-and she has become a master shoplifter. She steals to build up enough money for her and her mom to be able to flee if her dad finds them again . . . which would mean grave danger for them both.

When she's caught stealing by a boy named Daniel-a boy with the ability to teleport-he needs her help and is willing to blackmail her to get it. Together, they embark on a quest to find and steal an ancient incantation, written on three indestructible stones and hidden millennia ago, all to rescue Daniel's kidnapped mother. But Kayla has no idea that this rescue mission will lead back to her own family-and to betrayals that she may not be able to forgive . . . or survive.

• ISBN10: 0802737560
• ISBN13: 9780802737564
• Publish Date: 14 October 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
• Imprint: Bloomsbury Childrens Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: http://bloomsbury.com/

Reviews

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Chasing Power was so much fun! I had no idea what to expect going into it other than something fantastically unique like the author's other books. Well, this one is like superhumans meet Indiana Jones meets dysfunctional family of your choice. It's great! Kayla and her mother have moved around a lot, but have finally settled into new lives in Santa Barbara, hoping that her crazed father never finds them. In addition to new names, Kayla's mother forbids her from using her telekinesis for fear of attracting attention which can get back to her father. Of course, Kayla does use her ability. A lot. Mostly she steals cash and jewelry, so that she and her mother have a safety net in case they have to flee again. Then a boy witnesses what she can do and blackmails her into helping him track down his kidnapped mother. The only clue she left him was the find the thief and the queen. Well, Kayla is the thief, and now she's dragged into something that turns out to be much bigger than a missing mom.

Once the plot gets going, Chasing Power takes on this dangerous, adventurer vibe which I really enjoyed! Daniel can teleport, so as they find clues to the location of these magic stones that he needs to find his mother, he "jumps" himself and Kayla all over the world. The majority of their travels revolve around South America since that's where the clues lead them. It does get a bit cheesy at times, but I didn't mind. I was enjoying the ride, and I adored this combination of tomb raiding and Sci-Fi powers. Of course, there are some twists along the way. Mostly in regards to Kayla's family. They really have some issues to work out!

Chasing Power is full of surprises, so I don't want to give anything away. It's entertaining from the very beginning and remains that way almost until the end. I say almost, because the ending does drag a bit. Daniel and Kayla save the day, everyone is reunited, but it keeps going. I suppose I appreciate the author tying up some of the other minor loose ends, but it took a bit too long. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and adventurous twist on special powers!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[A Darker Shade of Rosie]

✨ A Darker Shade of Rosie + Twitter ✨

Thank you NetGalley for lending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!

→ LIKED: Chasing Power was a fantastic story about a girl with telekinesis and a boy with teleportation, and a lot of deception! Durst did a very good job about keeping me guessing on who the bad guy was in this story. • This book also has a lot of Mayan history, which the author shapes to make her story work (very cool). • Kayla and Serena's dialogue was witty and wonderful!

"Queen of England. Queen of Hearts. Drag queens. Queen in a deck of cards. Queen, the band that sings 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' She doesn't want you to talk to Freddie Mercury, does she? Because he's dead, and that could be tricky without a séance. Hey, do séances work? I mean, if you can do"—she made her sign for telekinesis—"then why can't dead people talk?"

→ DISLIKED: My one issue with the book was the way Kayla and Daniel "fell" for each other. The kissing scenes felt awkward and I just wish it would've happened more slowly, especially since Daniel technically kidnapped her to make her help him.