Here's a book that is a bit Twilight-Zone-ish. Meet Amanda Beeson, the Queen of Mean at her middle school but she holds a secret. If she sympathizes too much with someone, she may end up in their body. And one morning she wakes up as a Tracey, a girl no one sees...literally. Tracey is gifted too. So for several days Amanda has to walk in Tracey shoes and see what it is like to be her. It was a good quick read.

This was an easy, enjoyable early teen read. Set in a modern day middle school, this book follows a 13 year of Queen of Mean, Amanda, as she accidentally inhabits the body of a nobody girl in her grade, Tracey. Amanda learns that Tracey (and several other kids at her school) have special powers that make them Gifted.

The story itself spends more time developing the inner selves of the characters than any true world building. At the end of the book we don't know anything about why these students have gifts, or who in the adult world might be aware of them. Our "villain" for this book is a student teacher who wants lottery tickets. So, clearly the focus is on watching Amanda discover hard truths avout herself and learn how to see past superficial differences and appreciate the uniqueness of her peers.

I enjoyed the fact that this book about gifted teens wasn't post apocalyptic or dark. It was a nice change from the doom and gloom of other supernatural YA novels. And, bonus, no insta love to be found! The characters felt genuine and multidimensional, which was a nice bonus. Overall, no real complaints. (But I also wasn't blown away or anything)

Well this series is just as intriguing as I remembered. I think as a teen I only read the first few books as I can't remember anything after book three, I'm excited to read them this time though. This book gives you just enough of an insight into the characters to make you want to keep reading. Amanda is an interesting charachter who I feel will get better in later books. This book is well paced and a very easy read.

I am absolutely in love with the concept of this series. Gifted children, people out of the ordinary, diversity, which makes me want to read more. Although I was a bit annoyed by the main character's attitude, I still love the overall story and message. :)

This is Freaky Friday with a Mean Girl/Hidden Talents twist: Amanda, the Queen Bee of the Middle School has a problem. If she empathizes with someone, she can actually become that person. In this case, it's Tracey Devon, who has a small vanishing problem of her own.

Take away the fantasy elements and you've got an interesting story about what it is like to be on the outside, looking in at the Queen Bee, and how they might not always be the way you think they are. Amanda has several realizations during her time as Tracey, including the one about how she's actually a bit of a brat to her parents. Tracey's thoughts really only appear in diary form, but I'm guessing that in future books we'll learn more about her.

As far as the fantasy part goes, it's pretty mild. Each of the students in the gifted program has gifts - mind reading, visions, telekinesis, etc. - and Madame helps them to focus on how to appear normal, or control them. Again, as the series moves on I predict that we'll see the class come together to help each other more (as Jenna does here, with both Tracey and Amanda).

ARC provided by publisher.

Encontré que es un libro interesante, no es que me atrapara desde la primera página, pero sí me he llevado un momento grato de lectura.
En este libro se cuenta la historia de Tracey, ella es ignorada en su casa, por sus padres, sus compañeros, por el chofer del autobús escolar, hasta el punto de ser casi invisible para todo el mundo. En el transcurso del relato vamos conociendo más detalles acerca de la vida de Tracey, a través del punto de vista de Amanda, la que está dentro del cuerpo de Tracey, ya que éste es su don.
En Meadowbrook Middle School hay una clase especial para los chicos con dones, impartida por Madame, ella aprecia mucho a los chicos, que son pocos, que asisten a su clase. Cada uno de ellos tiene un don intrigante, pero que no controlan. Una gran sorpresa le dan a Madame cuando le dicen que una profesora en práctica le ayudará, ella desde luego desconfía y es con razón, ya que la Srta. Serena Hancock tiene intenciones menos profesionales para los chicos, que la de ayudarles a controlar su don.
Es de fácil lectura y muy fácil de tomar el hilo de la historia, no es una lectura obligada, pero tampoco es para no darle una oportunidad.

Ages 10+ (no language or romance, some older kids are caught shoplifting, an adult drinks and parties)

When Queen Bee Amanda feels any sympathy for another person, she ends up in their bodies. Usually just for a few minutes, sometimes for a few hours, but it is NOT something that she wants happening. So she copes by being mean. Especially to people like quiet, bland and drab as dishwater, socially invisible Tracey Devon. Then one day she wakes up in Tracey's body and she can't switch back.

Tracey is part of a class of 'special' kids at their middle school, and Amanda's about to learn exactly what special means: she's in class with psychics, telekinetics, mind-readers and kids who can communicate with the dead. Tracey, her host? She can become invisible. Plus she's got to cope with Tracey's parents, who act like she doesn't exist, and septuplet younger sisters.

Jenna "the vampire" can read people's minds. She lives in a housing project with her mom who drinks too much and keeps up her bad girl reputation by dressing goth and keeping people at arm's length. But her gift means that she knows that Tracey's not the same person she used to be. She's determined to find out what happened.

The two girls strike up an unlikely alliance when a student teacher arrives in the gifted class and begins behaving suspiciously.

Middle school mean girls, special powers, body swapping all add up to a fun, younger version of The Summoning series. More than a few unanswered questions linger at the end of the book. I'd definitely read the two titles that follow.

Very good book! Can't wait to read the next ones! They are really easy to read, but they are really good! I love the idea and plot of this story!