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Farsighted Reviewed By Fran Lewis of Bookpleasures.com
- By Fran Lewis
- Published July 13, 2012
- Childrens & Young Adults
Fran Lewis
Reviewer Fran Lewis:
Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing
Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and
a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently. She is a member of
Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's
Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition,
she is the author of three children's books and a fourth Alzheimer’s
book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey: Ruth’s story
in honor of her mom. Fran
hopes to create more awareness for a cure of Alzheimer.
She
was also the musical director for shows in her school and ran the
school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and
for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com
and on ijustfinished under
the name Gabina.
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View all articles by Fran Lewis
Follow Here To Purchase Farsighted
Author: Emlyn Chand
ISBN: 978-0983930822
Publisher: Blue Crown Press.
Being
born blind was not up to Alex Kosmitoras but a factor of his birth.
Just wanting to live his life, go to school and stay under the radar
he learns early on the many abuses kids take at the hands of others.
Bullied at school by someone named Brady, a father that seems to
resent him being alive and treats him like a stranger except when his
mother is around, he finds himself stifled, unhappy, with no friends
and living in a home where they are struggling just to make ends
meet. Using his five senses to communicate and see the world
heightening his awareness of what is around him. Alex is gifted and
has the power of what many call second sight. Starting his sophomore
year in high school proves to be no different than the previous ones.
His books need to be specially ordered and some have not arrived
placing him in the background and hoping to just sit in class
unnoticed ignoring his teachers.
But, something happens that first
day. A new student named Simmi arrives and then things begin to
change for Alex. High school proves to be more than just a challenge
for Alex as the school bully seems to have taken a special interest
in him but with the help of his next door neighbor the psychic things
might take a different if not unusual turn.
Alex
learns more about his powers when a vision flashes into his mind and
he sees Simmi in danger from a man named Dax. The vision is so real
and he becomes more than just fearful for her life that he returns to
Ms. Teak to understand his gift. As she defines his gift, explains
Simmi’s gift as clairsentient or psychic feeler he learns more
about her daughter Shapri and her gift too. Throughout the novel the
author incorporates information related to many different types of
psychic powers, how they inter relate in order to help Alex deal with
his fears, overcome obstacles and finally use his powers of remote
viewing.
Alex is what some call a psychometrist, someone with second
sight. But, incidents happen that trigger his visions, his father
becomes involved with Ms. Teak and leaves his mother as Alex once
again alienates himself from his friends and withdraws into himself.
Using the rune stones that Miss. Teak gave him and with Simmi’s
help Alex hopes to learn how to use his gift to identify objects and
hopefully save Simmi from the vision that foretells her death. Told
in the first person in Alex’s voice the author allows readers to
experience first hand his frustrations, how he handles many difficult
situations including fighting back when pushed to the limit. As the
narrator of the story Alex is smart, astute, quite vivid in his
descriptions of what he senses and feels using his four other senses
and working with Simmi and others to cultivate his gift. Being able
to see the future but can he alter it?
Deciding to alienate himself
from his friends was wrong as he shows Miss. Teak what he learned
using the rune stones she gave him and begins to understand the two
prophesies: “Those that will happen no matter what and those that
can be prevented.”
At the beginning of each chapter the author
allows the reader to gain some insight into Alex, what he is going
through and what each chapter holds as she alludes to him as the
traveler and explains his journey in short sentences before beginning
each chapter. When his father returns and he learns the truth behind
why he left and shares more than just a simple understanding or
conversation with him, the reader will be surprised by what is
revealed. Alex begins to accept his gifts and realizes that he has to
decide whether he will “use his powers as a means to protect others
or to subordinate them.” This is a journey that only he can make
and the end result might create more problems and obstacles before
all is said and done. Enlisting the help of Miss Teak, Simmi, his
father and Shapri in different ways he hopes to ward off what his
visions and nightmares present him.
Trying to come up with a common thread for his visions and nightmares he lists them for the reader but cannot come up with any commonalities at all except that he is involved. Sometimes what appears to be is an “illusion and misperception,” as Alex will learn in more ways than one. When Miss Teak, Shapri, Simmi and Alex go after Dax why do they believe that he is really not the villain? What powers does Dax have that others are easily drawn into his web of lies and deceit? Simmi and Alex will they have a future? Visions that tell him what impending dangers will happen in the future but can he stop what is about to happen from happening? Unanswered questions that can only be answered if you read Part 2 of the Farsighted series: Open Heart. This is a great book that brings to light trust, faith, and bullying and normal teen relationships. This is a great YA book.
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