Painting Colors AAA: Book Review & Giveaway: The Exceptionals

The Exceptionals

By: Erin Cashman

Published By: Holiday House, Inc.

Publication Date: April 2012

Page Count: 236

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Kindly Provided by Publisher for TLC Book Tours

Audience: Young Adult - Fantasy

Imagine that X-Men weren't mutants, but rather humans with exceptional mental talents - add in a boarding school for the gifted and a compelling mystery - and you'd walk away with The Exceptionals. I had never heard about this book until I agreed to review it for a book tour. I didn't know what to expect since it is also by a debut author. What I found between these pages took over my mind (and weekend) like a whirlwind. I could not put this one down.

The Exceptionals is an imaginative tale that focuses on Claire Walker and her talented family; both her parents and siblings all have specials. Specials are talents that people are born with that allow them to do wondrous things. Claire feels like she doesn't belong in her exceptional family because she doesn't have a special. While her parents work at Cambial, the elite boarding school for those with specials, and her older brother and younger sister attend and board at Cambial, Claire is left on the fringe, unable to truly join their world. An underage drinking incident the night of the Spring Fling turns Claire's world upside down. Her parents pull her from public school and force her to attend Cambial. Claire will find that things aren't always what they seem as she navigates the social currents of her new school and attempts to find a group of people who can accept her as the special-lacking girl that she is. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger sends Claire's life on the road to her destiny.

I really liked the entire concept of specials. Learning about each of the specials and what they could do was fascinating. I sure wish I had the power to be a truth seeker - it would come in handy when my students were trying to get out of taking responsibility for not turning in an assignment. There were so many ethical implications to consider. When people are properly trained, their specials can be used to do so much good for humanity. Power that amazing also can come with a heavy price. Many in the past have tried to use their gifts to obtain dominion over the other specials in order to control the world. It's the same old song and dance we see from a lot of villains, but Cashman still finds a way to keep the reader riveted during the showdown between good and evil.

In addition, I also loved the setting. There is something about books set in boarding schools that intrigues me. Perhaps it is the fact that as a kid I always daydreamed about attending one. They just seemed to have this magical air about them. Cambial is certainly a school I would have enjoyed.

Also, I really enjoyed seeing Claire evolve throughout the course of this novel. I found her to be whiny in the beginning and her choices often baffled me. Her relationship with her mother was also a sore spot for me. I couldn't understand why these two were constantly bickering. Eventually Claire is able to see her mother's motivation clearly. It was also interesting to me to see their issues reflected back in the relationship between Ferana and Talrin.

My biggest complaint with this one is the beginning. It is very slow and took several chapters to really hold my attention. Once the action picked up, I was hooked. The mystery elements are somewhat predictable, but I really enjoyed watching them play out.

Overall, this was a really fun, well written read. Cashman does a nice job of ending this one in a way that sets it up nicely for a sequel. So many things are resolved, but some big conflicts are still lingering. I was very invested in these characters and want to spend more time with them.

One Last Gripe: There is a bit of insta-love happening in this one. I just had to accept it and keep turning those pages.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The ghosts - loved 'em!

First Sentence: I only hesitated for a moment.

Favorite Character: Claire

Least Favorite Character: Jane

Summary:

Born into a famous family of exceptionally talented people, 15-year-old Claire Walker has deliberately chosen to live an average life. But everything changes the night of the Spring Fling, when her parents decide it's high time she transferred to Cambial Academy--the prestigious boarding school that her great-grandfather founded for students with supernatural abilities.

About the Author:

Erin Cashman graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Bates College in Maine and from Boston College Law School. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three children, and dog. The Exceptionals is her first novel.

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