Triptych: Thirteen Year Olds Discover Hidden Telepathic Powers

What do Alexa Daley, Mississippi Beaumont, and Johnny Turnbull all have in common? They are courageous, bold and brainy tweens who discover, through a series of adventures, that they each have hidden powers. Although the plots of the three novels revolve around the self-discovery of telepathic powers by the main characters, the novels are set centuries apart. Alexa is a child of preindustrial olden days in the novel, The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman. Mibs, the main character in Savvy by Ingrid Law, is a child of today’s America. Johnny, in Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1 by PJ Haarsma, lives in the futuristic world of space travel and alien beings. All three novels are "journey tales" where the "innocent child goes forth to meet the monsters of the world" (Kiefer 101). The three protagonists use their wit and new found telepathic powers to explore beyond the limited worlds in which they were raised, discover more about themselves, right wrongs, defeat evils and learn lessons along the way.

Children in intermediate and middle grades often enjoy adventure fantasies. One reason may be because children enjoy a fast moving plot with lots of action. Another may be because adventure fantasies depict children who are independent and are successful in making decisions normally left for adults. It is no coincidence that in these three novels the children’s parents are conveniently out of the picture. This omission of caretakers allows the children to have adventures that could not come about with capable adults in charge of their lives. For instance, in Dark Hills Divide Alexa is left with a kind but absent minded librarian when her father is away on a business trip. It is at this point in the story that Alexa’s adventures gear up and she makes her way beyond the wall. In Savvy when Mibs father is hurt and ends up in the hospital, her mother and older brother go to care for him leaving Mibs and her siblings with the preacher’s wife to care for them. The preacher’s wife is efficient but less than understanding. Because of this, Mibs decides to find a way to reunite with her parents and the action begins. In Softwire, Johnny’s parents, along with all the other adults on the space ship died, leaving the children to be born and reared by a computer, when they reach their destination, the computer is destroyed. The scenarios depicted in these three novels allow children to try out their emerging independence vicariously through the safety of literature.

All three protagonists are daring, intelligent, and are able to make a difference in their worlds, which is a desire held by most children. All three main characters discover that they have the gift of telepathy at age twelve or thirteen. Alexa finds she is able to communicate with animals after finding a magical stone. Mibs finds she can read minds if the subject has a tattoo or some other drawing on his body. Johnny is finds he is telepathic with computers and can actually get into the brain of the computer and change the software. Alexa, Mibs and Johnny share commonalities in that they are plucky protagonists who are the masters of their own destiny, willing to think outside the box, and are able to make sacrifices and take personal risks for the greater good.

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman

Alexa Daley is the only and privileged daughter of the mayor of Lathbury, a town within Elyon, a walled kingdom. Although the walls were built to protect the citizens from the evils of the forest, to Alexa the walls are confining. She is curious and drawn to the land outside the walls. Alexa is determined to find a way to conquer the limitations imposed by the wall so that she might freely explore the outside world. In her explorations of the town, she finds an underground passageway built into the wall of the library which leads her beyond the wall. Once outside, she meets a dwarf who takes her into the forest. It is in the forest that she discovers that she is the “chosen one.” First, however, she must pass a series of tests to prove that, she is indeed, the one who can save the forest and the kingdom from destruction. In order to help her save the land, she is given the magical ability to communicate with animals. Through bravery and wit Alexa saves the kingdom by discovering and outwitting the mysterious traitor and righting the wrongs that have been done.

The Dark Hills Divide is the first book in Land of Elyon series. Carman, of Walla Walla, Washington, developed the story in installments as a weekly bedtime story for his four and six year old daughters (Patrick Carman Interview). Although the story is a great adventure with a strong female protagonist, it is obvious that it is a first novel. Sometimes the language does not ring true. Some of the characters seem a little flat and once or twice there are inconsistencies when the dots are not connected in the story. However, it is still a story that many children will enjoy because of the action and suspense. Besides the Elyon series, Carman continues to be prolific as an author, producing many more books including the Atherton trilogy (Patrick Carman).

The author’s website is chock full of games relating to his books, video and audio interviews with the author, biographical information, links, a photo gallery of his tours and much more. An unusual feature is the Virtual Tour page. This allows his fans to contact him to set up a virtual visit via webcam free of charge to schools or book groups. Of the three novels reviewed in the triptych, this is a feature unique to Carman’s site. It provides a wonderful way for teachers and students to meet with an author and discuss his books or the writing process (Virtual Tours). To find out more about the author and his books, click on this television interview from Seattle Live: http://www.scholastic.com/elyon/elyon_mov_seattle.htm


Savvy by Ingrid Law

Mississippi “Mibs” Beaumont is waiting with great anticipation for her upcoming thirteenth birthday because that is when her savvy, or special power, kicks in. Mibs is the middle child in a family of five. She comes from a long line of people with savvies. Grandpa’s savvy is moving mountains, Grandma catches radio waves and cans them. Momma’s savvy is perfection, her brother, Rocket, produces electricity and her brother, Fish, and causes terrible storms. Usually when savvies kick in they can cause quite a ruckus. Sometimes it takes years to scumble, or learn to control them. Mibs wishes her savvy might be something really cool, like flying, but the day before her birthday, her father is in a terrible car crash and ends up hospitalized with a coma. Mibs is convinced that her savvy is to awaken people and decides she needs to find a way to get to the hospital so she can awaken her Poppa. She stows away on a Bible salesman’s pink school bus (which she mistakenly believes is heading toward the hospital) along with her two brothers and the preacher’s kids. The adventures mount as the road trip commences, her true savvy, becomes apparent, and she navigates the changes from childhood to adulthood.

Savvy, a 2009 Newbery Medal Honor book, is the premier work of Colorado author Ingrid Law. It is both a sweet and whacky tale of growing up. The story is set in America’s heartland on the border of Kansas and Nebraska which, Mibs, the protagonist calls Kansaska-Nebransas. The story is as American as the Wizard of Oz. The voice of Mibs is particularly compelling as she speaks in vernacular of delightful and quirky triplets. Because of the delightful language, this makes an excellent read aloud, and has the potential to be an extraordinary film. Although classified as a fantasy because it involves magic, it is truly a modern tall tale. In a blog interview with two of her young fans, Law states:

I wanted to write a story about magical children that never used the word ‘magic’ and one that was set in out-of-the-way places in the United States—no big cities or fancy towns. I wanted to show that extraordinary things can happen anywhere. In the book, Mibs needs to learn which voices in her life are important to listen to and which are not. Sometimes it’s easy to let the voices of criticism and doubt get fixed in your head. But it’s important, especially when writing, to listen to and trust your own voice. (Law)

The publisher’s website provides games for the children, teacher guides and other helpful information as well as a brief author biography. Click on this link to view a Savvy Booktalk Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPd3KpHix2Q

Softwire: Virus on Orbis I by PJ Haarsma
Johnny Turnbull, his younger sister, and the other two hundred children on board an intergalactic space ship have spent the last thirteen years alone on a space craft after being “hatched” from their test tubes and raised by Mother, the onboard computer. Johnny’s parents and all the other adults on the ship mysteriously perished during the space journey. The novel opens at the point when the children have finally reached their destination, the Rings of Orbis. Their new home is populated by a Star Wars-like menagerie of aliens who inform them that they will be “indentured” to the aliens to pay for their parents’ passage. It is at this point that Johnny is identified as a softwire, which means he has the gift of being able to communicate telepathically with computers. Johnny’s special gift sets him apart from the others and brings him unwanted attention when the main computer of the planet begins to malfunction. Because of his special ability he becomes the scapegoat for anything untoward that happens on the planet and a magnet for danger, action and mystery.

Softwire: Virus on Orbis I is the first of a planned quartet of science fiction fantasies. Although the plot is full of action and will appeal to die hard science fiction fans, it is obvious that it is Haarsma’s first work as an author. Most of the characters have not been thoroughly developed. As a Kirkus reviewer points out, it is “a potentially compelling space mystery marred by inept prose and a muddled narrative.” Given the dearth of true science fiction for younger readers, Haarsma is filling a void in the industry and his work will be read by science fiction readers. In fact, the book could very well be a better movie than book since it seems high on action with a simple plot.

The author’s website is extensive. It contains interactive computer games so his fans can extend their enjoyment of the book. It also has a forum for fans to interact and discuss the books, games, and a place for fan fiction to take place. One link on the website is to Haarsma’s foundation, Kids Need to Read. The foundation was established to “fill library shelves with great books so that no child lacks for amazing stories to inspire their imaginations” (Kids Need to Read).

Conclusion
The triptych of adventure fantasy novels are all written by first time authors who live in the United States. The books are included as Great Stone Face nominees which are geared toward children in fourth through sixth grades. The two serial novels, The Dark Hills Divide and Softwire, seem to be pitched to a younger audience than Savvy. For instance in The Dark Hills Divide, the twelve year old Alexa is still thoroughly ensconced in childhood. She is not on the cusp of womanhood as is Savvy's Mibs. In fact, even though the author assigns her the age of twelve, Alexa seems much younger, more like a nine or ten year old. Although Johnny in Softwire is assigned the age of thirteen by the author, often he steps out of that age and acts with adult characteristics which do not ring true of a thirteen year old boy. The serial novels are also not as well written or constructed as Savvy. Savvy has everything a novel for children should have, delightful use of language, strong, well-developed and believable characters, and a beautifully crafted and creative storyline which makes a statement about the human condition in a way that is appropriate to the developmental needs of the audience. Hence, Savvy appropriately received the Newbery Honor. Although the two serial novels are not up to the standard of a Newbery winner in the development of character, plot and language, all three novels provide positive messages to children and allow them an avenue in which to enjoy the world of reading.

Works Cited

Carman, Patrick. The Dark Hills Divide. New York: Orchard Books, 2005.

… "Patrick Carman Interview." Seattle Live. NBC. KONG TV,
Seattle, WA. 16 June 2005. Scholastic Online for Kids . 2009. 5 July 2009.

Haarsma, PJ. The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press, 2006.

Ingrid Law. 4 July 2009 .

Kids Need to Read. 2009. 5 July 2009.

Kiefer, Barbara Z. and Cynthia A. Tyson. Charlotte Huck's Children's Literature: A Brief Guide.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Kirkus Reviews. Rev. of The Softwire: Virus on Orbis I. NoveList. 1 Sept. 2006.
EBSCO. Lee Public Library, Lee, NH. 5 July 2009.

Land of Elyon by Patrick Carman. 2009. Scholastic.com. 5 July 2009.

Law, Ingrid. Interview. Hello Ello. Weblog. 5 Dec. 2008. 5 July 2009.

… Savvy. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008.

Official Book Website of Savvy by Ingrid Law. 2008. Dial Children's Books. 5
July 2009 .

Patrick Carman. 5 July 2009 .

"Virtual Tours." Patrick Carman. 5 July 2009 .