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A review by ajp71088
Radiants by David B. Coe
4.0
Long one of my favorite authors, Coe's latest is a modern day, supernatural thriller. A fraction of the world's population develop superhuman abilities (levitation, electrical manipulation, etc.) during adolescence, similar to X-Men except without every power being unique to the individual. Generally, they can only use their powers for about 60-90 seconds. Called Radiants, the existence of these people is mostly a secret to the world at large. But governments worldwide covet them.
DeDe Mercer, our main character, has the ability to enter someone's mind, to read their thoughts and even control them. This makes her exceptionally rare and powerful. Still in high school, she uses these powers to defend and protect her nonbinary best friend (and crush), Kyle, from an unjust punishment. Soon after she talks about her powers with a colleague of her late father, DeDe, her 12 year old brother, Miles, and their mother are pursued by multiple branches of the US government, all of whom want to study DeDe and force her to use her powers for their benefit (interrogation, treaty negotiation, etc.). Some of their pursuers could care less who they harm, so long as they get DeDe under their control.
What follows is an engaging, YA thriller across the Pacific Northwest. At its core is this lovely family unit doing anything they can to stay together. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who finds the premise interesting.
DeDe Mercer, our main character, has the ability to enter someone's mind, to read their thoughts and even control them. This makes her exceptionally rare and powerful. Still in high school, she uses these powers to defend and protect her nonbinary best friend (and crush), Kyle, from an unjust punishment. Soon after she talks about her powers with a colleague of her late father, DeDe, her 12 year old brother, Miles, and their mother are pursued by multiple branches of the US government, all of whom want to study DeDe and force her to use her powers for their benefit (interrogation, treaty negotiation, etc.). Some of their pursuers could care less who they harm, so long as they get DeDe under their control.
What follows is an engaging, YA thriller across the Pacific Northwest. At its core is this lovely family unit doing anything they can to stay together. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who finds the premise interesting.