Others See Us

After falling off his bicycle into a toxic waste dump, Jared develops the ability to read other people's thoughts. He is catapulted into psychic combat with his amoral grandmother and sociopathically manipulative cousin, both of whom are also mind-readers. In the course of this shrill, forced narrative, the beach compound in which Jared's extended family summers becomes a hotbed of robbery, greed and blackmail. Thin characterizations add little spice to an already jumbled plot: though Jared's cousin and grandmother do make heart-thumpingly nasty villainesses, it is difficult to understand just why they are so very mean. Ages 10-16. (Oct.)