It's "Hairspray" with a psychic bent..............,

Coming soon.......

Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Teen girls will like this book. It reminded me of the musical, "Hairspray" because the heroine is quirky and heavyset -- but has a hidden ability. In this case, she is capable of reading other peoples' thoughts -- or so she thinks. Despite being predictable as far as the outcome of the main story line, there are some surprising poignant moments as various teens and adults interact with the main character. I particularly liked the evolution of the mother-daughter relationship. Kristi attends an unusual school, Journeys, run by an exhippie. Classes include morning meeting, contemplation, afternoon personal time, culinary arts, exploration of nature and processing. During one assignment, Kristi is paired with the boy she has had a crush on since her preteen years, Gusty. After a series of ups and downs, Kristi discovers that perhaps her psychic abilities are both good and bad and figures out her true motivations. I liked the character because she was not a brilliant, beautiful, athletic, talented girl. She was flawed, and in this, will be endearing to teenagers who are struggling with their own self image. Various social topics of interest to teens are included such as anorexia, homosexuality, adultery, smoking and other typical teen concerns such as acne, popularity and social status. There is no sex or violence in this book.
Mrs. C.