The Exceptionals

G/A  Cashman, Erin.  The Exceptionals.  Holiday House, 2012.  236p.  978-0-8234-2335-4.  $16.95.

At Cambrial Academy, an X-Men like school, the students all possess “specials.” Some are talented code breakers or science geniuses or mediums or telekinesis experts. The only one without a special is Claire, whose great-grandfather founded the school and whose parents both work there (they even live in a house on campus). Claire soon learns of a prophecy on campus about a particular student with a rare special (telepathy with animals) who dies while saving the school from an evil force. It’s not hard to figure out who that special student is. And it seems as though the prophecy is coming true as some of the school’s most talented students are disappearing. It’s a fun, adventure-filled read with interesting characters that will leave kids hoping for a sequel. Loren Spector, LAPL, Felipe de Neve