Review: Minder by Kate Kaynak

Minder by Kate Kaynak

Amazon Product Description:

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

My Thoughts: (I will attempt to give you my thoughts on this fantastic book without including any spoilers):

In general - I loved this book!  I thought it was amazing! Well written and intriguingly suspenseful, with an incredible romance thrown in.  The author touches on so many aspects of life that this book will appeal to almost everyone.  

One of my favorite things about reading this book was the originality.  

The beginning grabbed me, I was hooked by page 4! I stayed hooked throughout the story.  I got to the end and was excited that I already had the next book sitting on my coffee table.  I didn't want to wait to get started on Adversary.

Kate Kaynak gives all of her characters interesting introductions and makes connections between them and other characters right away so the reader is never left hanging out in the breeze with a new person.  I never found myself wondering where someone fit in or came from and I never had to page back in the story to figure out how they were connected to each other.

All of the characters are strong. In there own way.  They each have some "super power" and have been brought to Ganzfield by Dr. Jon Williamson.  Dr. Williamson serves as the father-figure for the groups.  Each group of characters is carefully explained and add their own dynamic element to the story. They each have unique characteristics that keep them separate from the others while also possessing a skill that works together with the skills of each of the other groups.

I noticed that the author works the title into the story right away (p. 29).  I rather enjoyed the fact that although she tells you what Minder means early on, she doesn't disclose what the cover ART represents.  She lets you get that information from reading the story, and gives you the opportunity to put names on the silhouettes yourself.  I found this to be both interesting and unusual.  I am a cover shopper, it can usually tell you so much about a book.  I was thrilled with the cover on Minder.  

My favorite word from the book:  frenemy!  I had never heard it used before and couldn't believe how perfectly it describes high school girls!

My thoughts on the book - not the story: This book is so reader friendly.  The actual book is larger than the average book which allows for the larger print that is used.  The font chosen, along with the larger print, makes the book easy on the eyes.  Even the paper used is reader friendly - crispy white so the print pops off the page!  The author and the publisher must have put a considerable amount of thought into the making of this book and I for one appreciate the extra effort!  

I would call this a MUST READ - I have already passed my copy on to another reader and have one other waiting for their turn!  

In a few words:  Incredible! Creative! Original! Well thought-out! Great new series! Characters you will LOVE!

I have been offered the opportunity to hold a giveaway from Kate Kaynak!  I am so excited!  The prize will be your choice of a copy of Minder, a copy of Adversary, or a Minder t-shirt.  The giveaway contest will start November 1, 2010.  Stop by then and check it out - this is one book you don't want to miss.