The Ability by M. M. Vaughn (review)

Twelve-year-old Christopher Lane is having a truly terrible time. His soldier father has been killed, his grieving mother has become incapable of caring for anyone, including herself, and Christopher is tormented daily at school by fellow students, teachers, and even the principal. He therefore eagerly accepts an invitation to a special new boarding school, and he's thrilled when he discovers that the school intends to teach its students to use special psychic gifts, like telekinesis and telepathy. Not everything about the school is as it seems, though, and Christopher soon learns that there is a reason the school has been reopened after a tragic event forced it to close decades before. Now everyone associated with the school's past is having their minds destroyed by a mysterious boy, and it's up to Christopher and his new friends to use their skills to uncover who the boy is, who is training him, and why they are out to destroy the school's former students and teachers. Reminiscent of early Harry Potter novels with its neglected hero, oddball teachers, eccentric assortment of classmates, and secret school where students learn to harness their powers, the novel still manages ultimately to feel fresh and original, and the narrative strikes a delicate and effective balance between light-hearted wish-fulfillment fun, dark moments of heartbreak, and genuine suspense. Occasional chapters from the point of view of the Genever brothers, the boys carrying out the evil plot, provide readers with a chance to learn more about the secret behind the attacks and create a second level of intrigue and suspense. Those looking for a read-alike to Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society (BCCB 5/07) will be delighted with Christopher's adventure. Final illustrations not seen.