Rating: 
Summary: Decent concept, mediocre storytelling
Review: A decent concept, but this book just lacked energy--nothing propelling the story forward or making one really want to read the next page.The prose felt flat, and the characters did too--halfway through I realized that I couldn't tell most of them apart, for all that the main character, Martin, kept telling me what everyone was like. Martin tells the reader lots of things, and many of them aren't even true: to start with, he claims that he himself can't keep his mouth shut, yet he spends a lot of time thinking and only after much thought ever says anything tactless. Not much happens: we discover some secret talents and use these talents for a minor purpose. The discovery portion takes a long time, and gets tedious. (Aren't the characters in this book smart enough to catch on sooner? They keep saying they're pretty smart.) In the end, I just didn't care what happens. For witty, incisive, compelling observations of troubled kid interactions and troubled school culture, I'd recommend HOLES by Louis Sachar or SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Holes by Sachar Meets X-Files
Review: David Lubar presents a bleak situation for one young Martin Anderson. Martin has been to many schools, all of which he has been kicked out of for smarting off. He is sent to his last chance for an education, Edgeview Alternative School. He tries his best not to irritate his new teachers, but finds that he cannot help himself. Soon, he finds others who cannot help themselves either. This book is a great story for kids who are struggling with authority, difficulty making friends, dealing with angry parents, or who are looking for a sequel to "Holes" by Louis Sachar. I found it entertaining, and interesting.
Rating:
Summary: David Lubar is a talent on the rise.
Review: For years, I've watched David Lubar fine tune his writer's craft. He's moved from his "Kidzilla" series for TOR to his "Monster" series for Scholastic to this distinctive YA novel, "Hidden Talents." With each step he takes along the writers road, Lubar gets a little better...a little stronger...a little closer to the mark. I loved the character's David created for "Hidden Talents." I love the way his quirky kids interacted. And I love the way they joined together to prove at least two things --- that kids are not without power, and that David Lubar has his finger on the pulse of just what those powers might be. Well done, David. I can't wait to read "Monster Road." Kelly Milner Halls, Freelance Writer/Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: An interesting look at supernatural powers
Review: Hidden Talents explores the world of several young boys with unusual talents, or curses, at an alternative education school. This was a great book that I read in an afternoon since I couldn't put it down. A great touch are the pictures or conversation transcripts that come at the end of most chapters showing you exactly what an object or an overheard conversation that was mentioned earlier was like. The only thing that keeps Hidden Talents from getting 5 stars? There're no girls!
Rating:
Summary: One talented author
Review: Hidden Talents is a comical adventure of friendship bravery and loyalty! With wonderful description David Lubar really brings these characters to life. With a great story and a good setting [the middle of nowhere] these adventurous teens must figure out about their hidden powers! A smooth blend of the X men and Louis Sacher's "Holes". A classic new aged book for readers from 10-13, those who love adventure and science fiction this is your kind of book! David Lubar has good talent but should describe the characters a little bit better, sometimes you feel like you don't know the characters very well. David Lubar uses very vivid and expressive ways of writing so you get a picture of what he's telling you. He also shows letters sent by the characters and artwork that they make so you get an idea of what the characters are doing. What interested me the most is that Mr. Lubar doesn't give the main character a hidden talent or does he... You sure don't need a hidden talent to read and enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: HHIIDDEN TALENT REVIEW
Review: Hidden talents is a good book, but the first few chapters are kind of boring. This book is about a guy named Martin who is sent to this special school because he can't seem to keep his mouth shut. He had already been kicked out of 4 different schools, Boy Scouts, and Little League. At first when Martin gets to school, he gets in fights with his principal, and then he meets his roomate Torchie who burns stuff. Martin eventually meets more friends, Trash,Lucky, and Cheater. Martin and his friends sneak out at night and discover that they each have a special hidden talent.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy It!
Review: Hidden Talents is a great book. Although it is for older chidren (8th grade and up), students in 5th or 6th grade will love it if they're above reading level and like to read. It's a mixture of real life and science fiction. It really is a good book.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden talents:Another david Lubar sucess
Review: Hidden talents is a great book. The action Is submersive, yet not to fast, the characters are interesting and unique, and You can't help but laugh out loud When reading this book.The best part is the actuall story. It is just so amazingly creative and simply magical. It Really lets you understand everything, without spelling it all out for you. David lubar is one of my favorite authors. Also check out some of his other books, Especially Dunk, and wizards of the game.
Rating:
Summary: an interesting idea, but too simplistic
Review: Hidden Talents is a young adult novel about boys who have been sent to Edgeview, an alternative school for young boys who have been expelled from every other school they've attended. The main protagonist, Martin Anderson, is thirteen and has a habit of talking back to adults, always seeming to know just what to say to hurt the most. This school is his last chance in his state's educational system, and he is not happy to be there. As he makes friends with some of the other boys he discovers that they have supernatural talents.
Most young people will probably enjoy this book very much. It deals with subjects they are familiar with and that matter to them, such as bullies, difficult teachers, being misunderstood, and being forced into circumstances they have little or no control over. There is some violence and some grossness (a gassy student, for example). The novel is a quick, easy read and contains interesting little sidelights, such as transcripts of conversations and copies of letters and memos, which show what is going on unbeknownst to the first-person narrator.
However, in my opinion as an adult, the book contains some important flaws. The characters are not very well developed, and in many ways are the cliched misunderstood teens you find in many young adult novels. I also didn't find any of the characters very likable, even the misunderstood "good" boys. The teachers were stereotypically awful, except for the science teacher.
And the plot was too simplistic. I found it difficult to believe that boys with uncontrolled psychic powers would simply be shipped off to an alternative school without anyone ever suspecting the truth about any of them. And once they became aware of their powers they seemed too unwilling to use the power for their own gains.
I wouldn't prevent any young person from reading this book; as I say, they will probably relate to many of the characters and issues raised here, and the ending is hopeful and intelligent. But I also wouldn't recommend it; I have read much better young adult novels.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Best!
Review: Hidden Talents is by far the best book I have read. (And I've read plenty!) This book is so great because the chapters never end, they always keep you on the edge of your seat so you want to go straight to the next chapter. I liked it mainly because it was about kids who had special powers but didn't know it. I read this book in school and I just couldn't put it down. I read it twice before the teacher finished-it's that good! This is a book that you would definitely want to add to your bookshelf to read again and again and again! I hope they make this into a movie!
| 
