Mind Games

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Adventure
Review: "Mind Games", by new author Jeanne Marie Grunwell, is simply superb. This is one of those books that you won't want to put down, and will read in one sitting. An inviting mixture of colorful characters, an involving story line(..a school project exploring ESP..), all presented with a true ease of writing style. Young people will relate with the middle school students here, as they embark on a most adventurous exploration. "Mind Games" is sure to interest readers for years to come--it's the kind of book I loved as a young adult..and still do! I can't wait for the movie version!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant school story
Review: A beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book. I am so impressed with the author's prowess, using so many different voices (no easy feat), and so cleverly using a science fair experiment to talk about many important things in the world from a seventh grade point of view. This is a creative and original work and a very fresh voice in children's literature. I am still wiping the tears from my eyes and hoping that, like the kids in this story, the author goes on to win a lot of prizes.

Rating:
Summary: MIND GAMES: candy for the intellect
Review: MIND GAMES brilliantly juxtaposes the voices of six different seventh graders as they attempt to solve their science premise along with their relationaships with each other.

With precise language, featuring an economy of words, the author deftly moves from one character to the other in this tightly woven novel.

The imaginative format found both inside and outside the book itself add immediately to its charm and originality.

Jeanne Marie Grunwell is master of her material with each sentence of each paragraph on every page. The varied format, including exhibits, adds interest. The characters are neither simple nor stereotypical. Each is an individual with distinct needs to be met. The resolution is gratifying and complete.

Personally, I have rarely been so moved by such excellence in a novel which may be aimed at a middle grade audience, but is profoundly satisfying for the 'older' reader as well.