Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The bond between Sam and Harry goes far beyond friendship. After all, Harry saved Sam’s life when he was ten years old—when Harry manifested the gift of flight. Since then, Sam’s devoted his life to protecting Harry from the shadowy government forces watching him.

 

Eventually, keeping Harry safe means running away from home and striking out on their own.

 

They meet Jonah Clayton, a man who is training a group of teens with supernatural powers. He claims he can help Harry, but as an ordinary kid with no special abilities, Sam is pushed to the sidelines. They discover Jonah is a man with secrets, as well as powerful enemies, and as those threats close in, they’ll all come to realize Harry needs Sam in ways no one could ever have predicted.

 

Book Review

Superpowers and the people who wield them, even though only in comics and fiction, have a special place in my heart. The struggle that previously average people go through when accepting their powers and figuring out what to do with them is psychologically interesting, plus there is usually some fun to be had or some “worthy fight” to be fought. But to see that same effect on children and young adults gives an extra edge to the idea – after all, young people are still defining who they are and that is tough enough without “special powers” getting in the way. “Touchstone” takes a look at the pitfalls and problems seventeen-year-olds Sam and Harry encounter when facing the fact that someone seems to be watching them despite all their efforts to evade them. The story is about their new situation as they deal with secrecy, a hidden agenda, and initially unspecified threats.

Sam and Harry have been best friends since they were kids, and ever since Harry saved Sam’s life at age ten, they have been together. They ran when they felt they were being watched and are trying to build a life, but it isn’t easy, They are seventeen and deeply in love, and hope they can evade whoever is after them. But when someone called Jonah catches up with them and plans to include Harry in his group for “training”, the stranger also demands Sam stay behind because he has no powers. Harry refuses to join the group without Sam, so Jonah has to grudgingly accept both of them.

The core of the story is about what happens to Sam as he deals with not having powers, the disdain and lack of understanding from other members of the group as to why he is there. Sam has to define his role in Harry’s life and the group against their resistance, and despite Jonah’s attempts to make him leave, Sam and Harry stick together. Their bond is so deep that separation is unthinkable, never mind what happens. The truth about Sam eventually emerges, but I won’t tell you what it is because that is a big part of the plot.

This story is a lot like a younger version of X-Men, but with some nice differences. For one thing, there is the deep love between Sam and Harry. The story is set very much in the present, and figuring out what Jonah is really after and what else might be going on provides a lot of suspense and excitement. The team members’ powers and personalities are an interesting mix, and while there is an ending to this stage of the story, it is open enough to give me hope for a sequel. In fact, the final sentence seems like a big hint: “Let’s see what’s next.”

If you like adventures that include superpowers, if you want to find out what happens when two young men find a group of people with similar abilities, and if you’re looking for a read about learning to be part of a group, growing up in difficult circumstances, and finding a home, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 228 pages/73808 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	02-April-2019
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.harmonyinkpress.com/books/the-touchstone-by-mc-lee-589-b