It’s been over a year since fourteen-year-old Eddie Trash Thalmeyer and his friends from Edgeview Alternative School found out about their special hidden talents. Trash can move things with his mind, Torchie is a fire-starter, Cheater reads minds, Lucky finds lost objects, Flinch can predict the future, and Martin can see into people’s souls. Now back home with their families, all the boys want to do is get back to their normal lives, start attending high school, and keep in touch with their friends from Edgeview. When Trash tests his power in a bank and accidentally steals a fistful of cash, he is kidnapped by the ruthless leader of a shadowy company whose purpose is to gather information about psychic phenomena—and who is willing to do anything to get it…. Torchie, Cheater, Lucky, Flinch, and Martin join forces to rescue their friend using their hidden talents, and discover their true talents in the process. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 6-8-A year has passed since the five boys from Hidden Talents (Tor, 1999) left Edgeview Alternative School. An evil former military operative, Major Bowdler, has kidnapped telekinetic 15-year-old Eddie "Trash" Thalmayer, and his supernaturally talented friends must rescue him. The plot-full of top-secret equipment and espionage-is a little confusing, but it moves well, thanks to Trash's snappy and heartfelt narration. Lubar's trademark, genius one-liners are few here, as the sober themes of mortality and the fuzzy area between good and evil prevail. Fortunately, the novel's swashbuckling action balances the mood. The author's writing is as fluid and teen-smart as ever, though discussion of the boys' true talent-their brotherly bond-is occasionally heavy-handed and sentimental. The characters have both depth and sparkle, and the author deftly juggles the ensemble of five funny, thoughtful, distinct boys. Bowdler is just plain, puppy-killing mean, but Lubar gives him dimension by getting into his head. Older elementary and middle school fans of the genre, even those who missed Hidden Talents, should enjoy this one.-Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information