Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden underworld of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
From the synopsis I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into. Mind readers? Mind controlling? It sounded different and kind of fun though…all I can say is WOW, What a ride! Open Minds is fast-paced and it kept me guessing as to what would happen next.
Kira lives in a world where it’s normal for people to never speak verbally. Instead they speak through their minds, a change that takes place usually during their teens. Kira is afraid she’s doomed to be a “zero”, someone who hasn’t changed, forever. Then something happens and she controls her best friend’s mind. Oops. The book covers her self-discovery and the scary new world she’s a part of.
Kira is great – can you imagine being an older teen and be missing this huge trait that everyone around you has? It’d be likened to being deaf! Sure, the people around her can talk verbally but they don’t like to do so and think down on anyone that can’t mind-read. Then again, having your every thought read?!?! I would HATE it. Everything you thought would be heard by everyone nearby. Think the new boy is cute? Your boyfriend and all of his friends know.
Without giving too much away I loved the romantic dynamic. Simon and Raf are both completely different, but there is something about both of them that appeals to me. Simon is a bit intense, yet charming. Completely different from what Kira is used to. While Raf is the boy-next-door best friend type.
Open Minds is the type of book that keeps you guessing and makes you wonder just what you’d do in the same situation. I still am not sure! (I like to think I’d be as strong as Kira though…)
I received my copy of Open Minds from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
