To Read, Perchance to Dream: Book Review: Darwin's Children by Natasha Perry

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of…

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

I had mixed feelings about this book. The basic idea, a family and friends with super powers, isn't very unique. But the story was written in an engaging manner. The Lerner extended family is so close and loving in this book, it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

The vampires, I didn't like. To me, they felt out of place in this story. I really didn't like their use as a punishment. I can't say more without being a spoiler to the plot, but I thought the whole thing was inappropriate. It's one thing when things are done in the heat of the moment, but a totally different issue when something is done coldly and deliberately. It makes the heroes of the story no better than the villains.

Overlooking that, it's a well told story that paranormal fans should enjoy.

I received this book from the author, I was not required to write a positive review.