Mira Ipswich couldn't have ever known the startling difference that separates her from the rest of humanity. But when she discovers a strange anomaly in the midst of her seclusion, her parents are forced to reveal she exists in a world where everyone is imbued with a wondrous natural gift. Everyone except herself that is.

Accompany Mira as her attempts to fit in among peers and understand her inconceivable condition embroil her with the dangerous forces threatening her homeland. Protected by nothing more than her imagination and ingenuity, she begins to explore the strange world around her she never knew was there.

This book reads like a young-YA book. Its got good morals lesson, but the kids dont feel like theyre young adults to me (even though they're a senior). I really like the story, after a few chapters in, the title makes sense, there's alot of predictable moments. I like the Mira's parents, theyre supportive, very much like what parents supposed to be like. Overall, this is a good book to be read to someone (like a parent to a child, or a teacher to a student, etc). I was hoping Mira's power actually got revealed in the end... but maybe in the sequel!

PS - I bet Mira's power is to find a way through obstacles. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself picking up my kindle to read more when I should have been doing other things. The concept was unique to me and I look forward to Mira's next adventures.

I would like to see a bit more character development in the next novel as I didn't find myself attached to some of the supporting characters I believe will take on a larger role going forward, but the story more than made up for it. Hopefully we'll learn a little more about her classmates during her travels.

Additionally, I forget where I read the review, but someone mentioned the characters behaviors and ages don't match up and I have to agree. To me, they feel 2-3 years younger than the 15-16 years they are in the book. That said, it didn't take away from the storyline for me.

I eagerly await book two and am interested to see how Jason's career develops. Wonderful first novel. ( )

As I read Powerless by Jason Letts I had to remind myself that this was a story aimed at younger readers. However, just because a book is deemed young adult does not mean it shouldn't be enjoyable for adults as well. I did enjoy the story but there were a few things that bothered me about Powerless.

The writing was at times a bit simplistic and I found some of the descriptions of what characters were feeling to be unnecessary. If a character says something that sounds angry in the context where he or she would be angry, the reader does not need to be told so in the next sentence.

The characters of the children were not convincing as 15 and 16 year olds. Their actions and behaviors fit more with those of 11 and 12 year olds and this is the age group I would share this book with. I think a change in the ages of the characters would lead to greater success with younger readers. People like to read books with characters they can relate to- similar ages help this.

Another problem I had was that certain aspects of Mira's character did not fit and would only serve to alienate young readers further. Wanting a birthday party with a theme of the periodic table of elements is unrealistic no matter how smart or into science a kid is. This being only one instance of many in the novel. It is great to use a novel as a way of educating readers and sparking their interest in science but it is possible to overdo it. Kids are smart and if they feel like they are being talked down to, they will quit reading.

I think this novel was entertaining and has great potential but the story and character development need more work and further editing and revision would be helpful to avoid redundancy. As it is, it is not a terrible book but with a bit more work it could be really good. ( )

In the alternate Earth presented in Powerless: The Synthesis, the first book in a children’s fantasy series, each person is gifted with a unique and special power, except for the sheltered Mira, who is powerless.

That isn’t to say she’s helpless, as Mira is a fast learner, able to adapt to her surroundings using just her wits alone. She even knows more than her teacher when she’s dropped into the real world, placed in a class alongside students who don’t share her apparent handicap.

In what can best be described as Xanth meets Battle Royale, sans the bloodshed, Mira and her classmates constantly compete for that top-spot: a leadership position for when they graduate from school, and then serve in the military in the perpetual war against “the other guys.”

While the story was interesting, I had a problem with the story telling. Jason Letts, the author, liked to keep you informed about who’s feeling what and why, making an otherwise entertaining story read like a particularly unamusing teenager’s blog. That is to say that the prose was too telly, and not enough showy, which I’ve noticed is a major problem with a lot of self-published stuff (I’ve even noticed this on my earlier writing, and once somebody pointed it out to me, I was able to keep an eye out for it, to try to purge it whence it hid).

Another issue I had with the story is that it read in a slapdash way, like the author had a vague idea of the outcome, but didn’t really have a focus for the chapter-to-chapter events; or at least didn’t delve into the WHY of the actions. After meeting her peers, Mira starts bullying them for no good reason that seems to fit within the rest of the mold of her life, and she stops when somebody tells her to. It felt that the characters’ motivations were shallow.

But other than these flaws, the alternate Earth Letts presents is quite interesting, making one want to know more about it, regardless of their desire to learn more about Mira et al. ( )