Conductoid

Jack McKay is a young man with a vivid imagination that seems to cause him nothing but trouble. He daydreams in class leading to nothing but detention from teachers. He receives lectures from his mother and scorn from his twin, know-it-all sister, Phoebe. Jack’s lack of concentration in school and chronic underachievement is leading him on a path to nowhere with his mother, Fiona, threatening to helm his future education. Soccer with his friend Ty and going to the local candy store reign as his key interests. Jack’s dreams soon lead to bigger complications when he is greeted by Azan, who tells Jack of his abilities and guides him to crises that only Jack can quell. Jack is enthralled by his ability to transform into animals, saving lives, fighting crime. Azan advises Jack of the rules to his new role as Conductoid, his powers can’t be used outside of the dream world. Azan is not only a guide but also a protector for Jack. He informs Jack that his daydreaming is a way of breaking through and that his lack of maturity clouds his thoughts. Azan can be confounding, but wants Jack to know what really lies beneath his dreamworld. There are others in their world who want to see harm come to them.There is a war going on and it will envelop them.

Conductoid is a different kind of book for kids. M.B. Lehane’s tale lets the reader embark on an adolescent journey with all the highs and lows of a young man’s life from school woes to sports highs, from outsmarting bullies to dodging assignments. The protagonist elicits empathy for his angst-ridden home and school life, you find yourself rooting for things to work out, especially in his dreams. The mystery of what lies in the ether is tantalizing as is the conclusion. An excellent addition to the young adult fiction genre.