Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) [NOOK Book]

I just finished the trilogy and wish to give 2.5 for average, bu

I just finished the trilogy and wish to give 2.5 for average, but that isnt possible. This is a coming of age story from a teen girls perspective mote than anything else. The mind jacking and reading are not well explored, though inter and intrapersonal drama are entertaining. The first and thrird book are best. I wish the author had spent a bit more time developing a background for the jacking and reading as this would have justified the inclusion of these stories as science fiction. As is stands, I would call it a coming of age drama with a tiny bit of scifi. It saddens me that somone that apparently earned sciece degrees could not remember freshman biology and physiology. Kira's ability to turn her muscles into fast twich function by thought alone was a complete misreading of the science and bothersome to those who know. One would think one of her editors would catch shuch glaring errors. With that said, just a tiny bit more of a biological and neurological basis for mindjacking and reading would have been both very easily accomplished and made the story more believable and enjoyable to read. Do not read these books if you are looking for anything more than emotional teenage girl drama, because it just isnt there. As for my overall rating as 2.5, pleas know that it amuses me that nearly every review at this site is excelent or above average. I save 4 and 5 star reviews for those that rise above the average novel and this series, while good, is just average. I hope other reviewers start rating similarly, or some can explain to me why the average review places the average book up there with those ofnthe masters.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Told from Kira Moore's first-person perspective, Open Minds has

Told from Kira Moore's first-person perspective, Open Minds has a strong voice that puts the reader right into the mind of a young girl tackling complex problems, while the futuristic setting Susan Kaye Quinn creates seems like it could be just around the corner.

Sixteen year-old Kira Moore hasn't changed like the rest of the kids; she isn't telepathic, and her mind is closed to the "readers" of the world...which is everyone else. She's an outcast, a "zero," and her few friends have abandoned her. If you can't be "read," then you can lie, and if you can lie, then how can you be trusted? Cut off from normal relationships, Kira exists in a world where the fluid sharing of emotions is an ecstasy, and the lack thereof is an agony. Tortured by her outcast status and denied the ordinary things that most kids take for granted, invisibility is her best defense.

But when Rafael - soccer star, school heartthrob, and her best friend since childhood - makes a move on Kira, it's the catalyst for a psychic change and she quickly discovers that she's not just a "zero."

When shady Simon Zagan enters the fold and begins to teach Kira what she can really do, life starts to change and Kira is finally accepted by her classmates. She is soon swept into a dangerous world of political criminals, corrupt government officials, and a dark conspiracy with global ramifications.

She's not a "zero." She's something worse.

Open Minds is addictive, and I had trouble putting it down, even though it's one of those reads that might not appeal to many grown men. I mean, it's about a teenage girl tackling all the normal problems that a teenage girl has, like dating and who to kiss. Not usually my cup of tea! But it also has some great sci-fi dynamics that really carry the book, especially around the ability to lie, invade peoples' minds, change memories, and influence dreams. As Kira begins to crave being a "zero" again, the adventure grows darker and she's swept out of a life she believed couldn't get much worse. Other authors often rely on violence or subversive elements, but Quinn successfully navigates the darker elements of her story without becoming gory or explicit, making Open Minds a great read for pre-teens and Young Adults. And it obviously appeals to thirty-something year-old men as well!

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel because simply put, Quinn has hit a home run!

~Vlad Vaslyn ~ Author of Brachman's Underworld ~

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

AWESOME!

Unique concept that captivates you from the beginning and keeps you enthralled throughout! I'm usually not a fan of dystopian novels, but this one i thoroughly enjoyed =)

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great novel - I highly recommend it!

Open Minds is a novel on a whole new frequency of brainwave functionality. It entertains new possibilities of thought. Of secrets and governmental cover ups. It's intense and exciting. And it will keep you glued to the edge of your seat.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Oh my God! What a fantastic story! The author had me clinging to

Oh my God! What a fantastic story!
The author had me clinging to the edge of my seat though out the entire book. From the beginng to the end I never knew what would happen to Kira Morre and the other characters next. This was a wonderful read. I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to review this book by the author. I sincerely urge readers of all ages to give this book a try. You will not be disappointed. I will give you a warning though; have a box of tissues nearby! The only thing that I am not happy about is that I have to wait for the next installment to come out before I can find out what happens next. If it were possible I would give this book six stars, but since I can't I will gladly give it five out of five.
Jessica

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a great story that has a heroine who doesn't make you wa

This is a great story that has a heroine who doesn't make you want to shake some sense into her. It was a well thought out story that didn't lead you in all the predictable places.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great dystopian read!

This is a novel that let's you know how much it would suck if we could all read each others minds all the time. Kira was a little chicken at first, but as the book went along she became a strong young woman with some fight in her. I grew to like Simon and then of course something had to happen near the end, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Great book for teens and adults, and the book stays pretty clean for anyone.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a must read

great book

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

Susan plunges readers into a compelling and frightening world where nearly everyone can read minds when they come of age. The very idea makes me shudder. This is easily one of the best books I've read not only this year, but in recent years. I loved it and highly recommend it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Random LadyBookWorm

Great book. I'm 10, and trying to find clean free books is HARD. Finally found one!!!

A wonderful read.  Kira grows up in a future where most get mind

A wonderful read.  Kira grows up in a future where most get mind reading ability around the same time that puberty hits.  She's ready to accept that she'll be a "zero" forever since she can't mind read, but then she finds out she's even more powerful.  Her new powers change her life, and put her on a path of adventure and danger.  This is a wonderful book that captures the angst of high school, the flutters of new love, and the heartache of injustice.  Can't wait to read the rest!!

Open Minds is a captivating story that I would recommend to ever

Open Minds is a captivating story that I would recommend to every person interested in the dystopian genre. The interesting concept developed by Susan Kaye Quinn, a world based on telepathy, in which words are useless, fascinated me and made me interested since the first moment I read the description. The plot wakes up your curiosity and imagination, making you wonder how people and technology will evolve in the future.




The first half of the book was a bit slow, without much action or dynamism, but it had what it needed to keep me interested. At some point, however, the situation changes drastically, and the story receives a significant dose of adrenaline and basically you can not leave the book from your hands. I felt there were some points in which the story loses its credibility, the problems are solved too easily, yet it wasn't hard to get over them. I also liked the author's writing style, simple and to the point, with no unnecessary details, sometimes slightly sarcastic and funny.




The evolution of the protagonist is well defined, but her relations with other characters are pretty weak. From a shy and lonely girl, but with big aspirations, Kira manages to overcome her limits and to discover her inner courage in order to protect herself and the ones she loves. The relationship between Kira and Raf wasn't emphasized because it did not have a major influence on the story, but I found it lovely and I hope that will be developed in the next volume. From her friendship with Raf, the protagonist learns something important, the fact that we can find sympathy and support very close to us and that trust is one of the basic components of a relationship.




I do not quite like it when people bring up in the discussion historical moments that we would rather forget (those who read the story will know what I am talking about). This is why I rated this book four stars instead of five.




Overall, Open Minds was a fantastic read that did not disappoint my expectations and surely made me interested in the next books.

I NEED MORE MINDJACK

I loved reading the frist mindjack book in this trilogy. I can't wait to get the rest of the trilogy... CAN ANYONE SAY PAYDAY!!!!!!!

Very Good

I really enjoyed this book. Great for teens and adults.

Easy read

This was interesting..i enjoyed the end.

First of all I want to thank the author for giving me the opport

First of all I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so glad I got this chance because OPEN MINDS is a BREATH OF FRESH AIR. And for those who read as much as I do, something original and fresh is the best thing ever!
In this book I found a very creative and distinctive plot, with a background and a world that is absolutely unique.
The writing is amazing, it flows easily and is not repetitive whatsoever. (as sometimes tend to be in YA, when authors like a phrase they repeat it over and over...well... here that doesn't happen and I'm glad!) Susan Kaye Quinn is a very resourceful writer. I love her style!!!
Regarding the story itself, it's placed in a future Chicago, around the year 2100 where everybody reads minds. Or at least, almost everybody.
The thing is at a teen age, everyone starts developing this ability which is very useful, taking into account that everything is mind controlled, from cars to phones to microwaves!
But as I said... not EVERYBODY can read minds... those are called ZEROS, and Kira is one of them. Right? Well, if you want to know, you'll have to read this book.
With an extremely courageous and quick witted heroine and a love triangle that is important but never overwhelms the reader, I found this story enthralling.
Kira rocks! And so does Simon. Raf for me was ok... he starts strong but then he just didn't make it for me... but well... I can't like everybody!

The scenario that its presented and the obstacles they have to face make it a super interesting story! 
Schemes, treason, government plots and adventure with a little romance!
I was shocked at the end, it's bittersweet... but  I want book 2 NOW!

For dystopian lovers, this is a must!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fabulous read!

I was instantly intrigued by the subject matter and it was near impossible to put my nook down while reading this. Very well developed characters and plot. I was sad when it ended - luckily it's only the first of the series!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read!

I'm not really a fan of futuristic, sci-fi literature, but the world Susan Kaye Quinn has created with her Mindjack trilogy draws you in from the very first page. The heroine, Kira, is such a relatable character. Who hasn't felt like a zero at one point or another? Full of edge of your seat action and suspense, Open Minds was a book I couldn't put down. I can't wait until the final installment!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Overall, a great read

The book takes place in a future Chicago (area) where everyone, or anyone worthy, is a mind reader. Everything is controlled by the mind: opening doors, television, speaking, and school learning is all done through interaction in the mind. No one talks anymore. Except that Kira hasn't gotten her mind reading abilities and so she's considered a zero. Raf, her best friend and love interest, doesn't care. He's sympathetic and likeable as a character. A soccer player that other girls hang around, he pays close attention to Kira. When he tries to kiss her, she knocks him out cold by sheer will. That sets her on edge. What has evolved in her mind? Why is she different than a reader? No one can read her thoughts but she can enter other people's mind and control them.

Then she meets Simon. She leans on Simon for support as he is the same as her: A mindjacker. He leads her into a world with other mindjackers, though most are not so nice. She learns that Simon has been lying to her. Kira's abilities are different than regular mindjackers. Her mind is impenatrable. After following Simon to a meeting with other jackers, she gets caught by the Feds. After she refuses to work for them, she's taken to a prison camp where they are holding other mindjackers...kids. Some leave the camp and never come back. Those that do come back, come with their brains altered. Kira has to escape. She finds Simon at the camp and he helps her out.

I won't go into detail so as not to spoil the read for you. I loved that the worldbuilding didn't confuse me. It was easy to follow how humanity has changed in their mind reading capabilities. There wasn't that much hard science to keep up with. Kira was a character I liked and followed throughout. However, the love triangle--if you can call it that--between Kira, Simon, and Raf fell pretty flat to me. Kira liked both of them, making out with Simon at least until midpoint. I don't think Simon was given justice. Let me leave it at that. I wanted Kira to feel more for him than what actually transpired. I don't know how else to explain it.

Overall, it was a great read and I would pick up the sequel to see how the world moves on after the fiasco Kira forces on society at the end of this book. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I love a good romance and felt this one could have done a bit more for poor Simon.

Another awesome book written by a fellow Indelible! I have been

Another awesome book written by a fellow Indelible! I have been waiting for time enough to read Open Minds and its sequel, Closed Hearts, in one sitting. With the release of two Mindjack Origins stories - The Handler and The Scribe - coinciding with Labor Day weekend, I've set myself up for a good ol' reading binge!

First off, I would recommend reading Mind Games first - it's a short story that gives a few clues to what's going on behind the scenes in Open Minds. At least, that's what I did and what the author recommends. Bonus, you'll love the character Raf even more!

I was enthralled with the world that Susan Kaye Quinn created. Set in the nearish future in the suburbs of Chicago, there are readers (most of the general population)and zeros (people that never went through the change and aren't able to hear and share their thoughts). If you're not normally a reader of sci-fi, don't fret. The more scientific and futuristic aspects of Open Minds are layered on throughout the story until they become familiar language. You will not need a glossary!

The main character, Kira, is a zero. Zeros are outcasts and don't have many future prospects. Kira has one friend that's stuck with her since childhood, a boy named Raf. They are into each other, but Kira knows that they can't ever be together. I found the love story thread in Open Minds to be believeable - meaning there is a lot of flirting and fretting. :)

Enter Simon, a different kind of person, not a reader or a zero, who shows Kira what she really is. This is when the story really starts to pick up, throwing action and government conspiracies, and a mob-like group called The Clan at us.

Then, Open Minds never slows down! I read this book in two sittings, and it would've been one if I didn't have to sleep.

I would recommend this book to everyone! Especially readers who enjoy sci-fi, thrillers, or futuristic novels.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.