Minder (Ganzfield, #1)

Dec 01, 2010 TheBookVixen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, c-b

WOW! That’s the first thought that came to mind when I finished reading Minder. I had such an overwhelming feeling of sweet reward and satisfaction from reading this book! I had a silly grin on my face. This book pulled me out of my reading slump.

When I first got Minder, I didn’t know what to expect. I read the blurb but I really didn’t know what I was in for. I wasn’t prepared to be completely absorbed by this fascinating tale. I started reading and I was immediately pulled right in. Just from...more WOW! That’s the first thought that came to mind when I finished reading Minder. I had such an overwhelming feeling of sweet reward and satisfaction from reading this book! I had a silly grin on my face. This book pulled me out of my reading slump.

When I first got Minder, I didn’t know what to expect. I read the blurb but I really didn’t know what I was in for. I wasn’t prepared to be completely absorbed by this fascinating tale. I started reading and I was immediately pulled right in. Just from reading the first few pages I knew this book was going to be good.

The beginning of Minder is gritty, dark and extremely intense. In the opening scene, we find Maddie in a horrific situation. The intensity of this scene and the depth of emotion drew me in. The author’s use of her Psychology degree is put to good use in this book.

The characters are well-rounded. One character I am anxious to learn more about is Seth. We don’t “see” him in Minder; we only “hear” him talking telepathically with Maddie. I think there’s more to Seth and can’t wait to find out what it is.

Minder was a nice, refreshing break from vampires and werewolves. Don’t get me wrong – I love my vamps and wolves! But sometimes I need a breath of fresh air to clear the palate. And even though you don’t find any vampires or werewolves in Minder, you still get a wide range of paranormal powers. If you like Harry Potter, X-Men or Fantastic Four then you will definitely enjoy Minder. (Ganzfield reminded me of Hogwarts.)

The one problem I had with Minder was Maddie and Trevor’s relationship. These two characters instantly fall in love. With the use of their powers, they were able to skip the whole awkward ‘does she/he like me or don’t they?’ phase and jump right in to falling hopelessly in love. Things seemed to be too good to be true for Maddie and Trevor. I kept waiting for conflict to come but it was a long time coming. Their relationship felt too easy, too convenient and it progressed a bit too fast. But what I did like was the deep connection they shared – a strong one at that. Like two magnets being pulled together and nothing can get in their way.

Minder ends very well for a first-in-the-series book. No major cliffhangers but there are some unanswered questions that need answering which makes me want to read the next book in the series. At the end of Minder there is a sneak peek at Adversary, the 2nd book in the Ganzfield series. This short snippet, just a few pages long, will leave you there on the cliff, hanging on by 2 measly fingers. I was left with a gasp. Thank goodness Adversary comes out next month!

Word to the wise: don’t make any plans once you pick up Minder; you won’t be able to put it down once you start reading!

You can find this review, and many more, on my blog The Book Vixen.(less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Kate Kaynak rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: wrote, spencer-hill-press, great-ya

Yeah, of course I gave it 5 stars--I wrote it!

But honestly, I LOVE these characters. Maddie is strong, funny, and vulnerable. I feel like I'm just writing down what SHE'S saying, rather than coming up with "dialogue." And Trevor--I have a MAJOR book-crush on Trevor. *sigh*

I really hope you like it, too!

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May 23, 2012 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: shp

Minder Review on K-Books

"I'm not the swooning type, but right then I felt like swooning - big time."

Wow... That is all I can say right now. One thing is for sure Kate Kaynak is an incredible author. When I first heard about Minder I was intrigued and curious about the book and really wanted to find out what this series was about. I definitely was not expecting to be completely consumed by this series that I couldn't think about anything else. I completely fell in love with this book and I can't...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Hush Money fans, those wjho love superpowers and thrilling action rides!

Shelves: 2011, for-review, paranormal, ya

I remember seeing glowing reviews of Minder when it was released and so I was very curious to see what all the hype was about. Well I can say in all honesty that Minder deserves every single one of them, it definitely lived up to all the praise, hype and excitement!

It has been some time since I read such an enthralling YA novel which gripped me so intensely from start to finish. It was intense in both its fast paced, action packed plot as well as the emotional journey and discovery of the heroi...more I remember seeing glowing reviews of Minder when it was released and so I was very curious to see what all the hype was about. Well I can say in all honesty that Minder deserves every single one of them, it definitely lived up to all the praise, hype and excitement!

It has been some time since I read such an enthralling YA novel which gripped me so intensely from start to finish. It was intense in both its fast paced, action packed plot as well as the emotional journey and discovery of the heroine.

I found the mature portrayal of the teenagers while still staying true to their youthful and playful characters refreshing and yet realistic.

The relationship between Maddie and Trevor was endearing and heartwarming, and though it sure progressed rather quickly, it can be understandable under the very different situation and circumstances.

The honest and fresh tone of the novel kept the story unpretentious and captivating, especially due to its simplicity.

The set of secondary characters were well developed and varied, I loved all the small details Kate Kaynak put into each one of them, thanks to these they certainly gained dimension and stepped off the pages.

What I must ablsolutely highlight as one of the most amazing things about this novel is the original universe Kate Kaynak created. Besides the different "castes" of the inhabitants of Ganzfield (minders, sparks, charms, healers and telekinetic); she developed each category with their own specific traits (loved all the spark related games, precautions, details), and can't wait to discover the other sections in more depth and detail in the following novels!

Verdict: All in all Minder is a fantastic debut to a new (and I'd bet amazing) series. The Ganzfield series is not only for teens, it is for anyone who loves a thrilling, action packed read but still care for emotional depth, humour and three dimensional, layered characters and the development of their relationships. Having read Minder and entered the universe of Ganzfield I feel I gained a whole new set of buddies that I can't wait to spend some more time with!

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 Kelly Hashway rated it 5 of 5 stars

Maddie is a character that you can't help liking right from the start. She discovers she has the ability to read minds, but with that comes the power to overload people's minds with her own thoughts. She's dangerous to others when she's awake and when she has nightmares. But things get better when she meets Trevor. She instantly feels a connection to him, and since she can read his mind, she knows he feels the same way about her. Trevor makes her abilities calm down, and considering other Minder...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

One book that has been on my TBR list that I finally got around to reading (and I’m so glad I did!) is Minder. If you read my blog enough, you know that I have series issues with abuse in stories. I just can’t read it myself--don’t watch it in movies, and find it very difficult to invest myself in a book that deals heavily on the subject. When we first meet Maddie, she is in the midst of being attacked. Oh God, my heart almost gave out on me. I almost put the book down. However, the scene was qu...more One book that has been on my TBR list that I finally got around to reading (and I’m so glad I did!) is Minder. If you read my blog enough, you know that I have series issues with abuse in stories. I just can’t read it myself--don’t watch it in movies, and find it very difficult to invest myself in a book that deals heavily on the subject. When we first meet Maddie, she is in the midst of being attacked. Oh God, my heart almost gave out on me. I almost put the book down. However, the scene was quickly over, and no sooner was she attacked than she was able to save herself. The means in which she defeated her attackers had me hooked on the story by the first chapter. I’m so happy I pushed through. What Maddie had endured, and the way she handled it, brought me very close with her character. And as she began a new life in the Ganzfield boarding school, I felt for her as she faced all new obstacles and hardships. She was more than a likable character. I always fail in my reviews to express just how much I love a character when they truly touch me, but just trust me; Maddie is a strong, fierce, and thoughtful girl with amazing insight. And that’s not just because of her ability which allows her to see into other’s minds, though that does help with her growth as she evaluates the rights and wrongs of doing so. But she herself grew throughout the story to become a much stronger person because of who she was and her principles.

What I really loved about this story was the relationship between Maddie and Trevor. Normally I’m all swoony over a great lead guy, but I’m hooked on Trevor in a deeper way. He is drop dead gorgeous for sure, but because we are able to see what he’s thinking through Maddie, we are given everything. His vulnerability, worries, desires, strengths, weaknesses…. Everything. He’s an amazing character. The love between Maddie and Trevor literally made me breathless. While I was reading, there were passages where Maddie had to remind herself to breathe, and I found that I’d been holding my breath also. It’s just that passionate.

The paranormal aspect of the story was phenomenal. I'm so picky about this. For me, if there's not a strong enough plot, the romance fails. Both have to balance each other to make the story work. I completely lost myself in this story--rooting for the characters as they discovered more about their abilities and also following along with the logic and theories. I didn't pause once to question if something wasn't plausible, I simply nodded along, caught up in the world. Even had a discussion with my 13yo son later at the table about lucid dreams lol.

Okay, when I love a book this much I can go on and on. I tend to ramble. So I’m going to end my review here and simply say that Ms. Kaynak is an amazingly talented writer. I loved the voice of this story, and I fell in love with the characters. If you’re looking for something fresh in the YA Paranormal Romance department, do yourself a favor and check out Minder. If I still listed my review flames for ratings on my site, my blog would be on fire!(less)

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Sep 05, 2011 Alex Bennett added it

Shelves: own, signed

After putting this book off for so long, I finally decided to give it a shot. I don’t know what I was expecting when I started reading, but it was definitely different that what I found within the pages of Minder. Kate Kaynak has found a way to blend a sweet romance with some exhilarating action that had me flipping the pages eagerly the whole time reading.

I really enjoyed the premise of Minder, and the Ganzfield series. I love it when several different paranormals come together in a book or ser...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Stephanie Bibb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Note: A few minor spoilers mentioned here.

First off, woah-- the action gets started super fast. It's a little disorienting at first, but it gets the introductions out of the way and gets straight to the heart of the story. Minder stayed fast paced, even in the "slow" parts, and I'll admit, I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the powers system (especially the minders and charms), the main character is definitely likable (I appreciated the part where she considered trying to break off relation...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Felicia Chien rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book: Minder by Kate Kaynak
Pages: 195
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Spencer Hill Press

Short Synopsis: Maddie had always known she was a bit different than the other kids. It isn't until an accident forces Maddie to use her "special" gift, leading her to a school filled with kids with all kinds of special powers just like Maddie.

My Thoughts: A bit mushy at times with the "Insa-love" attraction, but an interesting fast paced read with the resemblance of X-Men.

Sixteen-year-old Ma...more Book: Minder by Kate Kaynak
Pages: 195
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Spencer Hill Press

Short Synopsis: Maddie had always known she was a bit different than the other kids. It isn't until an accident forces Maddie to use her "special" gift, leading her to a school filled with kids with all kinds of special powers just like Maddie.

My Thoughts: A bit mushy at times with the "Insa-love" attraction, but an interesting fast paced read with the resemblance of X-Men.

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...
--From Goodreads

My Thoughts: A bit different than the usual paranormal read, we first meet the main character, Maddie, as she is abducted by three men. When they try to harm her, Maddie "uses" her gift, leaving all three men dead. She then meets a Dr. Williamson who tells her she has a special gift and must learn to control her powers which can be taught at a school called Ganzfield, for gifted individuals.
It was interesting to read the different types of powers each student had. How Maddie could "read" people's thoughts, how another student named Cecelia could manipulate people's thoughts, and how a boy named Trevor was telekinesis and could move things with his mind. Each student at Ganzfield had a unique gift, though some more common than others, Maddie also discovers that though Ganzfield is a special place, the school is like any other with social hierarchies and bullies.
I found it a bit odd and interesting that the individuals with powers also had to take a dose of a drug that had been invented called dodecamine, to help enhance their special abilities. And without the effects of the drug, the individuals with these special gifts would return as normal, regular people.
I enjoyed reading the relationship between Maddie and Trevor, but at times felt that they grew a bit too fast too soon. They also had a bit of an "Insta-love" and some moments were a bit too mushy for my taste. I also found it a bit odd that Maddie and Trevor were the only ones given a special treatment of being together in the church when everyone else was separated, just because their powers proved to be more lethal than others. All in all, it was still a very enjoyable novel, and I look forward to reading the continuance of this series.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. (less)

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Jul 28, 2012 Hayden Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kate Kaynak's MINDER is my third Spencer Hill Press title, and I think it might just be my favorite!

Kate has a way of writing that makes you feel like you're a part of all the action. I laughed, cried and gasped my way through the book and all of Maddie's experiences. When Trevor was introduced, I fell in love with him right alongside Maddie; that's how real everything felt.

The concept of their abilities is quite interesting. Our main character, Maddie, is a "Minder," which is short for mind rea...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Cheree Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After getting attacked one night, Maddie Dunn does the impossible. She fights back with her mind. Her life is turned upside down, told she is a "Minder", a person who possesses telepathic powers, she is transported to Ganzfield, a secret training facility with people just like her, but they're not. The majority of kids here possess pyrokinetic (fire) powers and mind control, she is the only minder.

Here, she meets Trevor, a person who she instantly connects with. It could be the fact that he is a...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Steffy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed reading this book. It’s about a boarding school taking care of kids with special abilities but it’s not like the other one I read about it’s much more like the Xavier School For Gifted Youngsters (Seen/read X-men? If yes you know exactly what I mean).
The characters are very different and the gifts are also pretty diverse, there is no vampires or fairies it’s mind readers, healers, fire starters etc…
Maddie is a very lovable protagonist and she tried to make the best of a brand new...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Siobhan (Totally Bookalicious) rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first got this book I was really excited to start reading it. I had never heard of it so I decided to not read any reviews on it before hand and when into reading very opened minded, and what an amazing read this is.

Minder is the first in the Ganzfield series and an excellect first opening book. First from the first page is fast paced that really grips you. It really captured my imagination from the event revolving around our main character Maddie. She really is a breath of fresh air. She...more When I first got this book I was really excited to start reading it. I had never heard of it so I decided to not read any reviews on it before hand and when into reading very opened minded, and what an amazing read this is.

Minder is the first in the Ganzfield series and an excellect first opening book. First from the first page is fast paced that really grips you. It really captured my imagination from the event revolving around our main character Maddie. She really is a breath of fresh air. She is strong, stands up for what is right and just a little bit scary really wouldn't want to get on her bad side. I feel we finally have a positive roll model in Maddie.

Maddie is just one of the characters in the Minder and what an interesting bunch of characters Kate has created. There are a few that really stand out for me in this book apart from Maddie; and they are Trevor and Rachel. Trevor, oh Trevor, he is strong, protective and very much in love with Maddie. Rachel at the start of the story is quiet and shy but her character develops and I am sure will evolve even more in the next installement.

The thing I really loved about all characters and the world the Kate has created is that there is no vampire, werewolves, or angel in sight. I think this is the reason why I really loved it so. All the characters have mental powers that are being used for good as well as bad.

This would have got a full 5 star rating. However, there was a few small little things thats brought it down. I didn't really believe that Dr Williamson (the head of Ganzfield) would easily let Maddie and Trevor (Two Teenagers) live together in school. And I didn't think that after one day of knowing each other Maddie and Trevor just knew that the loved each other was very realistic. However, as the story progressed its was very easy to how much they loved each and how easy is was for them

So apart from those little things I have to say if you are looking for a story that is totally unique, thrilling and mind blowing then this is the book for you.(less)

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Dec 15, 2010 Ruby rated it 1 of 5 stars

Review first posted on http://rubysreads.com.

Minder is certainly a Private School Paranormal. At least, it doesn’t get much more paranormal than a bunch of teenagers with abilities ranging from telepathy to telekinesis to mind control. The title refers to the main character, Maddie. The story opens with Maddie discovering her telepathic abilities in the worst way possible. When she’s attacked by some schoolmates, her powers manifest, allowing her to protect herself, but resulting in the death of...more Review first posted on http://rubysreads.com.

Minder is certainly a Private School Paranormal. At least, it doesn’t get much more paranormal than a bunch of teenagers with abilities ranging from telepathy to telekinesis to mind control. The title refers to the main character, Maddie. The story opens with Maddie discovering her telepathic abilities in the worst way possible. When she’s attacked by some schoolmates, her powers manifest, allowing her to protect herself, but resulting in the death of her attackers. Maddie is soon whisked away to Ganzfield Academy, where she learns that she isn’t alone in having special powers.

I started this novel in high spirits. After all, this is a genre I enjoy, or I wouldn’t have dedicated a week’s worth of events to it. And I truly feel awful because the author contacted me personally and offered me a copy for review. I’ve waffled back and forth about this situation and decided that I have to be honest. Minder was not the book for me. My issues with it were threefold: One, Maddie. Two, everything seems too easy. Three, Maddie and Trevor.

I’m going to start with number two, even though it’s out of order. I mentioned that Maddie gets whisked away to Ganzfield, yes? Well, whisked is the right word. No sooner has Maddie learned that she’s telepathic than she’s getting an injection of some drug that will enhance her powers. Yet, conveniently, it doesn’t bother Maddie that she can hear everyone’s thoughts all the time. She can tune them out. Also, at Ganzfield, Maddie discovers that the “charms” rule the school. Charms can convince people to do whatever they want them to do, or believe whatever they want them to believe. When Maddie endeavors to save the rest of the school from the charms, she does. Pretty easily. Without much effort.

Which brings me to reason number one: Maddie. Maddie’s powers in particular irritated me. Due to the injection of the drug that amplified her power, she’s become a very strong telepath. She can read almost anyone’s mind, can suggest thoughts to people and can cause pain through the mind, too. I felt that Maddie was curiously unethical about her powers. Never once does she reflect on how she would feel if someone could read her thoughts. Thoughts are a very private thing and it’s either unrealistic or unlikeable that Maddie fails to understand how uncomfortable being around her would be. The friends that Maddie makes at Ganzfield are the students who don’t have a problem with her listening in on their thoughts. She also uses her telepathic abilities to pull answers from teachers’ heads. As a teacher myself, I see this as wrong and, what’s more, lazy. I can only hope that the later books in the series address the ethical issues of Maddie’s telepathic abilities, from planting thoughts in other peoples’ brains to a person’s right to the privacy of his/her own thoughts.

Issue number three, Maddie and her instantboyfriend, Trevor. My main complaint with Maddie and Trevor’s relationship has to do with that familiar issue of easiness. Maddie and Trevor hardly meet but they’re in love. But, wait, you say. They’re soulmates. Okay. I’ve read and enjoyed soulmate stories before. But the speed with which Maddie and Trevor go from A to Z irritated me. I’ll buy instant attraction, but I guess I just like a relationship that has a bit more up and down. Think Kate Daniels and Curran, not Bella and Edward. I also think the relationship loses a lot because we always know what Trevor is thinking, courtesy of Maddie’s telepathy.

My final issue–and really, I’m going to stop–was that the administration/faculty at Ganzfield sucked. For one thing, Trevor moves objects telekinetically in his sleep. Instead of giving him a cabin on his own like they have the minders, Trevor has been sleeping in an old, unheated, abandoned church. I mean, seriously? And no one cares? And no one notices/cares when Maddie starts sleeping in the church with Trevor? Um, I went to a high school with a boarding program. They’re strict about the opposite-sex thing. They have to be. I don’t buy that that would be different because of the paranormal aspect of Ganzfield. I’d also like to gripe a bit about the issue of the charms doing awful, terrible, no good, very bad things to other students. Like, forcing them to perform certain actions against their will. The faculty should have had a lid on it already. Since they didn’t, they shouldn’t be teaching. End of story. I say that as a teacher myself.

There’s no getting around that this is a harsh review, but I hope it isn’t unreasonable. Readers should know that Minder has gotten good reviews on Goodreads and that this is only one blogger’s opinion. Kate Kaynak is to be commended for the fact that she is a published writer and she has put her work out into the world. I wish her the best of luck with the rest of the series.(less)

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Nov 07, 2010 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-read-by-athenna

After a scary near gang rap that ended with all of the boys suddenly dropping dead leave Maddie Dunn wondering what she is. She is approached by a man by the name of Dr Williamson. He claims to run a school where she can attend to lean to Channel her gift. Of course any idea that gets her out on Jersey and facing murder charges sounds good to her right now.

Once at the school she finds it’s full of other kids with special gifts. They have what they call charms they are the bullies of the school...more After a scary near gang rap that ended with all of the boys suddenly dropping dead leave Maddie Dunn wondering what she is. She is approached by a man by the name of Dr Williamson. He claims to run a school where she can attend to lean to Channel her gift. Of course any idea that gets her out on Jersey and facing murder charges sounds good to her right now.

Once at the school she finds it’s full of other kids with special gifts. They have what they call charms they are the bullies of the school and their gift is to be able to force an idea in your head and force you to act on that command. Then there is the sparks they have an infinity to pyrotechnics they can manipulate fire. Next they have RV's these kids have the ability to remote view people and locate them or track them. Then of course there is healers who of course of the gift of healing. Then like Maddie there those who have the gift for Telekinesis they can read mines and push thoughts in to others minds and in special cases like Maddie they can actually cause physical harm or death with their mind. Last but not least the school has one Psychokinetic who comes to Maddie’s rescue when she flees the dorms to sleep in the church to stop projecting her nightmares into everyone in the dorm. Only to project it in to the u expecting Trevor who immediately ran to side to awaken her from her dream and help her.
Soon they find a connection between each other they can't explain its like their souls connected. He makes all the other voices receded to a distant mumble in her mind when she is around him. Can they build this relationship and explore what this connection means to them all the wail help rid the school of all the cruel Things the bullies do to all of the other kids.

The book is very well written and has very strong characters. There is a bit more tee. Angst than I prefer. There is a great connection between Maddie and Trevor I like how much they feel for each other. Maddie is a strong character she is new to this world but adapts quickly. Trevor has had. Lonely life and finally feels for the first time someone who genuinely cares about him. I like that this world is new not like anything I've read before. I think this is a good teen read. Teens can relate to the emotions that they are feeling and some the trails that Maddie faces at the school. It should be Interesting to see what happens now in the next book.

**Athenna**(less)

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Jul 13, 2010 Lady Rogue rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book sucked me in and would not let me go, not that I would have wanted it to. From the beginning, it captured me with the suspense of what was happening, then kepted me intrigued with the possiblity of what would happen. It starts off a little disturbing for a young adult novel, but the situation really was relevent to setting the foundation for the story.

The protagonist, a 16 year old New Jersey girl named Maddie, was the narrator of this book. In the beginning of the book, she experienc...more This book sucked me in and would not let me go, not that I would have wanted it to. From the beginning, it captured me with the suspense of what was happening, then kepted me intrigued with the possiblity of what would happen. It starts off a little disturbing for a young adult novel, but the situation really was relevent to setting the foundation for the story.

The protagonist, a 16 year old New Jersey girl named Maddie, was the narrator of this book. In the beginning of the book, she experienced a traumatic event that altered her life forever. It also revealed that she was not your average teenage girl, that there was something special about her. Soon, Maddie learns that she was not alone, that there were others like her. Hoping to learn more about her gifts, She attends Ganzfeild, a live-in secret training facilty (school of sorts) that would teach her to control her gifts and perhaps explain why she had them in the first place. I really enjoyed Maddie's character, not because she was strong and smart, but that she felt like a teenager...with all the insecurities, confusions, and mischeiviousness of one. More often than not, in most Young Adult books, teenagers come off too mature or adult in thier behavior and reasoning. It was refreshing as a reader, to witness the actual essence of a teenager being captured within the pages.

I also like to mention, I loved her relationship with Trevor. The telekentic that manages to share in her dreams. They seem to help each other control thier powers and develop a sweet and romanctic love. I really liked how well they connected, and thier internal interactions. As a mother, I did feel a little uncomfortable about the soul-mating aspect, but while I might not have liked it, it felt realistic and true. Which in an odd way, made the relationship seem more real. Then there was Maddie's growing relationship with Dr.Williamson. He made me curious. He was constantly testing her, and was obviously pleased with the results. I know that he had some paternal feelings towards her, but I couldn't help the feeling that he was also using her.

I found the plot to be clever and creative. A school for gifted students isn't something new, but students using there powers on each other and using the school as a battlefield, with the faculty's encouragment, is. Can you imagine, teens with incrediable powers using them on each other without consequences? Like all schools, there were clicks...there are the Sparks, students that can start fires with thier mind. Charms who "push" other people into doing things...think mind control. Believe me when I say, that some of the students had no fear of forcing thier cruelty on others. Maddie is a Minder, she has the ability to read peoples minds and kill with a thought. The bullies of the school soon learn, that there is always someone stronger and more powerful. When she stands up to the them, she makes some dangerous enemies, but she also makes some loyal friends as well. Think scoobie gang, but with a darker edge. It's a good thing she does make friends, because they will need to stick together...as I said, there is always someone stronger and more powerful...and this someone wants to see them all hunted, dissected, and dead.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. However, it was so realistic at times, that as a mother of a teenage daughter, it made me a little uncomfortable. The cruelity of teens, the neglect of supervision, the non-consensual violence, etc...it made it dark and disturbing. Fortunately, the story was balanced with the warm feelings of first love, the bonding of new friends, and the discovery of courage in ones self, making it a completely satisfying read. I had a good time reading Minder and I am really look foward to the second installment in the Ganzfeild Novels, Adversary. (less)

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Jul 04, 2010 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

It. Some books have it, some don't. And I'm not talking about "amazingness" or "ridiculous-awesome," although the two do tend to overlap. It doesn't always make a book awesome - rather, it is simply what makes you keep reading, what pulls you forward, what keeps a book niggling in your mind until you simply have to reread it...or pick up the sequel.

Minder has it, although even now I'm having trouble pinpointing why. Could it be the integration of real-life organizations into a fantastical story?...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Ellz Readz rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts...Suspenseful, enchanting, and romantic, Minder is a great start to an exciting new series.

Minder is an exciting debut YA novel from author Kate Kaynak. In this first book, we meet some exciting characters including the heroine Maddie. She is a smart girl who finds herself in some unpleasant situations. Despite this, she finds her confidence quickly and takes charge of her life. Maddie's character is very strong and memorable. I liked her and found her believable and easy to relate...more

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May 19, 2012 J.A. Belfield rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My rating: 3.5 stars

I enjoyed this one though it’s unclear in my head exactly how much. It started off really strong. I loved the short bursts of action/narrative paragraphs punctuated by the single-worded internal dialogue and how powerfully that helped the reader to understand Maddie’s emotions concerning herself. As usual, I hadn’t read the blurb for this and so headed in blind, and was very excited with where Maddie ended up and the potential for that. And even ducking back to read the blurb...more My rating: 3.5 stars

I enjoyed this one though it’s unclear in my head exactly how much. It started off really strong. I loved the short bursts of action/narrative paragraphs punctuated by the single-worded internal dialogue and how powerfully that helped the reader to understand Maddie’s emotions concerning herself. As usual, I hadn’t read the blurb for this and so headed in blind, and was very excited with where Maddie ended up and the potential for that. And even ducking back to read the blurb now I’ve finished, the book’s description makes it sound as though it should mainly revolve around that. However, except for the opening, where we get to oooh and aaaah over Maddie’s self-discovery, and around the final 20% of the book where it suddenly becomes kick-a$$ and I found myself sitting up straighter in my seat, this book is primarily a romance and totally about Maddie and Trevor.
Trevor? He was just adorable. He really was. Which was more than could be said for Maddie sometimes. Though I imagine that had more to do with her absorbing and accepting and modulating her abilities than it had to do with her being a b****. Luckily for her, Trevor’s morals were set at a higher standard—and her wanting to redeem herself of her crappy behaviour (which, don’t get me wrong, is only occasional), because she wants to be a better person for Trevor, did go a fair way to making her as likeable as she was. So did the ending. She turned into a fearless ninja, an awesome leader, and a great team player.
However, because the kick-a$$ ending was so kick-a$$, I found I’d have liked more of ‘that’ throughout. Less of the romance and mushy stuff that seemed to have sucked up most of the book, and far more of the action that held this story together. To begin, I found myself rolling my eyes at Maddie and Trevor’s instant connection, and the way they suddenly decided they were soul mates. I mean, how old were these teens? Sixteen, the blurb states (I had to double check), yet at one point in the book, Maddie refers to Trevor as the ‘man she loves’ (or words to that effect). So, whilst the romance of it was all very nice (because I love a good romance as much as the next bird), I did think it ended up being the main point of the story, rather than the fact we had an exciting complex of ‘gifted’ kids to be wowed with. I’m only hoping this insta-love gets expanded on so we can have a better reasoning for it in the following book(s), but preferably without it taking up nearly all of the words.
So I enjoyed it. The plot was okay, the writing was decent, it made me laugh out loud a few times, and the concept was pretty cool. I just felt the content could have been slightly better balanced. I’ll definitely read on though—especially now it’s been hinted at that there ‘should’ be more fun for the Fabulous Five (<(less)

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Sep 28, 2010 Brandi Kosiner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Minder grabbed my attention and did not let go! This has supernatural powers, an awesome love story, and a protagonist that I can admire, she can stand her own. Maddie is a strong character, a protector, quick learner and holds her own ground. She questions the immediate attraction to her love interest, instead of just simply accepting love at first sight. I like that because they know what each other is thinking, there is a real reason for this quickly developing relationship. There is no room...more Minder grabbed my attention and did not let go! This has supernatural powers, an awesome love story, and a protagonist that I can admire, she can stand her own. Maddie is a strong character, a protector, quick learner and holds her own ground. She questions the immediate attraction to her love interest, instead of just simply accepting love at first sight. I like that because they know what each other is thinking, there is a real reason for this quickly developing relationship. There is no room for subterfuge. While the love story is strong element, Maddie still pays attention to other duties.
Forgive the Twilight reference here, but I always wondered if the appeal to Bella would have been so high if Edward could read her thoughts, and come up empty. Minder however, is from the mind reader’s perspective, and I love that Trevor is sweet, caring and selfless enough to pass the test; and deserving of love. However, he is not perfect and I think that is actually an outstanding characteristic in novels. His issues can be worked through though, as Maddie can read his insecurity and fuel it toward positive.
The minor characters are well thought out, and they are diverse in personality which is amazing to read. Sometimes all of the groups of characters have the same personality and voice, and it was refreshing to see. Dr Williamson is a wonderful lead and father type figure. Maddie looks for his approval and it is good to have someone steady and there to mentor her.
Minder deals with some deep issues, the characters struggle with death, murder and the moral ramifications; because where is the line of too evil to live? She strives for equality among the supernatural and for evilness to be quelled. There are times when she herself steps over the line that she doesn’t want crossed, but she has support and friends to help her find her way. Faith is also touched on but there is nothing pushy or negative about it. It is done beautifully and it relates with scenes that are taking place.
This book is a part of a series, but the ending is done well; where I want and crave more, but it is not making me want to throw the book because of where it left me. The story is tied up well enough to sustain for a bit, but loose enough to make me think about what will happen next.
This is a wonderful novel, and I cannot wait to read more. I recommend picking it up!
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May 22, 2010 Kirstyn (Kit) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved

My mom actually got this ARC in the mail for review but she was reading some other books so I stole it :) I LOVED this book, and I know I say that alot but I really really mean it this time! It only took me 2 days to read and thats only because we went to DC all day on thrus. (I SO could have finished it in 1 day)

I loved how the conversations she had with people in their heads flowed so well with the normal conversations, it wasn't hard to follow at all. I did think it had some X-men -ish quali...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Maddi at megamad4books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

I had really high expectations for this one (it has such good reviews!) but it really let me down. I have several problems with the story but I’ll go through the good stuff first...

The Good:

This is a great light read. It entertained me enough that I got through it in less than a day; it was fun, intriguing and a little mysterious. I really enjoyed the concept for the book; the way Kate Kaynak has set out how these abilities are produced and why they occur is pretty cool and I did find myself say...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Franny (Mind Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I barely finished reading the first chapter that I thought: ok, this series is going to be awesome!!
Minder is the first book in the Ganzfield series. We meet Maddie, a girl who, after a tragic event, moves to the Ganzfield facility, a place for people with special abilities. Maddie, infact, is a minder (short for mind-reader) and can hear everyone's thoughts.
At first I didn't realize, but it's basically like X-Men but for teenagers. I was trying to explain my friend Silvia what the book was abou...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Inga rated it 3 of 5 stars

Yesterday evening I finished reading Kate Kaynak's book Minder.

As I wrote in one of my previous posts, I liked the beginning of the book very much. The author simply made an introduction that got your attention from the first page.

Teenager girl Maddie finds out that there is something very special about her. When she is threatened in an unexpected and aweful way, she reacts.. and suddenly 3 people are dead.

Thanks to a mysterious man, she ends up in a training facility which trains kids with spe...more

Yesterday evening I finished reading Kate Kaynak's book Minder.

As I wrote in one of my previous posts, I liked the beginning of the book very much. The author simply made an introduction that got your attention from the first page.

Teenager girl Maddie finds out that there is something very special about her. When she is threatened in an unexpected and aweful way, she reacts.. and suddenly 3 people are dead.

Thanks to a mysterious man, she ends up in a training facility which trains kids with special abilities. Maddie likes the Ganzfield School from the beginning, but finds out soon, that everything is not exactly as it could be. Socializing and finding friends might be dangerous affair in Ganzfield.

Everything changes when she meets a guy of her dreams - Trevor. They start spending some time together and find out, that they can't be without each other. They are falling in love and strengthen their abilities by it.

Not everybody in Ganzfiled likes Maddie's ability and Maddie soon finds out that being special can be very dangerous.

I like the plot of the story and characters too. The story is well written; it is easy to read and has a quickly developing storyline. The reason, why I would give 3 stars (out of 5) is, that at one point in the middle of book, where you have already understood what kind of facility it is and you are introduced to the characters, the story makes a step backwards. Right after Maddie and Trevor realize that they love each other, the story gets slightly slow and goofy for my taste, too much of description of adoration and first love. I think the love story between Maddie and Trevor is sweet, but at some point I just wanted to see what is going to happen next. I loved the beginning of the book and the end of the book, but in the middle it got little too boring.

My favorite character in the book was actually not one of the main characters, but Seth, who actually has a very small part to play in the story.

Maddie seemed little too overprotective and weird in her attempts to protect everybody from the charms - her plotting and wish to change the charms and bring them over to the good side. It made me want to say: "Come to the dark side - we have cookies!!!!" You can't simply change everyone and everything.

To sum it up - I will definitely read the next books of the series, because I liked the plot and I am interested to see, what is going to happen with Maddie, Trevor and Michael.

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Sep 26, 2010 Erika Trenas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, signed

Plot: 3/5
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Impact: 3/5
Overall: 4/5

What would you do if you found out you have special abilities not unlike those you see in sci-fi movies? Maddie Dunn never thought she was particularly special, but she finds out otherwise when she's assaulted by two teenage boys and, to defend herself, she unknowingly kills them using her dormant telepathic abilities. Finding her way to Ganzfield, a secret training facility for special teenagers, Maddie tries to manage he...more Plot: 3/5
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Impact: 3/5
Overall: 4/5

What would you do if you found out you have special abilities not unlike those you see in sci-fi movies? Maddie Dunn never thought she was particularly special, but she finds out otherwise when she's assaulted by two teenage boys and, to defend herself, she unknowingly kills them using her dormant telepathic abilities. Finding her way to Ganzfield, a secret training facility for special teenagers, Maddie tries to manage her new-found powers while adjusting to her new boarding school and falling for the boy of her dreams in this novel where X-Men meets Mean Girls.

I was pleasantly surprised by Minder- I had a feeling I'd like it, but I didn't know it'd have me as hooked as I am now! It's a great YA paranormal that borders sci-fi, and it sets up a steady foundation for a series that I have a very strong feeling I'll love. There are a number of things I like about it, but let me start off with the premise.

The story of Minder isn't hard to believe at all. In fact, while reading it, I could totally imagine a place like Ganzfield somewhere- Kaynak creates a world so realistic and believable in her novel, the idea of special abilities like telepathy seems almost tangible to the reader. Everything is so well-explained in the novel, it almost seems researched, though it's entirely fictional!

Another thing I really liked about the story is that it tackles the omnipresent issue of bullying, but with a special Ganzfield twist- in the story the bullies use their special abilities to manipulate the other students. The gist is there, but it's made a lot more fun and interesting with the involvement of powers.

I also enjoyed Kaynak's take on the special abilities, or mutations. She presents categories in the novel, and I love that it's organized, yet still creative. There's also a (fictional) scientific explanation behind everything, which makes it all the more palpable and amplifies the coolness by about a hundred.

However, as much as I liked all those things, I was not crazy about the relationship between Maddie and Trevor. Their whirlwind romance was, well, a little too whirlwind for me, and I felt that things happened too fast. If their romance took place over a longer span of time, then their relationship would have been ideal, but in the story things feel a little rushed, to the point that I didn't enjoy the romantic aspect as much as I could have.

That tiny nitpick aside, Minder is a compelling start to a new series that is sure to be loved by many. It's fun, action-packed and well-thought-out; it's a YA novel that's relevant to this day and age. It paves the way for the second installment in the series nicely, and I honestly cannot wait to see what happens next.(less)

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Jul 11, 2011 Cyp rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Every YA fiction lovers

Shelves: ya, 2011-reads, urban-fantasy, 4-star, mind-psi-abilities

Long story short: Maddie Dunn killed 3 teenage boys(unintentionally but well deserved on the guys' parts) and was about to be questioned in the interrogation room when one Dr Jon Williamson and Cecelia walked into the room, made her feel some weird things in her head, and swiftly escorted her to this camp for people with special abilities called Ganzfield.

Sidetrack for awhile. Wow, this really reminds me of SO many other books..Percy Jackson, Born at Midnight,(in a way) Cherub by Robert Muchamor...more

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Dec 06, 2010 Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ok so this book is about a group of kids who have extra abilities. I loved this book. Maddie the main character starts off with a tragic event that leads to her ending up at Ganzfield a school for students who are special. Maddie is a minder she is a telepath. She meets and falls in love with Trevor the only Telekenetic at Ganzfield. They have a unique way of communicating with eachother that goes beyond their powers. They are special to eachother and have a connection that know one else has. Th...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Amna rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book gets straight into the action as we are first introduced to Maddie while she is running for her life. Maddie has to find a way to deal with her special, unique powers. She is enrolled into Ganzfield- a private school for the gifted. The students can use their minds to start fire, move objects or compel other people. I liked the descriptions of each unique power, especially the mind control. I really started to love Maddie when she went out of her way to improve the lives of the other st...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Audrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Minder: A Ganzfield Novel, written by Kate Kaynak, tells a story that will blow your mind when you delve into the mind of Maddie Dunn, a telepathic sixteen year old girl who must learn how to control her awesome powers before someone gets hurt - or worse.

The novel opens in Ganzfield, a top secret training facility that teaches Maddie and others like her how to take command over their innate abilities that could lead to devastation. It's not an easy job, and Ganzfield isn't an easy place to be, b...more

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May 11, 2011 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Minder is one book that you shouldn't judge by its cover. It's totally AWESOME!

Maggie Dunn is a sixteen year old girl who discovers she has special powers after she is almost horribly victimized. Dr. Williamson's takes Maggie to Ganzfield, a very different kind of school. There Maggie meets other teenagers like herself. She falls for Trevor Laurence who has a unique power of his own.

Maggie and Trevor have a special relationship to each other, being soul mates has a very different meaning for th...more

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Minder (Ganzfield #1)

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