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The Possible
by
Some storms rage from within.
What if…a teenage girl could move objects with her mind?
What if…someone turns up at her door asking questions she doesn’t want to answer?
Kaylee lives a normal life with her adoptive parents, and almost never thinks of her birth mother, Crystal, who is serving a life sentence in prison. But the woman at the front door is producing a podcast abou ...more
What if…a teenage girl could move objects with her mind?
What if…someone turns up at her door asking questions she doesn’t want to answer?
Kaylee lives a normal life with her adoptive parents, and almost never thinks of her birth mother, Crystal, who is serving a life sentence in prison. But the woman at the front door is producing a podcast abou ...more
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Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
June 6th 2017
by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
(first published June 1st 2017)
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Ellen
It was a closed ending, so I don’t think so.
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My full review can be found at United by Pop.
I adore novels that seem to about one particular thing, but are instead concerned with a wider social topic. This is exactly what Tara Alterbrando does here. The subject of Kaylee's mother's telekinesis invites the reader to explore society's treatment of the other and the witch-hunt that dogs females who dare to be anything other than the image of the accepted.
Both Kaylee and her mother, during their teen years, struggled to be accepted and both deci ...more
I adore novels that seem to about one particular thing, but are instead concerned with a wider social topic. This is exactly what Tara Alterbrando does here. The subject of Kaylee's mother's telekinesis invites the reader to explore society's treatment of the other and the witch-hunt that dogs females who dare to be anything other than the image of the accepted.
Both Kaylee and her mother, during their teen years, struggled to be accepted and both deci ...more
I had read The Leaving and really enjoyed it, so I was pretty excited about this book.
I struggled with Kaylee right away. She's bratty and self-centered and kind of a jerk to her friends. She gets obsessed with the podcast idea and in allowing that to take over her life, she doesn't realize how she's treating people. I'm 100% on board with this attitude if there's some growth; however, by the end of the book, it didn't feel like anything had really changed. It was hard to root for her.
Plot wis ...more
I struggled with Kaylee right away. She's bratty and self-centered and kind of a jerk to her friends. She gets obsessed with the podcast idea and in allowing that to take over her life, she doesn't realize how she's treating people. I'm 100% on board with this attitude if there's some growth; however, by the end of the book, it didn't feel like anything had really changed. It was hard to root for her.
Plot wis ...more
I don't need to see every cover that'll come out until the year 2027 to affirm this is by far the best cover in the next 2 decades.
I'm so in love with it; the detail, the idea, the imagination, all of it. Bonus: I'm also in love with the title and the author's last name. Don't ask me why, I just love "Altebrando." ...more
I'm so in love with it; the detail, the idea, the imagination, all of it. Bonus: I'm also in love with the title and the author's last name. Don't ask me why, I just love "Altebrando." ...more
The Possible was a hot mess. After Altebrando’s previous book, I expected this to be a dramatic improvement but it was not. In fact, I disliked this one a whole lot more than The Leaving. I wish I could say there was a single redeemable aspect to this story but I did not enjoy a moment of it. It was simply horrendous. The plot was all over the place. The premise was there but its execution was severely lacking. I am not sure whether this was meant to be a thriller, magical realism or what. The l
...more
All Kaylee's life strange things have happened that have been shaken off as nothing but mere coincidences. Now at seventeen, Kaylee is about to learn that she is not only adopted but that her real mother Crystal is currently up for parole as she was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her baby son. Kaylee was four when this happened, and it turns out that she testified against her mother and was one of the key witnesses. Enter Liane; she is making a podcast about Crystal's life as she was ...more
Does she or doesn’t she?
When Liane, a reporter, asks Kaylee if she has telekinetic powers like her biological mother, she doesn’t answer. Liane wants the teenager to participate in a podcast reexamining the death of her toddler brother. Crystal, Kaylee’s birth mom, who has always maintained her innocence, is in prison for his murder. Who is Kaylee, really? The softball star or something much darker.
Tara Altebrando has become a favorite of mine, for the pure joy I experience reading her books. S ...more
When Liane, a reporter, asks Kaylee if she has telekinetic powers like her biological mother, she doesn’t answer. Liane wants the teenager to participate in a podcast reexamining the death of her toddler brother. Crystal, Kaylee’s birth mom, who has always maintained her innocence, is in prison for his murder. Who is Kaylee, really? The softball star or something much darker.
Tara Altebrando has become a favorite of mine, for the pure joy I experience reading her books. S ...more
A page-turner of a story that keeps the reader wondering - along with the characters - whether or not this book should be classified as regular contemporary YA or as a tale of the paranormal. With references to Carrie, Matilda, and Eleven from Stranger Things, the book asks the questions: Is telekineses real? And if it is, what happens to young girls with those powers when they grow up?
Our main character is Kaylee, a high school junior and star softball pitcher who seems like she literally can’t ...more
Our main character is Kaylee, a high school junior and star softball pitcher who seems like she literally can’t ...more
3.5 stars!
This was the perfect YA mystery. With quick-pacing like We Were Liars & an edge of paranormal, that reminded me of the first half of The Graces, Altebrando has impressed me again. You will be drawn into Kaylee's world as it spirals out of control.
...more
I received a copy of The Possible from Bloomsbury Australia to review.
I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I started this book. I kind of went into it thinking this telekinesis stuff was all crap. But then I thought what if this is like Matilda? Because anything in fiction is possible. So I decided to keep an open mind.
It took me a while to get used to how this story was told. Like, Kaylee’s memories would sometimes interrupt whatever was happening in the moment. It was kind of annoying at the ...more
I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I started this book. I kind of went into it thinking this telekinesis stuff was all crap. But then I thought what if this is like Matilda? Because anything in fiction is possible. So I decided to keep an open mind.
It took me a while to get used to how this story was told. Like, Kaylee’s memories would sometimes interrupt whatever was happening in the moment. It was kind of annoying at the ...more
Tara Altebrando is becoming one of my favorite YA mystery writers. This story had me hooked from the begining. Even though I disliked the main character, I loved the premise and how I was constantly questioning reality and fiction until the very end.
3.5 stars! For anyone who has seen the horror movie Carrie, the idea that someone can manipulate matter with the mind is, frankly, mind boggling.
In The Possible, Kaylee is quite intrigued when she discovers her birth mother Crystal not only killed Kaylee’s younger brother when Kaylee was four, but was also once a famous teen for her telekinetic abilities. Now in jail, Crystal continues to plead innocent to the murder charges.
When a local podcast host wants to interview Crystal and Kaylee, the ...more
In The Possible, Kaylee is quite intrigued when she discovers her birth mother Crystal not only killed Kaylee’s younger brother when Kaylee was four, but was also once a famous teen for her telekinetic abilities. Now in jail, Crystal continues to plead innocent to the murder charges.
When a local podcast host wants to interview Crystal and Kaylee, the ...more
The plot and the cover of The Possible initially caught my eye and I immediately jumped in when my copy arrived in the mail. It was a quick and easy read, but even though I really enjoyed the story the writing seemed a little too simple in the beginning. The characters were a little cliche, and the main character was slightly untrustworthy as a narrator. Initially, it was a little dull for me, but I soon became totally engrossed in the world Altebrando created and finished the novel in one sitti
...more
I read this book on a complete whim and I have to admit, it’s nothing memorably unfortunately.
When Kaylee is approached by a woman creating a podcast on her estranged mother, Kaylee past is blow wide open, leaving her with more questions than she has answers.
Our main character is Kaylee, who I found to be insufferable! She’s bratty and self-obsessed, on multiple occasions using her friends to benefit herself or becoming suspicious of them for no reason. She’s a bad friend, period. She also has ...more
When Kaylee is approached by a woman creating a podcast on her estranged mother, Kaylee past is blow wide open, leaving her with more questions than she has answers.
Our main character is Kaylee, who I found to be insufferable! She’s bratty and self-obsessed, on multiple occasions using her friends to benefit herself or becoming suspicious of them for no reason. She’s a bad friend, period. She also has ...more
DNF at 17%
I had a difficult time connecting with the main protagonist, Kaylee, in this story. So much so that I just couldn't go further than 17% into the story. Granted, this isn't a long book. But when Kaylee never once considered any of the advice given to her, nor did she once think of anyone else but herself, I was done. And typically, I have absolutely NO problem reading teen stories and relating to the immature emotions and angst. I sometimes go looking for it just to relive my fun teen ...more
I had a difficult time connecting with the main protagonist, Kaylee, in this story. So much so that I just couldn't go further than 17% into the story. Granted, this isn't a long book. But when Kaylee never once considered any of the advice given to her, nor did she once think of anyone else but herself, I was done. And typically, I have absolutely NO problem reading teen stories and relating to the immature emotions and angst. I sometimes go looking for it just to relive my fun teen ...more
I will need to reread the finished copy considering how chopped up this eARC was. the book had a lot of potential to be great but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. review to come
...more
The Possible had an intriguing premise, but failed dismally to deliver. The execution was horrible and the only reason I managed to finish was because the book was short and by skimming ¾ of the book, I managed to finish it in a couple of hours.
The Possible begins with Kaylee getting visited by a reporter, who wants to interview her for a podcast about her biological mum. Her biological mum, who is currently in prison for the murder of Kaylee’s brother, was once ‘famous’ for supposedly possessin ...more
The Possible begins with Kaylee getting visited by a reporter, who wants to interview her for a podcast about her biological mum. Her biological mum, who is currently in prison for the murder of Kaylee’s brother, was once ‘famous’ for supposedly possessin ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
May 30, 2017
Kaitlyn Davis
added it
I enjoyed this book! The mystery drew me in and kept me turning the pages :) I wavered back and forth from believer to non-believer, which I think was the point, and the constant guessing and theorizing made the book really interesting! Such a unique premise for a book that was super unlike anything else I've read! The characters didn't really draw me in and the romance confused me a bit (seemed to come from nowhere), but I was drawn into the plot and the intrigue and enjoyed being surprised by
...more
real rating: 3.5
disclaimer: i finished this last night so these are the thoughts that i have been sitting with.
this was a decent story but it didn’t really do it for me.
based on the description, i guess that the plot was going to take me somewhere else. i’m not mad that it didn’t, it was just more childish than i thought.
there’s no question we had character development, however, kaylee remained the same for the majority of this. the person she was before was stuck up and almost hateful. it w ...more
disclaimer: i finished this last night so these are the thoughts that i have been sitting with.
this was a decent story but it didn’t really do it for me.
based on the description, i guess that the plot was going to take me somewhere else. i’m not mad that it didn’t, it was just more childish than i thought.
there’s no question we had character development, however, kaylee remained the same for the majority of this. the person she was before was stuck up and almost hateful. it w ...more
This book was kind of disappointing. I was expecting a lot more of it, especially since it had been on my to-read-list since it came out, but I hadn’t been able to find it since. For starters, the book was definitely not the genre I had connected the description to. The format of writing was also a little odd. I suppose it made viewing text conversations and visualizing certain papers easier, but it just wasn’t my style. The book took a much different turn than I anticipated: for better or worse
...more
Woah. This was adrenaline pumping! It was that good! Kaylee lives with her adopted mother and father, living an ordinary life, studying, hanging out with friends... Obsessing over a boy she barely knows. [eye roll]
One day, she's visited by a reporter working on a podcast: The Possible.
The reporter is investigating the case of Kaylee's biological mother, Crystal.
Very tense, as Crystal was sentenced to prison for life after murdering Kaylee's brother when she was younger.
There was a suspicion th ...more
One day, she's visited by a reporter working on a podcast: The Possible.
The reporter is investigating the case of Kaylee's biological mother, Crystal.
Very tense, as Crystal was sentenced to prison for life after murdering Kaylee's brother when she was younger.
There was a suspicion th ...more
The Possible by Tara Altebrando.
What if ... no one knows the truth about you?
It's been thirteen years since Kaylee's infamous birth mother, Crystal, received a life sentence for killing Kaylee's little brother in a fit of rage. Once the centre of a cult-following for her apparent telekinetic powers, nowadays nobody's heard of Crystal.
This was a good read with good characters. Little slow. 4*. Netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing plc. ...more
What if ... no one knows the truth about you?
It's been thirteen years since Kaylee's infamous birth mother, Crystal, received a life sentence for killing Kaylee's little brother in a fit of rage. Once the centre of a cult-following for her apparent telekinetic powers, nowadays nobody's heard of Crystal.
This was a good read with good characters. Little slow. 4*. Netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing plc. ...more
This book was okay. Super quick read that was interesting enough but not really super gripping to me. For a thriller, a lot was predictable and it was pretty trope-y.
July 6th Update:
I changed this to two stars because the more I was thinking about it the less I liked this book. It was a fine read but none of the characters were flushed out and it just felt so flat.
July 6th Update:
I changed this to two stars because the more I was thinking about it the less I liked this book. It was a fine read but none of the characters were flushed out and it just felt so flat.
This book is about a teenager named Kaylee who has telekinetic powers, but, she hasn't figured it out yet she can control things with her mind. Her birth mother is serving a life in prison. I definitely recommend this book it is full of thrills and excitement.
...more
At first I really didn’t care for MC, but then her unappealing traits started making sense, and there was a point I thought ‘oooh, maybe this will be really good!’ but then the plot turned the wrong way for my liking.
10 stars!!! Loved the writing style
Actual 3.75/5 Stars
I thought this book sounded great! Crime podcasts are a huge thing right now so throwing that in a YA novel intrigued me. However, I was left bored and unsatisfied with the ending. Most of it felt predictable, but some felt like a let down. Still giving three stars because I was able to get through it because the plot line was intriguing, just wish it followed through!
Rated 3.5
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Tara Altebrando is the author of numerous books for young adult and middle-grade readers. Her upcoming book, THE LEAVING (Bloomsbury), is a YA thriller that received a starred PW review and is a Junior Library Guild selection. Her other YA novels include ROOMIES, coauthored with Sara Zarr; Dreamland Social Club (A Kirkus Reviews Best Books for Teens), The Best Night of (Your) Pathetic Life, What H
...more
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