A Step Into the Unknown: A Teenager's Journey of Self-discovery.

Mind Power #1

by Paul A. Mendel, Annie Girard (Editor)

What made Dylan's life so difficult to cope with? Like so many other insecure, sensitive fourteen-year-olds, Dylan confronts the usual series of problems, but his seem more stressful than most. Firstly, he needs to adapt to a new, large city school in Perth after moving from a small rural community down south; then he suffers being victimised by a remorseless school bully, not to mention by his inconsiderate siblings, who allow him little personal space; and, finally, he faces a tyrannical teacher who makes his schooling seem like hell. So, when a weird alien visitor - Orf - enters his life, he scarcely believes that everything begins to change for the better.
Orf teaches him how to tap into his latent powers and listen to his intuitive voice. Despite some embarrassing failures, Dylan not only learns to manage his own troubles but ends up assisting some of his classmates with their challenging dilemmas. But where does all this learning lead him? Why did this teacher appear? Could this mentor have his own, secret agenda?

218 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2021

Reviews

[Andrew Collins]

I was drawn in by Dylan’s struggles from the first chapter.
The story reflects real teenage emotions and challenges.
Orf’s role adds wisdom and hope.
It’s both imaginative and deeply human.
A very special book.

[Marcus Johnson]

This book captures the pain of being misunderstood.
Dylan’s life at school and home feels authentic.
Orf’s presence brings guidance, not easy solutions.
The message about inner strength is powerful.
I truly loved this story.

[Francis J.]

This story truly captures what it feels like to be a struggling teenager.
Dylan’s move to a new city school and the bullying felt very real.
Orf’s arrival adds a beautiful layer of mystery and hope.
I loved how self-discovery is mixed with gentle fantasy.
A touching and meaningful read.

[Maurice M.]

Dylan’s problems with school, family, and bullying felt very relatable.
The alien mentor, Orf, brings a unique and creative twist.
The journey of learning to trust his inner voice is inspiring.
It’s not just a fantasy—it’s about growing as a person.
I really enjoyed this book.

[Francis A.]

This book shows teenage struggles in a very honest way.
Moving to a big city, facing a harsh teacher, and being bullied felt real.
Orf’s guidance makes the story hopeful and uplifting.
Dylan’s personal growth is beautifully written.
A wonderful coming-of-age story.

[John L.]

I loved how the author blended everyday problems with science fiction.
Dylan’s school life, family pressure, and loneliness were very realistic.
Orf’s lessons about inner power felt meaningful.
The story is both emotional and imaginative.
Highly recommended.

[John J.]

This book made me care deeply about Dylan’s journey.
His struggles at school and at home are so relatable.
The mysterious mentor adds depth without overpowering the story.
It’s about courage, growth, and self-belief.
A powerful and thoughtful read.

[Christopher B.]

Dylan feels like a real teenager facing real problems.
The bullying and strict teacher were written very convincingly.
Orf’s role as a guide is gentle and inspiring.
The message about listening to your inner voice is strong.
A truly meaningful story.

[Bill B.]

I enjoyed how emotional and imaginative this book is.
The challenges Dylan faces are realistic and heartfelt.
The alien element adds wonder without losing the human side.
It’s about finding strength in unexpected places.
A beautiful story of self-discovery.

[Thomas V.]

This story handles teenage life with honesty and care.
School pressure, bullying, and family struggles are portrayed well.
Orf’s teachings give the book a deeper message.
Dylan’s growth feels natural and inspiring.
A very engaging read.

[Stephen K.]

The mix of reality and fantasy is done perfectly.
Dylan’s difficult school life feels authentic.
Orf doesn’t solve everything, but helps Dylan grow.
The emotional journey is powerful and believable.
I loved every chapter.

[Nicholas S.]

This book is more than just a fantasy story.
It explores loneliness, fear, and personal growth beautifully.
Dylan’s challenges made me feel connected to his journey.
Orf’s presence brings wisdom and hope.
A truly inspiring read.

[Anthony]

Matilda meets metaphysical sci-fi: A book for struggling teenagers.

The book follows the story of Dylan, a teenager recently moving to Perth and struggling to fit into his new school. He faces numerous problems including a bully, a tyrannical teacher and a domineering older brother. Dylan then meets Orf, an alien who teaches him silence, serenity and strength among other things to help himself and those around him.

Dylan begins the story lonely and scared of his unfamiliar surroundings, without any method of improving his situation. Orf teaches him a variety of techniques to enable him to help himself and those around him, including those who terrorise him. These include visualising sending light to those around him as a way to practice understanding and forgiveness and imagining walking down a coloured staircase among many other things. Later in the book, Dylan learns about telekinesis, telepathy, teleportation and healing - these abilities he develops definitely make the book lean more towards science-fiction as the lesson behind these abilities is unclear to me as a reader, unlike the earlier abilities which are useful in real-life.

An aspect of the book I found unusual was the dialogue of many characters, particularly younger characters such as Dylan, Lauren and Ethan. These characters do not necessarily speak in manner which is discordant with the way most Australian teenagers speak. Dylan for example states to Lauren, "...I thought we'd moved on the from dark ages we learned about in HASS, but it seems not. I feel so sorry that you have received such heartless dealings." It seems to be a recurring pattern that many of the younger characters speak in long blocks using language which is rarely used by modern teenagers.

Interestingly, as I read this book I was reminded of Roald Dahl's Matilda. Both books introduce us to young protagonists unable to reconcile with their surroundings, but later develop abilities which help them to improve their situation. However where these books are different is that Matilda removes herself from the situation by moving away from the Wormwoods and Miss Trunchbull leaves, whereas Dylan builds a relationship with Ethan, reconciles with his brother and (discreetly) helps the teacher who terrorises him when he first moves to Perth. As such, I found that Mendel's novel teaches a more important lesson to young readers than Matilda.

While Mendel's book leans into the impossible, the wisdom presented in Dylan's story teach readers real-life lessons including patience, empathy and understanding. Even the more esoteric lessons Dylan learns, such as 'sending light' to those hurting you (as a visualisation of forgiveness or understanding), I found to be useful in real-life.