High school sophomore Matt Pine always thought he’d grow up to be a superhero—after all, not everyone can move things with their mind. But he can only move small stuff, nothing big enough to matter; it wasn’t big enough to save his mom from dying in a fire five years ago. Ever since he failed that night, he’s been hiding from his Ability, and he’s come to grips with the fact that superheroes aren’t real. Now he just wants to get through high school in one piece.

But when a semi-truck smashes into a car right in front of him, and he watches the driver die, Matt soon discovers that the death was anything but accidental. The owner of the local auto parts factory, Seth Crossman, took the man out to cover up a defective product…and he’s not done killing yet. And since everyone else in town is too scared to do anything, Matt decides it’s up to him. That means learning to use this Ability he’s been hiding from; and getting some help from Phillip and Tess, who have their own overlooked talents. But they’re going up against brawn and bullets, so they’ll have to pool everything they have to keep anyone else from getting killed—including themselves.

Praise & Reviews

“A rare story that empowers kids from regular walks of life... Heroes are not just comic book legends defined by their powers, but everyday people who simply do what is right. “ (Early Reader Review)

“When Matt faces trouble in his hometown, the teen and his friends soon find out they’re not losers after all. In this young-adult gem, Demarest creates genuine characters whose loyalty and courage are tested. While doing the right thing isn’t always easy, sometimes it’s even dangerous.” (Nicole Sorrell, author of The Art of Living Series)

“A sinister plot that could prove deadly on a grand scale. Matt's not the only one who learns to appreciate a special power. Along the way, they all learn that sometimes a disability is an ability in disguise—it all depends on how you use it.” (Fran Borin, author of The Ghost Adventures of Orion O’Brien Series)

“The characterization of Tess, a non-speaking autistic girl is not only extremely respectful and accurate, but something to be commended as an example as superb representation of a capable autistic individual.” (Early Reader Review)