About the Author

David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, "Hidden Talents," an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. He is also the author of "Flip" and the two short story collections "In the Land of the Lawn Weenies "and "Invasion of the Road Weenies." He lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania with his wife, daughter, and three cats.

Reviews

""Hidden Talents" is becoming--and deserves to be--a classic of YA literature. It's one of the best, no matter what age you are."--Orson Scott Card, best-selling author of "Ender's Game," on "Hidden Talents"
"Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author."--"VOYA" (5Q 4P) on "Hidden Talents" "A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor."--"Booklist "on" Hidden Talents"
"Sure to be popular."--"Kliatt "on" Hidden Talents"
"Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human."--"Publishers Weekly "on" Hidden Talents"

" "Hidden Talents" is becoming-- and deserves to be-- a classic of YA literature. It's one of the best, no matter what age you are." -- Orson Scott Card, best-selling author of "Ender's Game," on "Hidden Talents"

" Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author." -- "VOYA" (5Q 4P) on "Hidden Talents" " A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor." -- "Booklist "on" Hidden Talents"

" Sure to be popular." -- "Kliatt "on" Hidden Talents"
" Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human." -- "Publishers Weekly "on" Hidden Talents"

"Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author."--"VOYA "(5Q 4P)
"A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor."--"Booklist"
"Sure to be popular."--"Kliatt"
"Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human."--"Publishers Weekly"
"I have never had a class so completely mesmerized by a book. The characters are witty, intelligent, genuine, and enchanting."--Mia Moen, 4th Grade Teacher Columbia Elementary School Annandale, Virginia.

Gr 6-8-Edgeview Alternative School represents the end of the line for Martin Anderson. At 13, he's been kicked out of every school in his district, and feels more than a little skeptical about making a new start in this lonely, gray place. Still, he begins to establish tentative friendships with his pyromaniac roommate, Torchie, and a few of the other kids. They band together to form some small wall of protection against the school's most disturbed bully, Lester Bloodbath. Soon, Martin suspects that his friends are far more than ordinary misfits, and he confronts them with his theories about their psychic powers. His excitement in his discovery turns to disappointment when they turn against him out of fear of being labeled freaks. Fortunately, a class science experiment finally gives Martin the evidence he needs to persuade his friends of their talents. He coaches them as they learn to control their powers and leads them as they face their greatest challenge: a battle with Bloodbath that will decide the fate of the school. This plot is the stuff of most teenagers dreams-the discovery that you and your friends have superpowers. Unfortunately, the story suffers from a frustratingly slow pace and an awkward writing style that alternates between Martin's first-person narrative and letters, memos, and brief boxes of dialogue. Also, the characters lack detail and definition. Stephanie Tolan's Welcome to the Ark (Morrow, 1996) is a darker, but more satisfying tale of extrasensory abilities.-Kelly P. Kingrey, Sabine Parish Library, Many, LA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

""Hidden Talents" is becoming--and deserves to be--a classic of YA literature. It's one of the best, no matter what age you are."--Orson Scott Card, best-selling author of "Ender's Game," on "Hidden Talents"
"Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author."--"VOYA" (5Q 4P) on "Hidden Talents" "A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor."--"Booklist "on" Hidden Talents"
"Sure to be popular."--"Kliatt "on" Hidden Talents"
"Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human."--"Publishers Weekly "on" Hidden Talents"
" "Hidden Talents" is becoming-- and deserves to be-- a classic of YA literature. It's one of the best, no matter what age you are." -- Orson Scott Card, best-selling author of "Ender's Game," on "Hidden Talents"

" Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author." -- "VOYA" (5Q 4P) on "Hidden Talents" " A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor." -- "Booklist "on" Hidden Talents"

" Sure to be popular." -- "Kliatt "on" Hidden Talents"
" Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human." -- "Publishers Weekly "on" Hidden Talents"

"Lubar's first novel is wondrously surprising, playful, and heartwarming. A promising new author."--"VOYA "(5Q 4P)
"A good bet for readers who like offbeat fiction. The dialogue is right on target with plenty of humor."--"Booklist"
"Sure to be popular."--"Kliatt"
"Lubar serves up great fun, along with an insight or two for those whose powers are only too human."--"Publishers Weekly"
"I have never had a class so completely mesmerized by a book. The characters are witty, intelligent, genuine, and enchanting."--Mia Moen, 4th Grade Teacher Columbia Elementary School Annandale, Virginia.