Others See Us [Hardcover]

William Sleator (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

When an accidental dunking in toxic waste gives sixteen-year-old Jared the ability to read minds, he discovers horrifying secrets about family members during a summer reunion. Reprint. SLJ.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After falling off his bicycle into a toxic waste dump, Jared develops the ability to read other people's thoughts. He is catapulted into psychic combat with his amoral grandmother and sociopathically manipulative cousin, both of whom are also mind-readers. In the course of this shrill, forced narrative, the beach compound in which Jared's extended family summers becomes a hotbed of robbery, greed and blackmail. Thin characterizations add little spice to an already jumbled plot: though Jared's cousin and grandmother do make heart-thumpingly nasty villainesses, it is difficult to understand just why they are so very mean. Ages 10-16.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-Jared, 16, eagerly anticipates summer vacation at the family seaside compound, where he will see Annelise, for whom he has more than cousinly feelings. But before he joins his extended family, he is pitched into a swamp and covered with industrial waste, thanks to the failure of his bike brakes. At dinner, he is nearly overwhelmed by the storm of intuitive feelings and words that force themselves into his brain. Eventually he understands that his toxic dip has made him a mind reader, and that his convivial family isn't really so happy. Everyone is afraid of angering his wizened grandmother and thereby losing an inheritance. Worst of all, charming Annelise is actually a narcissistic sociopath who remorselessly causes death. When Jared's grandmother blackmails him, he realizes that she, too, is a mind reader. What he can't understand is why she wants to give the power to Annelise, nor can he imagine what the girl might choose to do with it. Interstellar Pig (1984) and The Duplicate (1988, both Dutton) are probably the best crafted and most appealing of Sleator's novels, but this one certainly will be enjoyed. Jared is likable, and his grandmother is absolutely fascinating. The anxiety reflected in the dreams of the boy's codependent mother is a deft touch. Although Annelise's villainy seems a bit heavy, and the denouement takes place rather summarily, the plot is enticing and the pace fast. This is an author who knows exactly what adolescents care about, and he effortlessly hooks them with a few paragraphs of first-person narration. His genius is in taking vague science-fiction whimsy and using imagery to word paint it into a stunning virtual reality. Nobody does it better!-Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844671878
• ISBN-13: 978-0844671871
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,573,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mind Read, June 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Others See Us (Mass Market Paperback)

Did you ever wonder if that pretty 13 year old girl was thinking about you while you were thinking about her? When 14 year old Jared falls from his bike into a swamp near his family's summer home, he discovers that he can read minds, and is able to tell how others see him, which is not always a good thing. Do you want to know that somebody thinks you never wash your face and that you act imbelcilic? Jared doesn't either. But Jared also learns why how somebody is breaking ATM codes around town, a feat possible if you can read minds. But if Jared isn't sneaking into people's minds and stealing their access codes then who is? Can somebody else read minds? Does somebody else know that Jared can read minds too? Others See Us is a story about the responsibility that comes with great power. Its a fun and fascinating read. William Sleator must have read my mind before he wrote this, because this is the kind of book I wanted to read

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's a Sci-Fi Thriller, July 17, 2001

By 

Matthew Flaschen (Atlanta, GA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Others See Us (Mass Market Paperback)

Others See Us is a Sci-Fi thriller about a boy who falls into a toxic swamp and learns the truth about many people he knows. For example he learns that his cousin, who he adored is actually a cheater and a murderer. The plot thickens when he finds out that his grandmother was responsible for several robberies by mind-reading people's security and PIN codes.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, February 3, 2001

By 

Joseph Kerr "thebalrog99" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Others See Us (Mass Market Paperback)

"Oh wad some power the giftie gie us. To see ourselves as other see us!"

Possibly one of the last Great Sleator Books, "Other See Us" takes us for a journey into the minds of others. This is an amazing story of seeing how other people see things and who and what they are inside.

Once again Great 1st person use. Sleator draws you into the story until you realize you are the story. You empathize so much with the character that this could easily be happening to you. This in my opinion is one of Sleator's greatest skills, to make his characters utterly realistic. Never before have I experienced real people in circumstances like these. It's Awsome.

A final not I sometimes forget to add to my Sleator reviews. Do not be fooled into thinking his books are JUST for young people. I've read ideas and concepts in his booksthat I wouldn't see in any Koontz or King

Anyway add this to your list of must have Sleators.