Perception: A Clarity Novel [Hardcover]

Kim Harrington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2012 | Series: Clarity Novel

When you can see things others can't, what happens when someone is watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only, Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. Clare needs to see her way to the truth -- before it's much too late.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Perception

"A fast-paced psy-chick mystery." —School Library Journal

"A smart, paranormal mystery ride." —Kirkus

Praise for Clarity

*"Harrington's well-developed characters and tight plot are simultaneously charming, realistically complex, and intriguing...Clare is a teen detective for the 21st century." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Filled with romance and mystery and twists and turns, this book is a thrill ride." — Romantic Times

"The suspense begins on the first page...Great for kids who love all things paranormal or who just appreciate a good whodunit." — School Library Journal

About the Author

Kim Harrington is the acclaimed author of CLARITY, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant readers, and PERCEPTION, which Kirkus Reviews called "a smart, paranormal mystery ride." She is also the author of the middle-grade series Sleuth or Dare. Kim lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she's most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation. Visit her online at www.kimharringtonbooks.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Point; 1 edition (March 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545230535
• ISBN-13: 978-0545230537
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kim Harrington lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she's most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation. Visit her on the web at www.kimharringtonbooks.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite as good as Clarity, but still a fun teen mystery! July 18, 2012

By The Housework Can Wait

Format:Hardcover

Much like Clarity, Perception is an exciting, fast-paced teen mystery channeling the essence of Veronica Mars, but with psychic powers.

The love triangle between Clare, Justin, and Gabriel is still a huge part of the story, even moreso than in Clarity, since the secret admirer plot line obviously places a lot of attention on Clare's love life. I still see why she's torn between the two of them and why the choice isn't obvious, but I am happy to report that she does make a decision by the end of the book, and that it makes sense.

Clare was still smart and sassy, although occasionally painfully oblivious. She suffers from severe tunnel vision in some instances and misses some pretty big clues, but overall she was still an enjoyable character. And after all, she's not really a trained detective, so it actually makes sense that she wasn't picking up on everything.

Justin and Gabriel didn't grow a whole lot from the first book. I still liked them both, but didn't gain a lot of new insight into either of them. Yes, we learn a couple new things, but my opinion on both of them remained pretty much unchanged. It would have been nice to peel back a few more layers. But since I liked them in Clarity, I still liked them here.

The character who changes the most is Clare's brother, Perry. The events of Clarity hit him the hardest, and it's sad to see what has become of his character. While on the one hand, he is no longer the flippant womanizer of the first book (which is a bonus, in my eyes), his new personality isn't much of an improvement. I still like him, in spite of his flaws, but he wasn't a "fun" character in this book (and he wasn't supposed to be). I actually really appreciated that the huge developments in Clarity didn't just roll off his back, and that he needs to take time to process and overcome them.

As for the mysteries, I was a little less satisfied in this book than in the prior one. I felt like the clues were more obvious, and I'd figured out who the bad guy was really early in the story, despite a red herring that practically jumped up and down and screamed, "LOOK AT ME! I'M A RED HERRING!" It was still engaging and entertaining to solve the mystery alongside Clare, but didn't have the same impact that the first book did, in my opinion.

Overall, I really enjoyed this follow-up to Clarity, and would be interested to continue reading about the mysteries that Clare solves.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Part of the magic that I loved so much in CLARITY was missing in PERCEPTION March 2, 2012

By Abigail TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I gushed about CLARITY, the first book in this series, when it came out in 2011 because it was so obviously an homage to underappreciated Veronica Mars TV show. Both featured a socially ostracized but witty teen solving mysteries in her small affluent town. It had style, great pacing, a dishy mystery, and subtle supernatural elements to boot. PERCEPTION, while not as strong as the debut, still delivers a decent wrap up to the series.

At it's heart, the Clarity series is a mystery, and PERCEPTION kicks off right away with not one but three solid mysteries: a missing teen girl, a stalker, and a traumatized ghost trying to communicate with Clare's brother Perry. All three mysteries are balanced well throughout the book, and Clare makes a few wrong conclusions while investigating that made her feel all the more real. I also appreciated that the ending was a big surprise on all fronts, but still fit perfectly will all the clues leading up to it.

Sadly, part of the magic that I loved so much in CLARITY was missing for me in PERCEPTION. Literally. Clare's psychic touch ability was almost like an afterthought this time. It didn't really play a significant role in the mysteries she was trying to solve. In fact, it could lift out entirely and barely affect the story. My other gripe was with the two love interests. They morphed into one character. They said the same suggestive things, flirted the same way, and basically acted the same way. There was zero tension/anticipation about who she would ultimately choose because I couldn't tell them apart. It was a big disappointment on that front.

According to the author, there aren't any more books planned for the Clarity series, but that she would love to write more and already has a few mysteries in mind for Clare. Most of the various plotlines--if not all the character arcs--are wrapped up in PERCEPTION, and it does feel like a satisfying ending for the series. Taken together, if you haven't given these books a read yet, you're missing out on a couple fun, fast reads and a truly memorable protagonist. Veronica Mars fans especially should run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adored Perception April 6, 2012

By Step Into Fiction

Format:Hardcover

Brilliant. If you asked me to sum up PERCEPTION in one word it would be brilliant. It was a fun, mysterious book that had me guessing and then second guessing myself. I love books where you can't easily predict what's going to happen. It ruins the surprise for the reader, I think.

The love triangle is also beautifully done. It's an honest, teenage dilemma. Ex-boyfriend whose still in love with you and whom you still have feelings for but just not sure exactly what type of feelings. Then this new good looking, adventurous guys swoops in and makes your heart flutter. Yeah, so maybe not totally normal but how many people have been dumped and still have feelings for the person you just got dumped by? Those feelings just don't go away over night. There is a problem with this love triangle for the reader, as well. Both guys, ex-boyfriend, Justin, and new comer hottie (whom we first meet in CLARITY), Gabriel, are so damn likable. Most times, when I read a YA book with a love triangle (so about 95% of the books I read) one of the guys is so much more likable than the other but no, not in these books. I'm torn, are you?

Clare's brother Perry, that boy deserves a big freaking hug and I volunteer to give him one. He went through so much in CLARITY and it's forever screwed with his mind. Poor guy can't even leave the house without breaking down. One good thing to this? He's put a stop to his womanizing ways. His best friend, Nate, is worried sick about him that he comes home every weekend to spend time with him instead of living the normal college life. What a friend, seriously! I wish there was more of Perry, he might be my favorite character in these books.

Clare has a stalker in this book. A crazy stalker, at that. There are so many people this stalker could be and so many times you think you have it right but you might not. Something else happens that makes you question everything. I LOVE these kinds of books. I don't read enough of them. I like second guessing myself while reading. Then I feel happy if I've guessed something right. A lot of times I don't see things that are right in front of my face. So when I do guess something, I give myself a pat on the back. (Pathetic, I know...)

If you have not read CLARITY then I ask you, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? I loved it. And I highly recommend it but I do believe you should read that before reading this. Not that I think it's completely necessary but I find it might be easier and more exciting for the reader. So buy both of these amazing books. Or get them from the library...whichever you prefer just read them, please!