Sekret: An Empty Mind is a Safe Mind

Reviewed by: Karen Sandlin Silverman - Scarborough HS, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 13, 2015

Review

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and the space race between Russia and the US, Sekret is a fast-paced historical thriller with a paranormal storyline. Yulia is living a hardscrabble existence – she's in hiding with her mother and possibly autistic brother and spends her days bartering for goods at the black market. She is captured by the KGB and taken to a remote mansion to be trained to spy for Russia with a small group of teens, all with various psychic abilities. Yulia can read thoughts by touching people and "read" lingering memories on objects. Others can see the future, some can view things remotely, and "scrubbers" can erase memories in others. Yulia is a reluctant participant but the KGB has taken her mother and brother so she feels she has no choice. History buffs will enjoy the mentions of Yuri Gagarin, the Beatles, Khrushchev, and JFK. As with many YA novels, there's even time for a little romance and I predict a sequel.

Overall Book Score: very good