By Juliana Riverin
Staff writer
Contrary to popular belief that reading minds would be a beneficial thing, Sarah Mlynowski’s new book, “Dont Even Think About It,” explores the idea that telepathy would be a burden. Despite an interesting premise, the novel ultimately fails to be entertaining due to a cliché high school plot.
“Don’t Even Think About It” is a novel about a group of sophomores at Tribeca High School who receive a faulty flu vaccine and develop telepathic powers as a result. The students, despite having what most consider a superpower, quickly realize that knowing everyone’s thoughts is taxing, especially if they are thinking about one another.
The center of the story focuses around 26 students of homeroom 10B. They range from introverted to funny and well-liked. Although they do not share common backgrounds, their situation brings them together and drives them apart simultaneously.
These relationships are the most intriguing part of the book; they are realistic and as close to adolescent reality as a young adult novel can get. The character development achieved through the shifting relationships is what ties the story together, and incidentally keeps “Don’t Even Think About It” from completely falling apart.
The narration plays heavily on the personal dynamics as well. Instead of standard perspectives, the narrators are the students, speaking together as one. While the idea of having multiple narrators at once may sound confusing, having multiple characters give their opinions at the same time intensifies their personalities while reinforcing the “telepathic bond” angle.
However, despite interesting character dynamics told in an unconventional way, the relationships and narration crumble under a predictable story. Considering that the entire plot can be predicted from the first few pages, Mlynowski fails to create any intrigue or actual climactic grip beyond the students’ various bad habits. She relies on boring discoveries made by students overhearing thoughts in order to move the story along, which is incredibly predictable. Nothing of substance actually happens, as it is all shallow gossip that makes the novel come across as juvenile.
The crux of the story is also unoriginal. The students’ adaptation to their new circumstances is the same as in the Mlynowski’s previous works. For instance, “Bras and Broomsticks” has the eerily similar premise of a teenager adapting to new powers in her life and the need to hide them from the general populace. Although “Don’t Even Think About It” has better character construction, its overwhelming similarities to the author’s other novels undermines the book’s initially creative concepts.
“Don’t Even Think About It” is boring, despite its interesting characters and narration, making the teen novel another disappointing installment from Mlynowski.
“Don’t Even Think About It” is available digitally and in stores nationwide.
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