cover image Impulse

Impulse

Steven Gould. Tor, $25.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7653-2757-4

Familiarity with Gould’s Jumper and Reflex (or, at minimum, the film of Jumper) is recommended before starting this initially confusing but intriguing story. Millicent “Cent” Ross is born in secrecy and raised in relative seclusion by her overprotective parents, Millie and Davy. The isolation isn’t without reason: government forces and others are looking for the Ross family. Millie and Davy have the ability to teleport, or “jump,” from location to location. Cent has only jumped with her parents, never on her own, until a freak accident unleashes her dormant power and opens up a whole new world. She demands release from her isolation, but controlling her power is as daunting as navigating high school, what with boys, sports, and a particularly loathsome bully. Fans of the series will enjoy meeting the next generation, but other readers may just feel lost. (Jan.)