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The School for Gifted Potentials
Orientation
One hundred years in the future, Government Observers roam the classrooms of average learners, looking for the rare gifted learners still left in the general population. One gifted child, who has been carefully coached by his mother to appear average, is unaware that his abilities have been documented by an Observer for years, until he is tricked into showing his mathematical strengths. He is devastated to receive a letter requiring him to test at The School for Gifted Potentials, but he cleverly sabotages the tests and is prepared to leave, only to discover that his mother has abandoned him at the school she has raised him to fear. During his one week orientation, as he undertakes an enlightening journey of self-discovery, he uncovers a secret about his mother's past that leads him to question everything that he once believed.
- GenresFiction
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2012
13 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2012
It is a bit sadly that I rate this book only at 4 stars. The book touched me deeply enough that I cried in several places and at the end of the book. The tears were not for sadness at the events in the story, but rather for the recognition of the feelings, thoughts, and experiences. I am also convinced that it is an important book for gifted students, most especially highly gifted students. Why then 4 stars rather than 5? Although I can't imagine how it could have been done otherwise and still cover the same material, the book is most definitely didactic - it just isn't either completely a story or completely a treatise on Dabrowski. It is a melding of the two that works, mostly, but at the expense of making the story somewhat awkward. There are also, as another reviewer remarked, a number of typos and word usage errors (commiserate, rather than commensurate is the most glaring). Still, it is a important book for upper elementary and middle school aged gifted kids - a welcome support for their needs in a number of dimensions.
October 20, 2014
As a teacher of gifted children, I found this book insightful. I have never seen a fiction book integrate strategies and explanations for gifted traits as well as this one. The writing style is not the best but I can forgive it. This book is what it is; a creative story to support gifted children. I personally connected with the Emotional OE and began to understand myself better so I can only imagine what a child may get out of reading this.
February 7, 2021
I am a gifted student (11yrs), and I am very emotional, but I have to say this book really told me to just "enjoy your life! You never know when something important in your life is going to end." just like Everett and his mother, when they get separated. This book is a tear strainer, so you better have a tissue on hand for the first few chapters! But, this book also teaches us not to hide our strengths (or weaknesses) or you will end up depressed and contained. Everyone is special in different ways and I think everyone can be gifted in their own special way, and you should always appreciate the people in your life who are changing the world and beyond! -M-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2013
I read this book on my own first, despite having purchased it for my almost 8 year old girl so that she could find some recognition and evaluate for herself whether or not she was "normal", "gifted", "ADHD" or a combination.
Reading it alone was a wise decision, as I was deeply affected affectionally. I so identified with Everett, his mother and a few other characters that I experienced it physically: lump in the throat, nausea, tears, itching, restlessness etc. Luckily, I had time to digest most of this before I started reading it to my daughter.
Our bedtime reading ritual is our favourite time of the day. Sometimes, she fall asleep after a page and a half, at other times, I read for hours, and she's still struggling keeping her head on the pillow (THE rule: head must be on the pillow, and she must be quiet, or I won't read). Getting through "Orientation" has been a long and bumpy ride. I thought I had intense reactions to the book, but hers were 100 times bigger! For every event, every overexcitability described, she identified completely, and needed time (and some talks, mostly during the day) to process before moving on. Sometimes she wanted to read something else for a night or five before getting back on track.
We're currently at 87 % read (Kindle edition), and a couple of nights ago, she realized that the book was not only about giftedness and overexciteabilities, it was also a MYSTERY. It is so hard for her to lie still and wait for the truth about the identity of Everett's mother, and what has become of her. And how will school be now that Orientation Week is almost over? And what? And how? And why? etc... (Intellectual and imaginational overexcitability combines to great effect).
It's heartbreaking knowing that she won't get her answers for a long time! There are no signs the sequel is anywhere near publishing, and, having read the entire book, I know it ends with a real cliffhanger that's bound to leave her, too, gagging for more!
Reading it alone was a wise decision, as I was deeply affected affectionally. I so identified with Everett, his mother and a few other characters that I experienced it physically: lump in the throat, nausea, tears, itching, restlessness etc. Luckily, I had time to digest most of this before I started reading it to my daughter.
Our bedtime reading ritual is our favourite time of the day. Sometimes, she fall asleep after a page and a half, at other times, I read for hours, and she's still struggling keeping her head on the pillow (THE rule: head must be on the pillow, and she must be quiet, or I won't read). Getting through "Orientation" has been a long and bumpy ride. I thought I had intense reactions to the book, but hers were 100 times bigger! For every event, every overexcitability described, she identified completely, and needed time (and some talks, mostly during the day) to process before moving on. Sometimes she wanted to read something else for a night or five before getting back on track.
We're currently at 87 % read (Kindle edition), and a couple of nights ago, she realized that the book was not only about giftedness and overexciteabilities, it was also a MYSTERY. It is so hard for her to lie still and wait for the truth about the identity of Everett's mother, and what has become of her. And how will school be now that Orientation Week is almost over? And what? And how? And why? etc... (Intellectual and imaginational overexcitability combines to great effect).
It's heartbreaking knowing that she won't get her answers for a long time! There are no signs the sequel is anywhere near publishing, and, having read the entire book, I know it ends with a real cliffhanger that's bound to leave her, too, gagging for more!
August 6, 2015
My 2e DYS 11-yo boy was nearly in tears discussing this book with me. He really wants to go to SFGP...as a commuter. ;) I hadn't really known how to introduce Dabrowski and OEs to him... this book was the perfect gateway. We are both looking forward to reading the sequel.
December 9, 2019
3.5 stars
the blurb says that this book is set 100 years in the future, and while the setting itself is, the students described in this book are the highly capable students that i see at my school on a daily basis. in the book, observers search for these highly gifted individuals and take them to a special school where they can be taught to use their unique gifts and abilities in educationally appropriate (for them) ways. One of the teachers at my school who works with these highly capable students read it and recommended it to me. it highlights their talents in a way that most people don't see and recognize.
most students will not enjoy this book. however, hi-cap students will see themselves in it - and maybe for the first time, see themselves represented in literature. the teachers in the book also give suggestions for managing their unique strengths and abilities. it is a very niche group but an important book for that reason.
first in a series
the blurb says that this book is set 100 years in the future, and while the setting itself is, the students described in this book are the highly capable students that i see at my school on a daily basis. in the book, observers search for these highly gifted individuals and take them to a special school where they can be taught to use their unique gifts and abilities in educationally appropriate (for them) ways. One of the teachers at my school who works with these highly capable students read it and recommended it to me. it highlights their talents in a way that most people don't see and recognize.
most students will not enjoy this book. however, hi-cap students will see themselves in it - and maybe for the first time, see themselves represented in literature. the teachers in the book also give suggestions for managing their unique strengths and abilities. it is a very niche group but an important book for that reason.
first in a series
March 10, 2022
Although this book is written to convey a great message and teach you about a topic commonly silenced by society, it fails to achieve this. I attempted to read this but was so distracted by the substandard writing that I wasn't able to fully follow the story. I recommend a different book if you would like to learn about the true experience of the gifted population.
March 17, 2020
This book spoke to me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews