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The Wayward Gifted #1
Broken Point
When their mother moves the family more than a thousand miles from the only home they have ever known, Samantha and Steuart DuBoise struggle to adjust. Armed with unique talents, and the encouragement of their grandmother, the children discover a universe filled with challenge and magical adventure.
- GenresYoung Adult
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2013
4 people are currently reading
1253 people want to read
About the author
Donna K. Childree
1 book22 followersOriginally from the deep south, Donna Childree lives happily in the Midwest writing, making art, and enjoying family. A few years back Donna began a writing partnership with her son, Mike Hopper which resulted in their first book "The Wayward Gifted: Broken Point", a coming of age novel filled with angst and adventure for adolescents through adults. The team is now busy working on the second book in The Wayward Gifted Series: "Grey's Case", to be released Thanksgiving Day 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 11, 2021
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First off, this book is pitched for MG readers, but I do feel that those who enjoy YA and ‘traditional’ writing (more on that later) would appreciate this book. There are scenes and characters that strike chords with adults and show us just how wrong we (adults) can be at times.
While the MCs are young – the difficulties they suffer are situations that a person of any age could find some comparison and understanding to.
I liked the fact we have a nice balance of Samantha and Steuart and their POV (told in 3rd person). The characters work well and the scenes involving police, social services and the therapist who ‘talk over’ them are poignant and quite telling. Though it’s only after the scene has passed does the reader actually sit back and think.
Perfect few lines here…
Sam accepted the card and put into her backpack. “I prefer not to be patronized.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a little girl, but I get it. I know you believe I’m confused.”
The dialogue was fantastic. It was believable and flowed well. I was reading ‘real’ conversations and there’s a scene where Sam and Steuart have a long conversation and the reader feels absorbed in their world. I’m British, but I had no problem visualizing the Southern world they were uprooted from.
There were flashes of Rowling, Blyton and Lewis in the story and writing. The Treehouse (Magic Faraway Tree), the strength of character of Sam and Steuart (Harry Potter), the traditional clean writing (Lewis) – these, in my mind, are good things. Too many books are full of superfluous expletives to make them “edgy” and “real”, when actually, they’re not needed and instead they can ruin the magic of a book.
Bellamy was fantastic. In my mind it reminded me of the place that abused/uncared for children will retreat to as a coping mechanism.
I have a few nits: the cover I think misrepresents the book. I understand the colours being a metaphor, but there is a darker, gothic and surreal feel to this book that needs to be better represented in the art.
There were places that required paring back (editorial wise) as too often we had things like ‘got up and walked over to’ – ‘got on her bike and began riding’ – these are things a good content editor should pick up and strike through as they are redundant to writing. ‘Walked over to’ implies they’ve got up. Small qualms though.
Overall, this is a multilayered and fascinating tale. I’m interested to see where the series goes, and also interested in the background of the writers.
It gets 5 stars from me. This is an excellent novel for all ages.
First off, this book is pitched for MG readers, but I do feel that those who enjoy YA and ‘traditional’ writing (more on that later) would appreciate this book. There are scenes and characters that strike chords with adults and show us just how wrong we (adults) can be at times.
While the MCs are young – the difficulties they suffer are situations that a person of any age could find some comparison and understanding to.
I liked the fact we have a nice balance of Samantha and Steuart and their POV (told in 3rd person). The characters work well and the scenes involving police, social services and the therapist who ‘talk over’ them are poignant and quite telling. Though it’s only after the scene has passed does the reader actually sit back and think.
Perfect few lines here…
Sam accepted the card and put into her backpack. “I prefer not to be patronized.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a little girl, but I get it. I know you believe I’m confused.”
The dialogue was fantastic. It was believable and flowed well. I was reading ‘real’ conversations and there’s a scene where Sam and Steuart have a long conversation and the reader feels absorbed in their world. I’m British, but I had no problem visualizing the Southern world they were uprooted from.
There were flashes of Rowling, Blyton and Lewis in the story and writing. The Treehouse (Magic Faraway Tree), the strength of character of Sam and Steuart (Harry Potter), the traditional clean writing (Lewis) – these, in my mind, are good things. Too many books are full of superfluous expletives to make them “edgy” and “real”, when actually, they’re not needed and instead they can ruin the magic of a book.
Bellamy was fantastic. In my mind it reminded me of the place that abused/uncared for children will retreat to as a coping mechanism.
I have a few nits: the cover I think misrepresents the book. I understand the colours being a metaphor, but there is a darker, gothic and surreal feel to this book that needs to be better represented in the art.
There were places that required paring back (editorial wise) as too often we had things like ‘got up and walked over to’ – ‘got on her bike and began riding’ – these are things a good content editor should pick up and strike through as they are redundant to writing. ‘Walked over to’ implies they’ve got up. Small qualms though.
Overall, this is a multilayered and fascinating tale. I’m interested to see where the series goes, and also interested in the background of the writers.
It gets 5 stars from me. This is an excellent novel for all ages.
May 5, 2013
This work was a refreshing read. It's aimed toward tweens, but I think it would probably be enjoyable for just about any age. The characters are very distinctive and each has a definitive voice. I could relate to two children who are both gifted and hurting at the same time, and I think the author does a great job of helping readers to really experience life through the eyes of the children.
May 21, 2013
I don't usually write reviews but I am not sure how this book got so many good reviews. This is not a very good book at all. It is an interesting concept of two children who are displaced from their home by an overbearing and compulsive mother and have to find a way to adjust. However, the writing is so poor that it is difficult for the reader to even know what is going on.
I think the plot is supposed to have twists and turns but because of the low quality of writing, it comes across as confusing and jarring. The children are given dolls to help them adjust but the dolls come alive. Again, a wonderful concept but the dolls seem intent on hurting the children and putting them in danger. They are supposed to be endearing but it comes across as strange and unnerving. It is then suddenly revealed that the dolls are actual people that live in another dimension that the children can access through their neighbors tree house.
It got stranger from there, with new characters being introduced in the last ten pages. One of which is a woman who accosts the children and molests the boy in a store - hugging and kissing him against his will. This incident is presented as if she is lovable. Again, if the prose were of a higher quality, maybe what the writer(s) were trying to say would be more clear and it would be less creepy.
There are pages and pages of dialogue with no descriptions or speaker explanations for the reader. Even the most astute reader would get lost in such a jungle of quotation marks. The characterization is bizarre, the children odd and unlikeable and the plot strange and weak. It might be because there are two authors that this book seems so disjointed and almost unreadable.
I am not sure if the authors belong to some review exchange program to amass anything more than one star but this is not a book that anyone should recommend.
Sorry, but a good idea written badly, becomes a bad idea.
I think the plot is supposed to have twists and turns but because of the low quality of writing, it comes across as confusing and jarring. The children are given dolls to help them adjust but the dolls come alive. Again, a wonderful concept but the dolls seem intent on hurting the children and putting them in danger. They are supposed to be endearing but it comes across as strange and unnerving. It is then suddenly revealed that the dolls are actual people that live in another dimension that the children can access through their neighbors tree house.
It got stranger from there, with new characters being introduced in the last ten pages. One of which is a woman who accosts the children and molests the boy in a store - hugging and kissing him against his will. This incident is presented as if she is lovable. Again, if the prose were of a higher quality, maybe what the writer(s) were trying to say would be more clear and it would be less creepy.
There are pages and pages of dialogue with no descriptions or speaker explanations for the reader. Even the most astute reader would get lost in such a jungle of quotation marks. The characterization is bizarre, the children odd and unlikeable and the plot strange and weak. It might be because there are two authors that this book seems so disjointed and almost unreadable.
I am not sure if the authors belong to some review exchange program to amass anything more than one star but this is not a book that anyone should recommend.
Sorry, but a good idea written badly, becomes a bad idea.
April 20, 2013
This is the story of Sam and Steuart, two brilliant yet emotionally damaged children who seek the magic of life. When their adoptive mother finally has a breakdown the children are introduced to two extraordinary allies in the most unlikely place: their therapist's office.
Trista and Ed are dolls who adventure through universes, acting as guides to children who need them. They're history is a bit of a mystery, but are true friends to the children they are assigned to guide.
The singular story surrounding the dolls, or placeholders as they call themselves, is highly addictive. And the reader can't help but empathize with the main characters Sam and Steuart (and later Dottie). Without ever having read it as a child I felt I revisited my own childhood imagination and connections.
The writing style itself is reminiscent of children's classics such as C.S. Lewis.
There are one or two areas I felt could have been expanded upon, but since the book is meant to be part of a series I have high hopes of learning more about these characters in later titles. I'll absolutely be picking them up to find out.
I would recommend this book to parents of 10-12 year old children because it emphasizes the importance of empathy, gratitude, and trust - never mind the absolutely fantastic use of - and fun plays on - vocabulary. It's biblio-tainment of the highest calibre.
Trista and Ed are dolls who adventure through universes, acting as guides to children who need them. They're history is a bit of a mystery, but are true friends to the children they are assigned to guide.
The singular story surrounding the dolls, or placeholders as they call themselves, is highly addictive. And the reader can't help but empathize with the main characters Sam and Steuart (and later Dottie). Without ever having read it as a child I felt I revisited my own childhood imagination and connections.
The writing style itself is reminiscent of children's classics such as C.S. Lewis.
There are one or two areas I felt could have been expanded upon, but since the book is meant to be part of a series I have high hopes of learning more about these characters in later titles. I'll absolutely be picking them up to find out.
I would recommend this book to parents of 10-12 year old children because it emphasizes the importance of empathy, gratitude, and trust - never mind the absolutely fantastic use of - and fun plays on - vocabulary. It's biblio-tainment of the highest calibre.
May 5, 2013
Sam and Steuart are two bright and creative children who believe that their lives have ended because their mother (looney toons lady) has decided to pull up her roots. The fact that she sees herself as a victim and blames them for everything bad that has ever happened in her life only makes things worse. The children find themselves one thousand miles from home and from their grandmother who is the only stable influence for either of them. They act out, and end up in therapy. This is the turning part in both of their lives thanks to a great psychiatrist named Harry Klesel and a gift that he shares with the kids.
This is a story of discovery. It's a story of hope. I'm very glad that it's the beginning of a series because I have quickly grown attached to Sam and Steuart. I've also grown attached to the rest of the characters and look forward to the next book in the series.
This is a magical book that deals with real family issues. This is the reason that people search for indie titles. The Wayward Gifted will not disappoint.
This is a story of discovery. It's a story of hope. I'm very glad that it's the beginning of a series because I have quickly grown attached to Sam and Steuart. I've also grown attached to the rest of the characters and look forward to the next book in the series.
This is a magical book that deals with real family issues. This is the reason that people search for indie titles. The Wayward Gifted will not disappoint.
June 23, 2013
A book for the young adult market and beyond, it is about two adopted children and their struggle to live with a mother who is so obsessed with being the perfect mother that she overlooks spontaneous parenting skills. She takes the children to a new town but insists they are broken and need help. During therapy the children are gifted dolls which taken them on a whole new world of discovery.
June 1, 2013
I so wanted to love this book! I thought the idea of the story was fantastic, and I found myself sympathizing with the characters. However, I was progressively frustrated, upset, and angered by the following:
1. The writing is bulky, cumbersome, and laborious. You have to read the same thing written three different ways. The characters go back and forth but do not seem to get anywhere, as they produce the same arguments over and over. (See what I did there?)
2. There's not a natural flow to the conversations.
3. There are so many characters introduced but not really utilized.
4. The end of the book is riddled with loose ends.
5. It's billed as a YA coming-of-age novel, but reading it felt much more like a kids sci-fi piece. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either of these genres, but it makes me angry when I sit down to read a book because its the type of book I'm looking to read then it turns out to be something really different.
6. Along those same lines, the descriptions I've read of the book are way, way off. I would say this is a book about two adopted kids thrust into a situation they dislike, until they come across a doctor who introduces them to a magical world. Or something like that.
7. This is the first in a series.
8. It is way too long for the story it tells.
I realize that some of my negative comments come about because of reason seven. For the most part, I am anti-series. It's hard for me to explain, but if I am going to enter into a commitment with a storyline, I want to know what I'm getting into. I feel like I was duped with this one. Now, I'm left with the problem of really wanting to know what happens to the characters but not wanting to dredge through another tome.
1. The writing is bulky, cumbersome, and laborious. You have to read the same thing written three different ways. The characters go back and forth but do not seem to get anywhere, as they produce the same arguments over and over. (See what I did there?)
2. There's not a natural flow to the conversations.
3. There are so many characters introduced but not really utilized.
4. The end of the book is riddled with loose ends.
5. It's billed as a YA coming-of-age novel, but reading it felt much more like a kids sci-fi piece. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either of these genres, but it makes me angry when I sit down to read a book because its the type of book I'm looking to read then it turns out to be something really different.
6. Along those same lines, the descriptions I've read of the book are way, way off. I would say this is a book about two adopted kids thrust into a situation they dislike, until they come across a doctor who introduces them to a magical world. Or something like that.
7. This is the first in a series.
8. It is way too long for the story it tells.
I realize that some of my negative comments come about because of reason seven. For the most part, I am anti-series. It's hard for me to explain, but if I am going to enter into a commitment with a storyline, I want to know what I'm getting into. I feel like I was duped with this one. Now, I'm left with the problem of really wanting to know what happens to the characters but not wanting to dredge through another tome.
August 29, 2013
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
The story is about two adopted children and their control freak mother who's husband has left her. The mother decides to leave the only stable home the children have known. They don't want to go. The first 48 pages were torturous. How long does it take to say the kids don't want to leave?
In their new location, the mother sends the children to a psychiatrist when they do not act as her "manual on life" says they should. The doctor gives the children dolls as part of their therapy. The mother despises the dolls. She doesn't want dolls for her kids she wants drugs to fix them. The dolls come to life and transport the children to another dimension.
This story was disjointed. Way too much detail in some places and not enough in others. There was a disturbing interaction between the young boy and a smoochy old lady. I don't know if the authors wanted the smoochy old lady to come off as a pedophile or not but this interaction was uncomfortable to read. Maybe this is where a little more detail may have been helpful. Maybe it was disjointed because it was written by two authors. It was as if each author wrote sections and you could tell by the writing when one wrote and then the other. It didn't seem to be a collaboration. It was like one wrote dialogue and the other wrote "filler" to try to give some direction to the dialogue writers tangents. The story was unique but I think it could have been done in some other way to make the action more fluent and digestible. All in all, a good idea poorly executed.
The story is about two adopted children and their control freak mother who's husband has left her. The mother decides to leave the only stable home the children have known. They don't want to go. The first 48 pages were torturous. How long does it take to say the kids don't want to leave?
In their new location, the mother sends the children to a psychiatrist when they do not act as her "manual on life" says they should. The doctor gives the children dolls as part of their therapy. The mother despises the dolls. She doesn't want dolls for her kids she wants drugs to fix them. The dolls come to life and transport the children to another dimension.
This story was disjointed. Way too much detail in some places and not enough in others. There was a disturbing interaction between the young boy and a smoochy old lady. I don't know if the authors wanted the smoochy old lady to come off as a pedophile or not but this interaction was uncomfortable to read. Maybe this is where a little more detail may have been helpful. Maybe it was disjointed because it was written by two authors. It was as if each author wrote sections and you could tell by the writing when one wrote and then the other. It didn't seem to be a collaboration. It was like one wrote dialogue and the other wrote "filler" to try to give some direction to the dialogue writers tangents. The story was unique but I think it could have been done in some other way to make the action more fluent and digestible. All in all, a good idea poorly executed.
June 2, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. I found myself drawn into it & relating well to all the characters. Can't wait for the next book to come out.
July 13, 2016
I won this through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway
I just finished reading this book, and I have to say, I am angry and disappointed by the ending. However, I did like the main idea of the story. It was unique and interesting
The story revolves around two very interesting children Steuart, who loves anagrams, and Sam, who is obsessed with colors. They are both the adoptive children of Olivia DuBoise, one of the most horrible women ever to call herself a mother. Soon after moving to a new town, Olivia takes the children to therapy were they each receive a doll. They later learn that the dolls are actually talking, traveling dolls from another dimension.
While I really like the idea of talking dolls from another dimension, the story was kind of confusing and mysterious. I thought that all of my questions would eventually be answered so I kept on reading. Thus my utter disappoint when the story abruptly ended. There is another book coming out, so maybe questions will be answered there. However, I am not sure if I am intrigued enough to read the next one.
There were a lot of characters and ideas introduced throughout the story that were just left in the dust with no resolution. I'm wondering, how does this fit in? what do they know? There were also a few parts that could have been left out, that I felt just didn't further the story in any way.
The one major thing that really bothered me while reading was the Mother, Olivia DeBoise. As a parent myself, it was hard to visualize this woman who is so uptight, hateful, selfish, and ridiculous. Every time she spoke, I thought to myself "Wtf?" My favorite part of the whole book was when Sam threw cake at her. Best part of the whole story. I felt victorious in that moment.
Although I was left ultimately disappointed, I still enjoyed reading about the main characters. The children are so unique and weird and I adore them. I love Steuart's passion for words and anagrams, although I was some what confused at times. I was also really able to connect with Sam's obsession with color being an artist myself.
All in all, I would recommend the book for a younger audience 8-12 perhaps. While, it was interesting to read it from an adult and parent perspective, children might find more joy and adventure than I did.
I just finished reading this book, and I have to say, I am angry and disappointed by the ending. However, I did like the main idea of the story. It was unique and interesting
The story revolves around two very interesting children Steuart, who loves anagrams, and Sam, who is obsessed with colors. They are both the adoptive children of Olivia DuBoise, one of the most horrible women ever to call herself a mother. Soon after moving to a new town, Olivia takes the children to therapy were they each receive a doll. They later learn that the dolls are actually talking, traveling dolls from another dimension.
While I really like the idea of talking dolls from another dimension, the story was kind of confusing and mysterious. I thought that all of my questions would eventually be answered so I kept on reading. Thus my utter disappoint when the story abruptly ended. There is another book coming out, so maybe questions will be answered there. However, I am not sure if I am intrigued enough to read the next one.
There were a lot of characters and ideas introduced throughout the story that were just left in the dust with no resolution. I'm wondering, how does this fit in? what do they know? There were also a few parts that could have been left out, that I felt just didn't further the story in any way.
The one major thing that really bothered me while reading was the Mother, Olivia DeBoise. As a parent myself, it was hard to visualize this woman who is so uptight, hateful, selfish, and ridiculous. Every time she spoke, I thought to myself "Wtf?" My favorite part of the whole book was when Sam threw cake at her. Best part of the whole story. I felt victorious in that moment.
Although I was left ultimately disappointed, I still enjoyed reading about the main characters. The children are so unique and weird and I adore them. I love Steuart's passion for words and anagrams, although I was some what confused at times. I was also really able to connect with Sam's obsession with color being an artist myself.
All in all, I would recommend the book for a younger audience 8-12 perhaps. While, it was interesting to read it from an adult and parent perspective, children might find more joy and adventure than I did.
May 8, 2015
The story idea was good, and the writing was nice, but I was unable to find this novel interesting. The characters were very inconsistent and one-dimensional. I couldn't finish the book. I gave up around 150 pages, over halfway, because it still hadn't interested me. I'm a hard-to-please reader, though, and I think the authors do have potential for good novels in the future.
July 1, 2013
The plot was so confusing. I had to consistently go back and reread. It was just a very tedious read.
*Won from Goodreads Giveaway*
*Won from Goodreads Giveaway*
July 21, 2013
Very imaginative and sweet story. I won this novel on Goodreads. Thanks so much...I enjoyed reading it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews