Prodigious Savant

by J.J. White

According to Dr. Darold A. Treffert of the University of Wisconsin, there are fewer than one hundred reported cases of prodigious savants in the world. Those few who possess the savant syndrome all have an island of brilliance that allows them to excel in some remarkable talent. Unfortunately, they all share various developmental disabilities. In Burlington, Vermont, 1962, seventeen-year-old Gavin Weaver survives a dreadful explosion, six hours of brain surgery, and thirty days in a coma, to awake possessing not just one savant talent, but several, including art, music, mathematics, and memory—and all without suffering any of the usual mental disabilities associated with head trauma. The odds are slim that Gavin will survive both the internal and external conflicts, which keep him from the one thing he wants most, the girl he’s loved since childhood.

Genres: Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2014

About the author

J. J. WHITE has had articles and stories published in several anthologies and magazines including, Wordsmith, The Homestead Review, The Seven Hills Review, Bacopa Review, and The Grey Sparrow Journal. His story, “The Adventure of the Nine Hole League,” was published in the Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Volume 13, and his story, “Lucky Bastard Club,” was published in the Saturday Evening Post, 2016 anthology. His debut novel, Prodigious Savant, was published in 2014 by Black Opal Books. His next novel, Deviant Acts, came out November 14, 2015, and was also by Black Opal Books. His latest novel is, Nisei, released June 30, 2016. He was nominated for the Pushcart Prize for his short piece “Tour Bus.” He lives in Merritt Island, Florida with his understanding wife and editor, Pamela.

Reviews

[Jeanie Loiacono · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning to the last word, JJ White has you glued to the couch. You seriously have no idea what is going to happen next, but you have to find out or go mad. I knew savants were exceptionally smart people, but I did not know about the dark side. WOW! More!!! I heard White has two more coming out soon. I cannot wait!!

[S.J. Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating Thriller by J.J. White: Five out of five stars! Pages fly by quickly...

This thriller by J.J. White is a page turner. From the very first sentence the reader is drawn into the world of Burlington, Vermont in 1962. Once you start reading you won’t want to put it down. I read it all in one night. It is a very quick read. Teenager Gavin Weaver is injured in an explosion all because of one small act of teenage stupidity. Because of that act, his life is changed forever, and not necessarily all for the better. Waking up from a thirty-day coma, not only does he not suffer the usual disabilities from a head injury, he wakes up possessing several savant talents in music, art, math and memory. At the same time, his personality changes for the worst. He leans toward the dark side. Can Gavin survive the internal and external conflicts which keep him from the one thing he wants most, the girl he’s love since childhood? You’ll have to read it to find out. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I wasn’t.
Overall, Prodigious Savant is a worthwhile read, for any avid book reader and especially for the thriller lover. I highly recommend it.

[Patty Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prodigious Savant by J J White is a fast-paced thriller. Gavin Weaver's brain injury leaves him with abilities that at first bring him celebrity and money, yet it's slowly revealed that the gifts also bear a dark side. Readers become caught up in Gavin's gifts, both wanted and unwanted.

The plot is Intricate and lightening fast, though a late plot point is a little too convenient. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending twist and thought it the perfect ending. Nice work by a taleted writer.

[Steven M. Jasien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great plot twist

Well you set me up good 😀 then boom went the dynamite! Great plot twist. A surprise awaits the readers.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its the 1960s in a small town in Vermont a 2 high school boys are looking over the construction site of an interstate cloverleaf. One of the boys has been shooting his 22 at a Skunk but unknown to him, and due to a odd set of circumstances his last shot enters a construction shack and sets off a massive explosion of stored dynamite. A huge crater results, the shooter is killed by flying debris and the boy sustains a cracked skull from contact with a large rock. One other person in town is also killed by the debris flying through the air. The boy with the head injury is stabilized but in a coma for weeks. When he comes out of the coma, he appears to have suffered no ill effects, but does see things in colors, can speed read and remember everything, has savant math abilities, is able to play unbeatable chess and play any composition on the piano after only one hearing. Before the accident he was a high school athlete with an overbearing alcoholic father and after wards had no interest in sports, but rather read all he could get hold of. His father seeing that he could not ride his son's coattails via sports, decides to "market" his son's new talents as an income source.
One unforeseen consequence of the head injury is the boy begins to feel that he is an instrument of God and his moral compass has gone astray. I won't try to relay all his adventures, will say that the ending was a bit unexpected. In interesting tale and quite readable.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best fun of this book is the introduction of Bobby Fischer as a character. Of course we only see him during chess tournaments.

Set during the Kennedy era, the story follows a young man Gavin who is injured in a freak accident when road-blasting dynamite explodes. His head injuries put him into a coma and when he reawakens the sporty young man has turned into a savant with talents in reading, music, art and chess.

A dark side is quickly apparent and Gavin who had been gaining our sympathy as he adapted, now becomes an antihero as he struggles to control the stress of his new life and becomes more dissociated from the people around him. This was the least pleasant aspect for me.

I enjoyed the chess tournaments in America and Russia, where Gavin has absorbed books but does not have the backup of years of experience with great players. Spassky and Fischer are playing in Russia and Gavin is sent along to compete. The times are well recreated with discussion of politics of the day. Quite a lot of the story is pretty far-fetched but just tell yourself it's a thriller and enjoy the ride.

[Mark Petry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all!

What do you get when you combine Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye with Forest Gump and Jack the Ripper? You get Gavin Weaver in Prodigious Savant. I loved how the author just kept adding more and more layers to this story. This is one of the most interesting and fulfilling books I've read in quite a while.

[Alison Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read, I was surprised with the twist at the end. Look forward to reading more books by this author.