One of the most unique and imaginative short novels I've read is by Samuel Mugginton's "Force For Good". The cover does not do justice to a story which begins in East Harlem when the young brother of a teen nicknamed Clown is murdered while watching a basketball game. Stunned by the death of their friend's baby brother, a group of teens form a league called the Force For Good (FFG) to uncover the murderer. Using their wits and hi-tech devices they uncover a link to the OYG (Original Gangsters) and to a pharmaceutical company involved in cancer research, but will they be caught before bringing the criminals to justice?
The narrative which is told in quick, short chapters is fascinating as the group devise cyber traps to ensnare the thugs of the OYG in an innovative way that redeems some of them. In an inventive move Samuel Mugginton uses nicknames to identify each of the heroic teens; a tag which defines a specific quirk, physical feature or strength.
Because the story is plot driven and short the personalities of the characters are realistic, but not complex. Central to the tale is "Mountain" a street smart teen with a wry sense of humour who detests school. He contrasts sharply with his friend "Ordinary" a boy who's unassuming physically and socially, a chameleon with a brilliant hi-tech mind. The other members of the FFG include: the smart and sexy Latino beauty "Sexpot"; a short, attractive bookworm called "Librarian; the tough, brave "MJ", and "Clown" a teen with a phenomenal memory and a strong determination to find his brother's killer. Even the thugs of the OYG are memorable, their personalities honed by their life of crime as drug dealers, con men and thieves.
This is a young adult novel geared to readers who like everyday, high-tech heroes involved in solving a murder, battling bullies on the street and in their school. I enjoyed it and would rate it slightly higher than a 3.5 but have given it a 4.0. Although in future novels from this author I would look for more in the way of plot and character development.