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The Charm
Extraordinary powers come with a priceFifteen year old Luca has the charm, a gift he inherited from his mum. Charmers can control minds, but they abide by a code—to only use the power for good, and only with the person’s permission. Luca knows breaking the code is wrong, and his mum would kill him if he tried! But when a rogue charmer uses the power for criminal means, the Restorative government jumps in. Luca’s mum is imprisoned and the Register for Charmers is announced. The media creates a frenzy of fear and suspicion against charmers.Believing the family is in peril, and wishing to keep Luca’s gift a secret, Luca’s dad takes them to stay with a friend in the country. Here, Luca meets Fee, a computer genius who can hack into anything. Fee introduces Luca to an underground rebellion group of internet hackers who have their own issues with the Restoratives and their own way of protesting.Fearful of how the Restoratives are treating his mum in prison and concerned about their motives for creating the Register of Charmers, Luca must make an impossible choice—break the rules and use his gift or stand by and watch as the power is abused. Categories Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian Readers of this young adult novella “Brilliant story. Captivating!” “Fantastic dystopian story with a future…”“Fast paced and full of conflict.”“An enjoyable and engrossing read. Highly recommended.”
97 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Jojo Debrazza
4 books13 followersJojo Debrazza is a writer of young adult and children’s fiction from St Neots in Cambridgeshire, England. Her debut YA novella, The Charm, was published in 2014 and the sequel, Mind Games, in 2016. Dog Eared, released in 2018, is aimed at children aged 8 to 12. Her latest book, Cast Out, released in 2022, is about a fairy, who has been cast out of the fairy queendom and must learn to survive as a human on earth. It's aimed at children aged 8+.
Jojo has a vivid imagination and likes to make up stories. Her friends call it lying but she calls it writing. She lives mainly in a dream world with her wife, dog, and other furry animals. It’s a carefree happy place where everything is bright and fluffy.
Follow Jojo Debrazza or get in touch:
Website: www.jojodebrazza.com
Twitter and Instagram: @jojodebrazza
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jojodebrazza
Jojo has a vivid imagination and likes to make up stories. Her friends call it lying but she calls it writing. She lives mainly in a dream world with her wife, dog, and other furry animals. It’s a carefree happy place where everything is bright and fluffy.
Follow Jojo Debrazza or get in touch:
Website: www.jojodebrazza.com
Twitter and Instagram: @jojodebrazza
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jojodebrazza
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 8, 2015
Enjoyed this short novella... it left me wanting more, which is always a good thing!
The style is similar to Hunger Games and the Divergent Trilogy. I whizzed through it and would love to see this developed into a full novel :)
*Was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
The style is similar to Hunger Games and the Divergent Trilogy. I whizzed through it and would love to see this developed into a full novel :)
*Was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 5, 2015
I read the story plot about the book and i really enjoyed it.
August 14, 2016
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I received this book to give an honest review.
This book is good for the teens. There is no graphic violence or language.
Now the only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because I wanted more background on why the Restorative government was becoming to strict with its citizens and how Brain Lord came about. I felt that we as the readers were thrown into this story of Luca practicing with his charm and then all of a sudden his mom was thrown into prison to "help" the government. But why did they just get Luca's mom and not someone else?
Then we are introduced to Fee who is the daughter of his father's friend whom they stay with while his mom is in jail. We learn that she is a hacker and is a part of the rebels that do not like what the Restorative government is doing.
We are left with wondering what is going to happen now when the person the government is looking for just falls into their lap.
As far as characters go I felt they were well written and I am glad Luca didn't go head on into Fee's plan. He thought it out which most fifteen year old's would not have done.
Plot it was good but I do felt it was rushed as I mentioned earlier we don't get much background on the government, or if it is just Charmers that live among humans or are there other people who have powers. Though overall a good book one that I would let my 10 year old read if he wanted to. It was just the right amount of action that was not overly done.
This is a good introduction to maybe a good series.
I received this book to give an honest review.
This book is good for the teens. There is no graphic violence or language.
Now the only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because I wanted more background on why the Restorative government was becoming to strict with its citizens and how Brain Lord came about. I felt that we as the readers were thrown into this story of Luca practicing with his charm and then all of a sudden his mom was thrown into prison to "help" the government. But why did they just get Luca's mom and not someone else?
Then we are introduced to Fee who is the daughter of his father's friend whom they stay with while his mom is in jail. We learn that she is a hacker and is a part of the rebels that do not like what the Restorative government is doing.
We are left with wondering what is going to happen now when the person the government is looking for just falls into their lap.
As far as characters go I felt they were well written and I am glad Luca didn't go head on into Fee's plan. He thought it out which most fifteen year old's would not have done.
Plot it was good but I do felt it was rushed as I mentioned earlier we don't get much background on the government, or if it is just Charmers that live among humans or are there other people who have powers. Though overall a good book one that I would let my 10 year old read if he wanted to. It was just the right amount of action that was not overly done.
This is a good introduction to maybe a good series.
October 21, 2016
The Charm is a very quick read at only 90 pages long. It follows the story of fifteen year old Luca, who is a Charmer, just like his mum.
A Charmer is someone with the ability to mind-control. The government know about their powers and allow them to live in secret, as long as their powers are used for good, with permission. When one steps out of line, the government throw the rest of them into the lion’s den, as they release a list of all the people with the ability, having them fearing for their lives, alongside arresting Luca’s mum.
Can Luca, at only fifteen years old, be the one to restore calm, and what lines is he willing to cross to achieve it?
The Charm is a book for young adults, and most likely older children, as there are no swear words, violence etc, this is a clean sci-fi novella set in a dystopian future.
Although parts of this book could be set in present day, with the government wanting to mind-control it’s citizens, as certain governments around the world have been trying to do that for many years.
It is fast-paced, so will keep the interest level peaked, and the plot being unique, will have the reader eager to know more, and keep them hooked. The character’s are all well defined and you are drawn to them, although I wasn’t sure what to make of Fee, and it seems I was right to be cautious.
A perfect short story for those that love dystopian/sci-fi books, as it won’t disappoint.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
A Charmer is someone with the ability to mind-control. The government know about their powers and allow them to live in secret, as long as their powers are used for good, with permission. When one steps out of line, the government throw the rest of them into the lion’s den, as they release a list of all the people with the ability, having them fearing for their lives, alongside arresting Luca’s mum.
Can Luca, at only fifteen years old, be the one to restore calm, and what lines is he willing to cross to achieve it?
The Charm is a book for young adults, and most likely older children, as there are no swear words, violence etc, this is a clean sci-fi novella set in a dystopian future.
Although parts of this book could be set in present day, with the government wanting to mind-control it’s citizens, as certain governments around the world have been trying to do that for many years.
It is fast-paced, so will keep the interest level peaked, and the plot being unique, will have the reader eager to know more, and keep them hooked. The character’s are all well defined and you are drawn to them, although I wasn’t sure what to make of Fee, and it seems I was right to be cautious.
A perfect short story for those that love dystopian/sci-fi books, as it won’t disappoint.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
December 29, 2014
The best part of THE CHARM? I could very easily see this becoming our future. The government controlling the internet, people afraid of what they don’t understand…yeah, it’s pretty much on its way already. In THE CHARM we follow Luca as he starts to realize that not everything is as it’s portrayed in the media. And even people with the best intentions have to play along with the rebels to do what’s right. It’s enough to grab your interest and hold on. But I do have a *big* problem…I wish this was a novel and not a novella!!! I feel like we miss out on so much because of all the jumps in the story. It’s still easy enough to follow, but the jumps had me wondering how things played out when we weren’t able to follow along. While this was a problem for me, it was my ONLY problem with this book, which is a pretty amazing feat for a debut YA author! The characters felt real and the world, while we have only seen a glimpse, feels well-developed. By the end of THE CHARM you know that this is just the beginning of something great. I can’t wait to explore the world Jojo Debrazza has created and get to know her characters more. I have a feeling I’m gonna love Fee…she seems like a girl after my own heart, purple hair included!
February 9, 2015
The Charm is brilliantly written. It is fast paced and full of conflict- both internal and external. I'm not real familiar with Dystopic fiction But I would have to say that the world these characters live in is fast becoming such a society. The government is exerting an unfair amount of control and they are trying to build a power base on fear and manipulation. I enjoyed the conflicting perspectives on the overreaches of government. As is often the trend with this type of story, it is up to the younger people to make a move against tyranny but making that move may involve sacrifices that the characters may not understand.
I found the story compelling. The characters were likable and the factors that drive them felt genuine- protective urges towards family and friends, a sense of justice, survival- all of these motivators made for a very intriguing tale. After I reached the end, I found myself wanting more. I hope the author continues the story and let's is know what happens next.
I found the story compelling. The characters were likable and the factors that drive them felt genuine- protective urges towards family and friends, a sense of justice, survival- all of these motivators made for a very intriguing tale. After I reached the end, I found myself wanting more. I hope the author continues the story and let's is know what happens next.
February 7, 2015
Es una novela amena, pero que está dirigida a un público más juvenil.
July 15, 2016
Good introduction to an interesting world. But the story feels a little rushed.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews