Ramona’s Reviews > Awakening > Status Update

This was an interesting first part in a three-part series. Ben now knows the extent of his powers, and he is called, "The One". Kennedy is trying to protect him from rogue Jacee, who wants to be treated like a god. Ben saves Kennedy's life. What is in store for Ben and his friends? Will Jacee go after Ben's parents and friends?

Jacee wants to use Ben's power to make major changes in the world - a world filled with people who are abusing their powers. Jacee also has powers, but he is one of those that Kennedy had warned Ben about. Wally Goodfriend shows up out of nowhere and tells Jacee to leave Ben alone. Ben doesn't have time to make a decision because the camera crew shows up. They return to the camp and Jacee leaves.

Ben starts to enjoy the hike. After arriving at the summit, Ben notices a change in Jacee - a cold and hardened demeanor creeps into his voice and face. Jacee reveals why he is really at the camp - "I came looking for you, Benjamin Dragon."

21-year-old Jacee Trevane, an entrepreneur, volunteer around the world, and a famous person in several fields, visits the camp. Everyone is excited to see him. He was there to promote camping for all kids and speak about his anti-bullying campaign. Ben wins the opportunity to spend a day hiking with Jacee. Is this a fluke or planned? Ben was not excited.

Practice makes Perfect - chapter 9. Ben has to make Nathan swear not to tell anyone. He agrees if he can be his "sidekick"! They try to get someone thing to happen, but nothing does until Nathan throws a rock at Ben and it stops, changes direction, and hits Nathan instead. Ben doesn't want to tell anyone, not even his parents. He doesn't want to be a "freak".

Benjamin and Nathan have become fast friends. Several of the boys from Nathan's bullying gang have joined them and it has brought peace to the school and nurtured a better atmosphere for all of them. Another incident changes that. Benjamin saves a young girl who is going to be hit by a car. He puts up his hand and the car swerves. Nathan sees this, but when he starts to tell the police Benjamin gives him a look.

Does Ben have a new friend? The bully? Nathan Pratt works in his dad's car shop as punishment, knows how to drive, and given the chance to be a different person, he may be a good friend. He has a cool tree house, loves to read books of fantasy, sci-fi, and knights. Not what Ben expected.

What really happened? Why is the bully in the hospital with broken ribs, when Ben never touched him? Everyone wants to know what happened, and the school video cameras don't catch what threw the other boy backward. His parents usually let him fight his own school battles, but tonight they want to know what happened. The next day they go to the hospital, the adults talk in the hall, while the boys get acquainted.

Ben's last name is Dragon - this brings derision, teasing, and bullying. Although Ben is the one being bullied, the teachers are nowhere in sight until the bully is on the ground and they pull Ben into the principal's office. His parents enter, expensively dressed, the perfect, handsome power couple. The mother, who is a litigation lawyer, handles the principal with the same lethal, swift words she uses at work.

10-year-old Benjamin moves quite a bit, so making and keeping friends is difficult. Being really smart, his classes are all in the "Advanced" group. It was embarrassing to be two grades ahead and the shortest kid in the high school. He had a Facebook account, unbeknownst to his parents - he knew more about computers and technology than they did. His friend, Erica from his last school, keeps in touch with him.