E-book
Sekret
Record details
- ISBN: 9781596438934
- ISBN: 1596438932
- ISBN: 9781596438927
- ISBN: 1596438924
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Physical Description:
remote
1 online resource (345 pages) - Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2014.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description Note: | Description based on print version record. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Spy stories. Young adult fiction. Electronic books. |
- Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2014 April #2
In Communist Russia, Yulia has always been told that an empty mind is a safe mind. But she has never told anyone about her secret power: she can read the minds of those she touches. She learns that there are others like her when, in 1963, she is captured by the KGB as part of a clandestine program intent of developing psychic spies. While on a mission to hide details about Russia's space program from the U.S., Yulia uncovers secrets about her family and begins to see a world full of deceit and power. She becomes torn between trying to figure out a way to escape and the handsome, charming Sergei, who wants her to cooperate with the KGB. Everyone around her has powers and secrets, so whom can she trust? Smith's history adventure debut includes both paranormal and romance elements, and while it begins slowly, the momentum becomes breakneck when secrets are revealedâreaders will never know what is to be believed. Yulia's story does not feel fully completed, which may mean there is more yet to come. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews. - Horn Book Guide Reviews : Horn Book Guide Reviews 2015 Spring
We the Living meets Genius Squad, this novel follows the misfortunes of Yulia, one of a group of psychic teens pressed into the service of the 1960s KGB. The concept is ambitious and the heroine fiery, but there is a surfeit of plot elements (including a hokey love triangle) and the writing is frequently turgid. - Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 2014 March #1
Cold War espionage smoothly blended with psychic romance. It's 1963, and 17-year-old Yulia is a starved "ration rat" in Khrushchev's Moscow. Her family, once high-ranking Communist Party members, has been on the run since her father vanished. Yulia thinks the mysterious psychic ability she uses in the black market is a secret until the KGB arrests her family. If she wants to protect her mother and brother, Yulia must join six other teenagers training for the KGB's "psychic operations wing," learning to smoke out dissidents and American spies. The teens protect their thoughts from one anotherâthough not from their KGB mastersâby filling their heads with subconscious music: the symphonic cellos and tympani of Shostakovich for Yulia, jazz improvisations for beautiful but dangerous Valentin, ancient Russian balalaika for Maj. Kruzenko. Yulia narrates with prose that ably reflects the sometimes-discordant cacophony of these disparate musical styles, as she seeks the simple melody that will explain family secrets and earn her freedom. Smith strikes an inexpert contextualizing balance, teetering between unexplained Russian and giving Yulia an outsider's view of her own culture. Still, the Soviet setting (uncannily similar to many a sci-fi dystopian future) is a flavorful backdrop for psychic espionage. A sudden cliffhanger sets up this fast-paced thriller (full of blaring brass and pounding drums) for a sequel. (historical note) (Science fiction. 13-16) Copyright Kirkus 2014 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved. - Library Media Connection : Library Media Connection Reviews 2014 October
Science fiction meets history in this psychic KGB thriller. Smith transports readers back to Communist Russia during the Cold War, and embeds them into a mission intent on destroying America's chances at winning the space race. Yulia, a young Russian, is captured and forced to work as a psychic spy. Her ability to read the minds of those she touches and see the history behind objects and documents make her invaluable to the cause. Conflicting stories, romantic feelings, and painful thoughts further exacerbate Yulia's ability to determine the correct course of action. At times, the narration is difficult to follow with its fluctuation between past and present. Those interested in Russian history may appreciate the detail. Susan Anderson, Library Media Specialist, Elkhorn (Wisconsin) High School [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] Additional Selection Copyright 2012 Linworth Publishing, Inc. - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2014 February #3
In this smart and fresh supernatural take on the spy novel, it's 1963, and the Soviet Union and United States are deep into the Cold War, with spycraft a necessary trade on both sides. Yulia Andreevna Chernina, 17, has the unfortunate luck of getting scooped up by the psychic branch of the KGB for her ability to "read" the past when she touches an object. She is quickly swept into a world of Soviet spies, imprisoned in a house with other similarly gifted young men and women, all conscripted to unearth top-secret information from the Americans. Though Yulia yearns for escape and reunite with her family, she also learns valuable skills from the KGB's psychic guardians, including how to shield her mind from other psychics through music. Debut novelist Smith's background in foreign affairs and Russian culture shines through in the historical context of her story and the political savvy of her characters and plot. As one character puts it: "Space, weapons, psychics. Arms races, all of them, going nowhere." Ages 12âup. Agent: Mandy Hubbard, D4EO Literary Agency. (Apr.)
[Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 2014 May
Gr 9 UpâSet in the Soviet Union in the early 1960s, this bildungsroman follows Yulia Andreevna Chernina, 17, as she discovers a secret her parents have kept hidden her entire life: she is psychic. Yulia can soak up memories and emotions of anything or anyone she touches. Her journey to realizing her abilities and discovering love is told through dazzling first-person narration, thought-provoking flashbacks, and vivid memories. Yulia's father had left in search of help and a better life, but before he could return, his family is captured by the KaGeBezniks (KGB). Yulia is terrified to find herself locked in a warehouse with other psychics and a monstrous "scrubber" who can scrub away memories and control thoughts. With the fates of her brother and her mother hanging over her head, Yulia agrees to develop her powers in the psychic school while biding her time to snatch her freedom. The teen is a vivacious, clever character with a voice full of spellbinding imagery and wit. Smith mesmerizes readers with sprints and twists in the plot while revealing the incredible level of abuse doled out by the Russian government. Readers will be begging for Yulia and Valentin to make their escape into the sunset. A debut historical thriller.âJamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City
[Page 140]. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. - Voice of Youth Advocates Reviews : VOYA Reviews 2014 April
Yulia Andreevna Chernina lives in hiding. Communist Russia is not a safe place for families that have chosen to leave their elite ranks. When Yulia is kidnapped after a trip to the black market, she must accept that the KGB has found her, and worse still, that they know about her ability. The KGB specifically hunted Yulia to exploit her ability to learn the history of objects and people through touch. They want to turn her into a psychic spy. She must cooperate within the "training school" they have created or they will hurt her family. Though she longs to run, her survival is doubtful without KGB protection, for they are not the only psychics out there hunting for her. Smith's debut novel not only captivates through its fearsomely stubborn main character but also through its intriguing setting. Few young adult books have been set in the heart of Communist Russia, making Sekret a standout in this respect. It is evident that Smith has done her research, creating a believable scenario based on historical rumor that psychic spies were cultivated by the KGB. The book's tension, coupled with a burgeoning romance and the revelation of some astounding secrets, will keep teen readers on the edge of their seats and primed for more.âJessica Miller 4Q 4P S Copyright 2011 Voya Reviews.
