The Point

This is a futuristic, sci-fi adventure that pushes moral boundaries. It is set in a military academy with a secret training program that tries to turn teens who are outsiders and troublemakers into superheroes. Scarlett is a misfit, self-absorbed teen who has superpowers she doesn’t understand and The Point is a place where she can develop those skills and learn to control them. She can also become a forceful weapon or a pawn. The story sounds interesting–people with superpowers and mental abilities, but the plot is weak and barely there at times. The violence gets in the way of whatever power underlies the story. The characters, including Scarlett, are not well developed enough to make them either compelling or likable, and the relationships among the characters aren’t especially interesting or important. This made it difficult to root for any of them. With post-humans, superpowers, physical battles, and excitement, this story should have much going for it, but it falls short. The brutality, revenge, sex, drugs, alcohol, language, and lack of morals make it inappropriate for most young people. I would not recommend this book for anyone, of any age, who doesn’t like a lot of pointless violence.