IA: Initiate by John Darryl Winston

IA: Initiate is a supernatural thriller set in the mean streets of America. A seemingly random act of gang violence sends "Naz" Andersen on a quest to find answers surrounding his dead parents that lead to a series of discoveries about his supernatural abilities. Naz tries to stay out of the way at his foster parent's home, but he walks in his sleep, and he is unable to keep the fact that he hears voices from his therapist. He attempts to go unnoticed at school and in the streets of the Exclave, but attracts the attention of friends and bullies alike, and his efforts to protect his little sister make him the target of malicious bullying by the notorious street gang, Incubus Apostles. Naz is an ordinary thirteen-year-old, or so he thinks. He harbors a secret that even he is oblivious to, and a series of ill-fated events reveal to him telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Now he must navigate newly found friendship and gang violence, and face the full force of the world around him. The only way he can survive is to discover the supernatural world within. 

Hey! Here's my review.

This is the first book in a middle grade/young adult series. The majority of the book is set in a ghetto like suburb, when the main character is 13 and living with his sister in foster care. There are several flashbacks to help us understand him better. This book really feels like it is setting us up for the rest of the series. We are left with more questions than answers to the intriguing situation our main character is in. Who or what are the voices he hears? Why were the things floating around the room by themselves? 

There is good moral guidance given by the teacher character: don't take drugs and don't join a gang. He is a firm but fair teacher, and I suspect he knows more than he is letting on. I also love the theme of brain over brawn.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

★★★★

• Where: Author Invitation
• Format: ebook

Purchase link

Amazon

There is currently a Goodreads giveaway to win one of five paperback copies, 

open until the end of August 2015.