Others See Us
When Jared and his family go and spend the summer with their grandmother and extended family at the beach, Jared
falls into a toxic swamp when his breaks go out on his bike. The submersion in the toxic water leaves him with a special
power: the ability to read minds.
Sixteen year old Jared is a typical teenager, he has a crush on his cousin Annelise and other things he hopes not
to reveal. At the same time he is a thoughtful character (he reads Anna Karenina in his free time) and he cares
about the family members around him. When Jared discovers his new power and figures out what exactly it is, he is startled
by the thoughts going on around him. His cousin Annelise is a plotting, vengeful girl who has it out for most people
around her.
The pace of the plot moves quickly - bringing readers into both the mystery of the story and the anticipation of "what
if." The descriptions of reading minds are well written passages, making the ability Jared has believable and plausible.
Reading a mind is described like getting to know someone- you have to peel back the layers or get behind the barricades constructed
in order to see who a person really is.
The characters in this novel are interesting. Jared is the protagonist and the reader comes to know and identify
with him the most. One admirable aspect of Jared is he does not want to harm anyone with his powers - he continues to
be respectful and cautious of his abilities, even when they increase at the end of the book. The grandmother's character
is, as Jared said, "ruthless, amoral and in control." The grandmother keeps the reader guessing and leaves the reader
with more questions - many of which aren't resolved. Other family members are aloof and typical in many ways.
One aspect of the book I found to be weak was the character of Amy. Throughout the book many characters worry about
her drowning yet Amy's own parents remain aloof and non-committal towards their own daughter.
The most enjoyable aspect of the novel is, as one reviewer said, the "seductive nature of the fantasy" (MVK 1994).
The idea of reading someone's thoughts is thrilling in and of itself, but it is also exciting to read the description of what
it might be like. Certain things aren't surprising - such as the many family members who have contempt for other family
members. But it opens a window or two to consider the wide array of thoughts that enter people's minds at any given
moment. Sleator seems to pinpoint in his prose the dual nature of our minds and of ourselves. Annelise provides
a perfect example - she is perfect, poised and polite on the outside but shockingly hateful and ruthless on the inside.
Though it isn't always to the extreme of Annelise, we all have a bit of that dual sided nature. When others see us, are they
really seeing the true us?
The questions this novel raises are interesting and well worth the read. It is an enticing and enjoyable book because
the fantasy of reading minds is just at the reader's fingertips...as if just maybe this could really happen.
Sleator, William. Others See Us. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1993.
