Spotlight: Forbidden Mind

Spotlight: Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade
** Winner of 2011 Forward National Literature Award**

My apologies for not posting this sooner! This was due a few days ago, but here you are. This is definitely worth checking out.

Find this book on Goodreads - BN - Amazon

Book Description: 
49% of Americans believe their government officials are honest. I don't know these officials, or their supporters, but I know their secrets, and 49% of Americans are wrong.

My employers pay me well to be right, to know things others can't. But I don't know why they brought that boy in, strapped to a stretcher, barely conscious. He asked me for help when I could give none.

I'm a wealthy spy, a talented artist, a martial arts black belt, and a prisoner. They tell me that on my eighteenth birthday, I will be released, free to go to the college of my dreams. It's my eighteenth birthday, and a man in black is at my door. I know he's not here to free me.

I know, because I can read minds.

My name is Sam, and this is my story.

So begins the tale of Sam and Drake--from the time they link minds, forging a bond that leads to an unconventional romance--to their fight for survival against the corrupt, twisted organization known as 'Rent-A-Kid.'  

An Excerpt:

"The door to the studio hung open just a crack, and angry screams assaulted us as we approached. Luke and

Lucy looked to me as if I knew what was going on.
I shrugged my shoulders in the universal I've-got-no-freaking-idea way and crept to the door. I could have just

slipped into their minds, but listening to people talk both out load and mentally was hard to track and gave me a pretty big headache. At that moment, what they were saying, or rather screaming, to each other was more interesting.

We didn't want to budge the door and draw attention to ourselves, so Luke pushed his head through. He bobbed in and out so quickly I almost missed it. Being able to walk through anything was mighty handy at times.

I nudged him. "Well?"
"Higgins and Mr. K. They both look pretty pissed."
They sounded it too. I'd never heard Headmaster Higgins yell at any of the teachers, or students for that matter.

He wasn't a pushover by any stretch, but he'd always been levelheaded—until today.
Higgins shouted at Mr. K. "How could you enter her without permission from me? Do you realize what you've

done? This could ruin the school and everything we're doing here."

Was Higgins talking about me?

Mr. K replied with the same volume and anger. I could imagine the vein over his left eye bulging. "You have no idea how talented that girl is! She should be at the best art school in the world, not hidden here like a freak of nature. It's my job to make sure she has a future when she leaves this god-awful place, and I'm not letting you, or the people you work for, stand in my way. Or hers."

They must have been talking about me, but it made no sense. Why didn't Higgins want me entering the contest, and why did Mr. K hate this place so much?

"Don't you mean, the people we work for? They employ us both, and you'd do well to remember that, Mr. Krevner. Their reach extends beyond the gates of this school."

I couldn't believe it. Was the headmaster actually threatening my art teacher? What was going on?

"You will pull her from that competition and clean up the mess you've made, or your days here are numbered. Am I making myself clear?"

Something crashed into a wall, and my friends and I jumped back in surprise.

"Everything is very clear. You use her and her gifts, rent her and all these kids out to the highest bidder as spies. You make billions on these Rent-A-Kids, as they call themselves. And now you want to snuff her chance to shine doing what she truly loves? No. If you want to destroy her dreams, you can do it yourself. I'll have no part in it."

Footsteps approached the door. I tripped back, grabbed Luke and Lucy, and the three of us ducked around the corner of the building. I peeked out just as Mr. K stormed from the studio, his face bright red and contorted in anger. Not his best look.

Headmaster Higgins followed him out moments later. He adjusted his navy blue suit and plastered a calm mask over his face. His midnight black skin did not reveal his recent spike in blood pressure the same way that Mr. K's pasty complexion had, but the tight way he held his shoulders and the fists he made of his hands spoke to his anger.

Tears stung my eyes, and I swiped at them with the back of a hand still stained with splashes of paint. If they pulled me from the contest, hundreds of hours of hard work would be wasted, and my future would get flushed down the toilet. That couldn't happen!

When both men were gone, the three of us snuck into the studio and closed the door behind us. My enthusiasm had drained out of me like dirty bathtub water. I sniffled and wiped my traitorous eyes again.

Lucy put her arm around me. "Cheer up, Chica. We'll figure this out, I promise. They can't keep you from this, not after all the hard work you've done. And you'll be leaving for New York soon. Luke and I will join you there, and we'll make all of our dreams come true, just watch!"

I tried to smile, for her sake, but the smile didn't reach my eyes.
Luke rubbed my head as if I were his pet dog. "Where's this painting I've been hearing so little about?"
I swatted his hand and couldn't suppress a small, but genuine, smile. Luke could always cheer me: funny,

gorgeous, and so much like a brother it sucked.
"Over here." The canvas draped over my painting appeared undisturbed. A sigh of relief escaped me. At least

nothing had happened to it. "Close your eyes."
They both groaned but did as told.
Fear and nervousness buzzed through me as I pulled the canvas off. What if they hated it? What if everyone

hated it and my dreams of being a real artist died before they could even be born? My lungs clenched with stale breath and I exhaled before I got too dizzy. "Okay, you can look."

They stood there, jaws dropped, stunned into silence. They either hated it or totally loved it.
"Um, is this a bad or good silence?"
Lucy pulled her mouth closed and swallowed before she spoke. "O.M.G. Sam, this is the most incredible,

unbelievable thing I've ever seen in my life. You painted this?" "You like it?"

Her mental voice slammed into me. 'Would I lie to you? It's amazing!'

Relief flooded me even as I laughed at her joke. I could read minds, sure, but she was the human lie detector. No one dared lie to her.

Luke hugged me and whispered into my ear, "I'm so proud of you, Sam. This is truly epic!"

We stood there staring for several minutes. This painting represented so much about me, my life, my future... everything. I hated to leave it even for a minute, but my stomach protested its neglect with a loud rumble.

Luke grabbed my hand. "Come on, let's feed you. My treat."

With the buzz of success filling me, and Luke's hand in mind, I entertained a what-if. What if I could get past the whole brother thing with Luke? I took in his tall, well-defined frame, his dark hair and bright blue eyes. Gorgeous inside and out, but... nothing. No spark at all. Such a pity. Of all the guys at school, he was the only one I could even imagine being with, but I couldn't force the chemistry and neither could he.

We walked to dinner hand in hand, and I consoled myself with the fact that I had the best friends a girl could want. Not a bad consolation prize after all, and worth a hundred boyfriends."

Meet the author:

NOTE: my married name is Karpov-Kinrade, but my books are published as just Kinrade

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children's fantasy chapter books Lexie World, and Bella World, all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they're humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.
Follow Kimberly Kinrade: Twitter - Facebook - Website - Goodreads - Amazon

Want more? Check out this fun fan site, join the team at I.P.I and get involved!
Here's another website for kids and parents of young kids - Lost Kids

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