Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

If you can look at that title and not at least feel the slightest pull of curiosity or a little tingle of interest piquing, then I am concerned for your well-being. Have you had an apple today? You should sleep more. And maybe try yoga.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind has all the things I’ve been wanting lately in a book: comedy, sarcasm, reluctant heroes, random things flying through the air, pew pew, action, things going boom, and a plot twist that I don’t call from page 10.

This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve read so far in 2019, and the moment I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down.

My Thoughts:

- This book has all my favorite tropes, rolled into one neat little package. My favorites tend to be a bit niche sometimes, but if you like any of these, too, this book might just be your jam. It certainly was mine. I mean, how often does a book check aaaaall these boxes at once?

✿ Adult superheroes and villains!
✿ Bad guys getting hit with random inanimate objects
✿ Sarcasm that’s always on point
✿ Reluctant hero
✿ Superpowers with a mysterious background
✿ Twists! Mystery!
✿ An ending that wrapped up this conflict, but introduces the potential for another
✿ Endless adventure and action
✿ Actual diversity/representation with characters that are more than their illnesses/shortcomings
✿ Found family
✿ Things going pew pew, boom

- Teagan is a reluctant hero, which is my favorite type. Through no fault of her own, she has these amazing powers … but man, doing good is a hassle. Her character was so dang relatable, because she was basically an everywoman. She has no big, grand background that crafted her into the hero she’s become. Like most of us, she’d much rather be binge watching something on Netflix. She’s really only in the saving people business because she has to be.

- The way the book is written is really easy to read, and the voice was super enjoyable. Probably because it was 90% sarcasm. In other words, Teagan is speaking my language. It’s a very specific language, but it’s so nice to find in books now and then. I had no problem getting into the story, and her voice felt natural and witty and fun. The second point of view character, Jake, was less sarcastic, and his story was a bit repetitive at times, but it was easy to empathize with his plight. He was raised in the system, abandoned by his mother at a young age, and he just wants to know who he is. While trying to discover his history, he ends up losing himself, and watching it was hella fun.

- As fun as Teagan is, and as much as I loved her, there were plenty of flaws to her character, as with all the other characters. Which actually made me like them all the more. Yes, even the antagonist. Who became more and more unlikable as the story progressed, but it felt realistic and true to his arc. The banter between the characters was hilarious, but at the same time, they all had secrets. Because of course they do. They’re not exactly in the secret undercover business just for the heck of it. Someone has dirt one them. Which, of course, makes for some interesting characters.

- I can’t believe I’m saying this, but … having LA as the setting was actually pretty cool? The setting actually worked really well here, though, and was done realistically, highlighting both the good and the bad of LA. Ford didn’t shy away from the ugly underbelly of LA, with wildfires and evacuations and gangs and the Skid Row tent city. But at the same time, through Teagan’s fascination and love for the city, he highlights the beauty of it, too.

- This was a light read, but it also had a certain amount of gravitas, without being too preachy about it. As I’ve said, Ford tackles the good and bad about LA, and the same happens for the characters. Nobody is clearly good or evil. They’re human. Which, I mean, isn’t the best thing you could be (being a dragon, for example, would be better), but they make do with what they’ve got. As the story progresses, the characters learn important things about themselves and each other and the world, until you realize that no one is exactly what they seemed at their first impression.

- There are so many perks to reading ARCs, and I’m thankful for the opportunity, but now I have to wait even longer for the sequel! D: And what’s up with that? Why don’t I have it already? Why has the author forsaken me?! According to the back of the eARC, the next book is going to be called Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, and if that doesn’t sum it up, I don’t know what does. Though this story is over, I can’t wait for the next one!

Sticking Points:

- There were times the narrative became either repetitive or vague, where things are either explained too much or too little. I can’t get into too much detail, because most of it is spoilers. Where I noticed this the most was with Teagan’s history. There were things I was confused about (and I’m still not sure), and then there were things that were explained, but given all the foreshadowing surrounding them, what actually happened was … a bit of a letdown. Making a mountain out of a molehill, if you ask me. There is a book two, and I assume that more of Teagan’s history will be explored in that, which I’m looking forward to! But needless to say, I still have soooo many questions about it.

I'm a fan of stories with real people, doing real things.  This story made me fall in love with the characters.

I had fun reading this book, the way the characters argued, misunderstood, tried again, these were real people in a crappy situation.

The dues ex machina is pretty strong at the end, to the point of laziness... I get it, I know what the goal was, just think it missed. Still, worth the read for the characters and the laughs.

Why did I choose to review an advance copy of The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind? Well the cover grabbed my attention first. Random objects are flying in space such as a pair of Chucks, a rubik's cube, cup of coffee, movie theater popcorn bucket and a yellow rubber ducky. I read the title next and now I am reeled in. This must be good, right?

The ever so witty Teagan Frost has psychokinetic powers. The government uses her secret skill for odd missions. It's all paid fun and games until a dead body turns up at the last job site. Guess who is suspect #1? Teagan has 24 hours to clear her name and protect her beloved hometown of Los Angeles. S/O to Slauson Ave 💙

The easygoing writing style and language makes the main character so darn likable! Too bad this book is better suited for young adults; the dialogue is simplistic with sprinkles of juvenile cursing and the storyline itself is nothing to mull over. Us grown folk will lose interest real fast and grow bored very quickly. If it were not for the main girl, I would have given up reading far sooner. Yes, I like easy reads in the warmer months but not this basic.

If you are looking for a book to occupy a teenager during the summer school break, this is ideal. And just maybe they will be interested in Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air where the story continues.

Happy Early Pub Day, Jackson Ford. The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind will be available Tuesday, June 18.

LiteraryMarie

[Excerpt]:

Rating: 3.5 stars

With a title like that, how could I not request this book? It hints at humor and a girl with some sort of supernatural ability (telekinesis or related “gifts”), so right away I’m hooked. I’ve been looking forward to this book for a few months now, ever since it first became available on NetGalley. This is the first work I’ve ever seen of Jackson Ford’s; in the “about the author” section at the back it states that Ford has written sixteen novels, but TGWCMSWHM is the only book on his Goodreads profile. Not sure if they’re using a pseudonym or what. Regardless, I eagerly devoured this book.

I liked Teagan. Right away I appreciated her sense of humor and the fact that she didn’t take herself or anything else too seriously. She just rolled with the punches (sometimes literally). In my experience, I can usually tell if I’m going to like a protagonist within the first chapter or two. They need to have a unique, independent voice, and I definitely prefer humor, in whatever form that comes in (dry, self-deprecating, funny-guy, etc.).

Teagan possessed psychokinetic abilities, which is very similar to telekinesis, and she figured she was the only person in the world (and in the history of the world) who could do this. But she never really dwelled on her differences; as I said, she just went with it. I thought she acted in believable ways, and I never wanted to yell, “No, stupid!” at her like many other protagonists I’ve followed. She was easy to like, and I felt sympathetic for her.

[Full review on my blog!]

I'm going to be honest with this - the title and cover for this book totally reeled me in. Luckily for me, the story behind it totally lived up to the hype I'd built up for it in my head. Anyway, the story is totally nuts but in the best ways. It's fast-paced, off-the-wall, action-packed, and a ton of fun.
Seriously, you won't get bored with Jackson Ford's debut novel (well, Ford is actually the pseudonym of a bestselling sci-fi author) because it's a real roller coaster. As for the characters, they're all pretty great but Tegan is my favorite - and yes she lives up to that title and she's still quite relatable. Sometimes the novel's trying to do a little too much, but overall I loved the superhero movie-esque spectacle of the whole thing. If you love high octane, incredibly visual stories, with an engaging cast, you'll want to read The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ford (and I hope to learn his true identity in the future).

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Not unlike James Alan Gardner's All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault from 2017, the title, The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind tells you all the important things about this book that you need to know before picking it up -- although I think this book does a better job of following through with the tone of the title throughout the book. The voice, the attitude and the defining characteristic of the protagonist (at least as most people are concerned) is all right there. If the title turns you off, don't bother buying/borrowing this novel, you're going to hate the experience. The same goes for the first few pages -- if you're not amused and/or intrigued by Teagan's personality and narration within the first chapter, just stop and go find something else. If you're amused and/or intrigued? You'll be in for a good time. If you're amused and intrigued? Well, my friend, settle back and enjoy.

Teagan Frost is our titular girl, and she...well can move sh...aving cream with her mind. She has psychokinetic abilities (not telekinetic, she's touchy about that distinction) -- or pk, as she calls is. Teagan will slowly describe her abilities to us as she has opportunity -- and eventually will spell out to someone where those abilities came from (surprisingly far from the beginning -- which I appreciated). But for the initial plot all you need to know is what the title said.

She's part of a pseudo-governmental espionage team that acts a lot like judge and jury without bothering with the formalities. No one, or almost none of her team wants to be on it, but the shadow-y figure that calls the shots is forcing them all to be part of it (including Teagan -- don't get the idea that she wants to be some pk wielding super-hero/secret agent -- she wants to work in a kitchen somewhere until she's good enough to start her own restaurant). The rest of the team have various skills that prove handy in their tasks, but she's the only one has any kind of extra-ordinary abilities. Actually, as far as anyone knows, Teagan is the only person alive who can do what she does.

That is, until a dead body is discovered -- and the victim could not have been killed by anyone but a psychokinetic. Naturally, there's a tie to both Teagan's teams recent activities and the location they were in the night before. The police are looking for them (not that they have an explanation for how the victim died, but they expect someone can), and some of the higher ups in the government want to take care of Teagan without worrying about due process (those who live by the sword and all) -- and if that "take care" involves dissection or vivisection so they can figure out how her pk was given to her . . . well, who's to complain? Teagan doesn't have a lot of time to clear her name, but she's going to try. As are most of her associates -- if she does down for this, they will to.

Time prevents me from talking about all the things I want to, but that should be enough to whet the ol' appetite. It's a fun book and not one you need to know much about first. There's a lot of action, plenty of snark, some violence, some banter, some mystery, some heartbreak. There's a very Cas Russel/Peri Reed feel to this book and this world. But something that feels entirely fresh at the same time. I'm not sure that's technically possible, but it seems it. So it can appeal both to fans of Cas and Peri, as well as those who didn't care for them/don't know who they are.

There's a lot of depth to the characters, a lot more than you'd expect -- which is one of the great parts about this book. As you learn more and more about what's really going on around the murder victims the more you learn about Teagan and her team/found family (ditto for Teagan, actually). There are plots revolving around romance and friendship plots that are legitimately surprising -- in a pleasant way, nice to see someone going the way Ford does, making the choices he makes for his characters. While I'm on the subject, it wasn't just in characterizations/relationships that Ford surprised me -- he did it throughout. Even when I was saying "Well of course, ____ was really doing ___, there's no other explanation" to myself, that was a heartbeat after I said, "What??!?! No, that can't be right!" I'm not saying I couldn't see anything coming, but the ratio of surprises to telegraphed moves comes out in Ford's favor.

There are a number of X-Men parallels, going on here -- all of which would appeal to Teagan (some of which she mentions). Which is a nice touch. It's probably also something that deserves more space than I'm giving it -- I'm stopping myself, because I think I could go a long way down this particular rabbit hole. I'd love to ask Ford about it.

Now, there's one character that I think Ford messed up -- he's part of a government clean-up crew that comes to take Teagan into custody. For some reason, he hates Teagan with some sadistic vengeance, and isn't afraid to tell anyone that. It's senseless and motionlessness (yeah, I know sometimes people hate others for no reason -- I can accept that in real life, I can't accept it in fiction. There has to be a reason). Which is strange, as little as we understand this jerk, we know the murderer and the individual prompting them to act. Technically, we know more about the killer than we do about Teagan for most of the book. Which just makes the clean-up guy even stranger.

I expect in future installments, we'll get an explanation for the hatred and I'll shut up. But not until then. Ford may be playing a long game here, but this is a short game world. Ford's set up a lot for future installments, really (you won't figure out just how much until the end -- unless you're smarter than me, then maybe you'll see some of it coming) -- but that doesn't stop this from being a wholly satisfying experience.

So much of the time when I've been reading lately I get wrapped up in evaluating a book (for good or ill), wondering why an author did this or that, and what that might mean for the book as a whole, what that might say about the writer, etc. There's nothing wrong with that -- at all. But every now and then, it's nice to stop the critical thinking and just enjoy a book. I'm not saying I did that wholly (and my lengthy notes can testify to that) -- but in a real sense I did. I got lost in Teagan's voice, the action, and wondering just how far the killer (and the individual pushing him to be one) would go, and who'd be lost in the process. I didn't worry about what I was going to write, but about what Jackson Ford had written. I appreciate that.

I think this is one that could be better on a second (and then maybe on the third) read, once you can take your time and not race to find out what happened, or be dazzled by Teagan's personality. If I'm wrong, and Ford's just razzle dazzle -- well, you're left with a fun read with snappy prose and an more-entertaining-than-most protagonist/narrator. Either way, The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind is a book I recommend without a hint of hesitation (if you pass the simple tests from my first paragraph).

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Orbit Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.

Power. Responsibility. Covert government teams. The west is burning. Contemporary antihero. Telekinesis. This book has it all.

Teagan Frost lives in LA; enjoying the sunshine, that special golden hour, and the food scene. She keeps a notebook full of ideas for the restaurant she dreams of opening someday. That is, when she isn’t completing undercover government black ops types of assignments and jumping out of buildings. You see, Teagan isn’t just an inspiring restaurateur. She’s also telekinetic or as she refers to it PK short for psychokinesia. This is the ability to feel non organic objects around her. To wrap her mind around their weight and texture then move them. It has it’s limits though.

For example, there is no way she could have killed the man she is being framed for murder for. She simply isn’t that strong. The only way this man could have been killed though is by someone with her power. Teagan is the only one with PK, so it must have been her.

This is a perfect summer read, especially for the beach as a quick, fun, popcorn read. The bulk of the action all takes place in the space of 22 hours with traffic congested and wildfire smoke filled LA as the backdrop. The pacing is fast and the story is engaging. Character wise, Teagan is a smartass who is rarely without a snarky reply. The other characters fall flat at times compared to Teagan. The motley crew at the China Shop, the cover for the covert group, includes Reggie a former pilot now hacker, Paul AKA Agent Whiteboard who keeps the team together as the de facto leader, Carlos the wheelman, Annie a hard shelled woman, and of course Teagan. We also get some side characters passing through the mad chase to clear Teagan of murder, namely Africa who is the most memorable.

While I enjoyed this story, the bits of romance at the end felt forced and unnecessary. It didn’t add to Teagan as a character or to the story. Sure we got a little more origin story out of it about her ahem, personal life, but it didn’t need to be included. The other bits of her origin were both more interesting and relevant. There were some brief moments and asides that didn’t seem to fit. Especially considering there are only 22 hours to clear Teagan before her boss sends her to get carved up at a secret government site.

If you enjoy contemporary anti-hero stories you might enjoy adding this book to your summer reading.

Thanks NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Jackson Ford for the advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Overall: The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind is about Teagan Frost, the girl who could move sh*t with her mind. The first chapter starts off with a bang – full of sass and humor and keeps upping the ante! It’s a solid sci-fi, X-Men-ish, contemporary superhero read., and I’d add it to your summer beach bag when it’s out on June 18th!

A Deep Dive:
-The Plot: If you love snarky characters, a modern murder-mystery, action (including fights, car chases and people falling out of buildings) and super heroes, you’ll love this book. It seems highly likely that there will be a sequel, so keep that in mind if you don’t like waiting for the whole story to unfold.

-The Characters: Teagan is a take-no-sh*t-from-anyone type of girl. She’s full of sarcasm and wit and her team balances her out amazingly. I love real, relatable characters and this book has a great cast.

-The Writing: I’m part of the minority – I think – that loves switching POVs in a story. The swaps between Jake & Teagan kept me guessing and wanting more from them both and that PLOT TWIST was crazy. I’m really sad to say though, the snark could have been tones down just a bit for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Nice action packed and fast paced story by Jackson Ford. <i>For Teagan Frost, sh* just got real.</i> Yes, indeed!

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/3miPXPV1ZKHatcSuI6/giphy.gif" width="400" height="350" alt="description"/>

The first chapter got me hook into this Sci-Fi sh* and definitely caught my attention.

Teagan is our <b>Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind</b> who works for the secret Government in Los Angeles. Until... a man was found dead by someone with PK, just like hers. She needs to prove it otherwise within 24 hours or else....

Teagan is funny, sassy, snarky and entertaining which definitely relatable. And she's perfect for the <b>Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind</b>

I guess I just love saying that!!

This story follows Teagan Frost, a young woman with telekinesis who scrapes by in life working jobs for the government that no ordinary human can manage. She pretty much has no choice in the matter because it's either do some break-ins for the higher ups, or rot in a laboratory, and as much as Teagan may not love her job, it sure beats being experimented on.

Things were going pretty smoothly for Teagan, that is until a body turns up at the site of her team's last break-in killed in a way that could've only been done by someone with her powers. Now, Teagan has less than 24 hours to not only clear her name but save the lives of her teammates as well. Teagan has gone her whole life thinking she was the only one of her kind, and now she must hunt down this stranger before her whole city goes up in flames.

I had really high hopes for this book, and while I did like it, I just felt it lacked something. Right from the get go it was jam packed with tons of action and the adrenaline only kept building the entire time. All the bits of Teagan using her powers were really cool, and they're very clear about how it's not magic but science that gave her her abilities which is a break from the typical superpower trope. I think my main issue was the dialogue. Most of the interactions between the group, for me, felt a bit forced. All of these characters come from hard backgrounds, and I almost felt the dialogue tried a little too hard to have that come across. Despite that, there were still enjoyable parts, but I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series if there is one.

I received this ARC for review from NetGalley and Orbit Books (and boy am I grateful). First of all, this title...this title is one of the best titles in existence. This book has everything: government agencies, murder, secret identities, and people moving shit with their minds. A lot of the twists and betrayals that happened, I did not see coming. I am waiting with bated breath for the sequel which also has an awesome title.

I wanted to read this book for precisely one reason: the title. I was given an advanced copy to review, so thanks to the publisher for that.

The title sums up the tone of the book rather well. Teagan Frost is living in LA, dreaming about opening her own restaurant someday, enjoying the local scene in between running black ops for the government because, oh yeah, she’s telekinetic, and she’s kinda trapped into this gig because it’s only as long as she’s useful that she’s protected by her superiors from the Area 51 types who want to go rummaging around inside her brain to find out why she can do what she does.

Things start to go badly when she becomes the prime suspect in the death of a man who could only have been killed by someone with telekinetic powers. It wasn’t Teagan who did it, but since she’s the only telekinetic in existence that vaults her to the top of the suspect list.

This is a great popcorn read. It is a lot of fun spending time with Teagan inside her head (the book is written first person). It’s a nice gripping page-turner, and I tore through it pretty quickly. Ford also does a particularly nice job capturing the essence of Los Angeles (to the best of my knowledge, never having been there. I’d be very curious to hear the opinions of some LA residents after the book is released). A particularly nice touch was the wildfire raging very close to LA itself. The smoke is omnipresent - sometimes faint and sometimes strong, depending on which part of LA they’re in at any given part of the book, but always there. Teagan has serious fears of fire, and is particularly aware of it. It isn’t anything to do with the story, just a wildfire, but it provides an excellent bit of extra atmosphere (no pun intended).

Not a perfect book. Teagan is the only character who feels fully three-dimensional to me; everyone else was at least a little flat, and a lot of them slotted into very familiar archtypes very neatly. Some of the twists caught me by surprise, but the ones most central to the story I saw coming a mile away. Some things that I *think* were supposed to be (as far as Jackson Ford was concerned) thoroughly explained simply weren’t. These flaws are enough to drop it down to a four-star book.

Still tons of fun though. A solid choice if you’re looking for a fun book to read on the beach this summer.

Teagan's narrative is humorous and full of sass - you can get a feel for the style of this book based off the title alone. I appreciated the diversity presented in the wide range of characters, and loved the way Los Angeles was represented. NYC is often painted as a 'character' rather than a setting, but Los Angeles falls under the radar - it has its own character and grimy charm, and it was nice to see that here.

I liked how Psychokinesis was presented in this book (or PK, as its often called in the story); I found it creative and realistically intriguing. There were some fun twists and turns that kept me going. A fun summer read for sure.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*# With Her Mind focuses on our protagonist, Teggan, a devil-may-care-Deadpool-esque early-twenty-something who somewhat mysteriously has an X-Men-level mutation in her genetics that causes her to have PK, or psychokinesis–the title says it all: she can move sh*# with her mind. She works for a super secret military organization that goes after bad people while fronting as a moving company called China Shop. Her rag tag team of what basically amount to the Expendables includes Reggie, a super smart hacker whose time in the military left her as a paraplegic, clean-cut office manager Paul (or as Teggan calls him “Agent Whiteboard”), Teggan’s best work friend Carlos, the Mexican ex-pat getaway driver outrunning his past, and Annie, a street tough former inmate who is super secretive about her personal life, and for good reason. The teams works for Moira Tanner, who is honestly a conspiracy nut’s wet dream/worst nightmare, and whom is seemingly obsessed with the greater good.

When their current mark is found dead in a way that only someone with PK could have accomplished, all eyes are on Teggan. But she knows it wasn’t her, which means she has to prove she’s not the only one out there with these abilities–a prospect that is both exciting and terrifying to her. However, Tanner has put an expiration date on her head–prove in 24 hours that there’s another person who could have done this, and she and the team are spared. Fail, and end up in the darkest hole the government can drill. Commence the superhuman-charged high-octane detective story you didn’t even know you needed in your life.

I will admit, it took me a couple of chapters in to really adjust to the writing style and get absolutely hooked, but I did. Ford does a good job at keeping the reader on their toes. Like every book, though, it had is pros and cons:

PROS:
--I don’t usually enjoy more than one POV in a story, but the bounce between Teggan and Jake, the other person with PK abilities who is only committing the murders because he wants to know where he comes from (not giving anything away with that, it’s pretty clear from the first perspective change), is actually really engaging. They’re both anti-heroes who have been dealt a seriously messed up hand. Teggan was experimented on as a kid while Jake has been bounced around the foster system. Life is tough even with superhuman abilities. You really want to root for both sides on this one. I love the level of grey we get with these characters.
--There’s something that Jackson Ford absolutely nails that even grizzled veteran writers don’t always hit on, and that is that his characters are really well fleshed out, even the auxiliary ones. I could almost see the corded muscles on Annie’s arms, the glint on Reggie’s glasses, and hear Africa’s laugh. That’s a huge plus. I felt invested in what happened to these people. Even Jake. Some characters, like Tanner & Chuy, were purposefully elusive. The only character I have a real complaint about is Nic. I really wish he had been more fleshed out. He didn’t even seem like that important of a character when we first encounter him, so when he comes back into the picture it’s kind of like “um…okay? Who is this guy, again?”
--The banter between the characters is seriously hilarious at times. As much as it seems that Teggan got on a lot of people’s nerves, she didn’t get on mine. I get why her personality is the way it is. She’s just super jaded with life and is absolutely limited on choices with very short leash and little free will. Of course she’d end up being a smarta$$–her words are the only way she can actually rebel and she’s got to keep that cushion of humor going or it’ll let the despair in. It’s very clear as the book goes on that she really does care about the people around her, even if she is sarcastic and exhausting at times. It just makes her feel more real to me.

CONS:
--As much as I liked the book overall, the beginning really was difficult to get into. It felt a bit like it was trying too hard, which made it a bit of a slog until you get to the high-stakes part. It also makes you question some of the better parts of the book. I won’t mention anything super specific because *spoilers* but ***SPOILERS***: suffice it to say that the weight limits on her powers are a tad questionable when you add velocity into the mix. Why was she able to stop two people from falling from the sky yet no one questions why she only has a 300# weight limit on her powers? However, this requires a cursory knowledge of physics so not every reader will be as keen on this. It’s also not a deal breaker–this is a work of fiction, not a textbook.
--There’s a slight romance between two characters but it honestly fell super flat. However, not the focus of the book. I just wish that relationship had been a little more well laid out or just ignored all together. It just seemed really hasty and felt like it was a last minute addition to reach a different audience. I am a stickler for romance, but this one I couldn’t care less about.
--(Also may change in the final copy edit:) There were a couple of moments when I think the writer might have made an editing mistake that was missed in post. There was a particular situation where it seemed like an entire paragraph of dialogue was missing because one character asked a question and then the next character responded and the response was clearly for something else that should have be said. It was only blatantly obvious one time and it was a minor situation that I just kind of glossed over, but there were also a couple of situations where words were omitted which kind of messed with the sentence structure. These items are very minor and although they are jarring when you’re trucking along enjoying an action packed book, they weren’t enough to make me stop reading.

Although it took me a bit to get into it, I’m super glad I did. It was a seriously wild ride. However, there was also a cliff hanger ending that has made me really wonder where else the author plans to go with it. It also seems kind of hastily written, but it nonetheless has left me intrigued.

Not only is this a kick-ass adventure with a spunky girl whose parents tweaker her genome to give her telekinetic, no...um...psychokinetic powers (like there's a difference) but it's got the only afterword I've ever enjoyed reading. Mostly because Ford roped his character into writing it for him (like we fell for that, Teagan.).

Teagan Frost can move Sh*t with her mind. In order to stay out of government labs and/or dissection tables, she does super-secret work for them out of The China Shop, a 'pretend' moving company in LA. Except that some times they actually do moving jobs, because when you can take all the weight off a refrigerator, it makes it easier to carry, right? Just as long as you don't let on.

One day after the usual mission impossible hijinks, the last person Teagan and the team scoped out turns up dead, and by dead we mean killed by someone who could clearly move sh*t with their mind. Except that as far as she knows, nobody else can do that and she's pretty sure it wasn't her. Noe, she's totally sure. In fact, she doesn't even have the strength to bend rebar around someone's neck.

Now she's got 22 hours to clear her name before the spook the team reports to throws them under the bus and her back in a locked lab.

It's a classic motley crew set up, but more motley than usual. The China Shop has a guy with a bit of OCD to organize things, a hacker who used to be a chopper pilot before the crash put her in a wheelchair, a Mexican wheelman who knows all the ways, and a street tough who no longer has anything to do with MS-13. Well, practically.

Then there's Teagan. Sarcastic, wisecracking, impulsive, unlovable, (x)manic Teagan. You'll love her as much as the team does. Well, maybe she'll grow on you.

Totally enjoyable, though how a nice white girl like Teagan can like rap is beyond me. The Girl Who Can Move Sh*t with her mind is a great read, and best of all, she'll be back in random Sh*t Flying Trough the Air. Whenever she gets to it.

The Girl That Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book opened with a bang...here is the opening lines so you can see what I mean!

"On second thoughts, throwing myself out the window of a skyscraper may not have been the best idea.
Not because I’m going to die or anything. I’ve totally got that under control.
It wasn’t smart because I had to bring Annie Cruz with me. And Annie, it turns out, is a screamer. Her fists hammer on my back, her voice piecing my eardrums, even over the rushing air."

Now, tell me you can stop reading the book after that! Ha, no way!
This book is funny, suspenseful, fast paced, full of unexpected turns and twists that changed the plot completely, and terrifically well developed characters (even the evil ones, if you can figure out who that really is).
This is a exciting fantasy, excellent mystery, stunning thriller, and a laugh-out-loud comedy rolled together with lots of unpredictable action scenes! Loved this book so much! I can't wait for book two!
I haven't read this author's work before but I will now be a stalking fan of their books!

Teagan is young woman who is as part of a team that is sanctioned by the government to gather information on bad people. The members of the team have been given second chances on lives that need a connection to purpose, but each has a something the boss holds over him or her… For Teagan, it is her power to move most inanimate objects. Found by agents and suspected as dangerous, she was first prodded, tested, and pushed to her limits for four years in a black site outside of Waco. She was deemed safe, moved to Los Angeles, and added to the forming crew.

After a year of jobs, Teagan has fallen into a pretty healthy rhythm until one night she has to go to extraordinary lengths to save Annie, another member of the team. Falling 50 stories will scare the bejesus out of anyone and Teagan’s rescue is seen as reckless. Yet, the plot twists even more when the target of that job is murdered… and because of the circumstances of the kill, she is the prime suspect. Hunted by dark operatives, the LAPD, and distrusted by her own team, Teagan has to run… and solve the mystery at the same time.

Coupled with Teagan’s point of view is another young person capable of psychokinesis. Jake is in virtual homelessness in Los Angeles and finds one person who reaches out to him… and gives him a job in exchange for information about his past.

A crazy comic book of a plot… this is not in anyway a bad thing. Let me explain… I read a lot of graphic novels and I in this book, I could see the fights, the chases, and the relationships build like the best comics I’ve read. The moving of the shit with minds! Every time I read these scenes, I pictured the directed lines of psychokinesis drawn out from Teagan’s head.

But like the modern comic I am now familiar with, Ford is able to slowly reveal a heart, a depth is Teagan’s character. She is together with the crew but alone in her role as the only Gifted person on the team and, to the best of her knowledge, the world. She is comfortable with her Gift, but struggles with its strength and her recovery. As Teagan’s origin story is slowly revealed, her character only gets better. One we want to root for even more.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind is a blast… the first volume of a contemporary super-hero thrill ride. Overall, not terribly heavy, but does pack an emotional punch… I’m ready for the sequel.

4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nothing beats this title. I requested this pretty much only because of it.

That being said, I read it with an open mind and expected a bunch of snark to go with my telekinesis. The trick to this kind of genre book is not to expect anything outright original but think of it as a great way of telling a fun story.

And for the most part, it is. It's not about science. It's about running a snarky mystery novel with all the heisty action, running, fighting, and reveals that keep our MC alive. You know, with the law and the bad guys both after her and all of it under a time limit. Fun... and slightly forgettable.

Which is a shame because I really LOVE the title! And perhaps I've been spoiled with some truly bonkers snark by Chuck Wendig, so this stuff is not all that breathtaking. It's average. Amusing. And let's face it, it'll probably sell. :)

After all, it has ONE HELL OF A TITLE. :)

Title: The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind
Author: Jackson Ford
Pages: 496
Genre: Action,
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is an Advanced Readers Copy. That means that this is not the final version of the book therefore some facts and quotes are subject to change in the published book.

The best thing about this novel that gains attention is the title. We follow two characters Teagan and Jake. These two are the only people who has been found to have Psychotelekenisis (PK for short). These two find themselves deep in some sh*t and end up on the run from the law.

Oh No's
Teagan is really ignorant. Towards everyone and everything. Her apologies were never heartfelt and I feel she never learned or grew. Just kept up with her rude comments and saying the first thing that comes to mind. I loved her character and how she dealt with things but I wanted her to just shut up sometimes and listen.

There were a few slow parts but altogether a well put novel. I find that I just skim through the scenes and push to the next part. This book is pretty much non stop action so be prepared.

Yay's
One of the characters turns into a literal [REDACTED] and it's the greatest thing ever. Or the most unexpected. Seeing the crazy come out in a person really makes this more realistic. I loved this character development and look forward to reading more of this author work. I will probably even buy the book when it comes out!

As I said, I really enjoyed the writing. The author kept us on our toes with this mystery and packed it full of action. I also want to say that one of the characters is quadriplegic and having that inclusion is so important.

Finally,
I really enjoyed this action packed novel. I will be looking out for more by this author! I can't wait to see if there are any sequels for this story.

My similar recommendation for this novel would be The Gilded Wolves.

Favorite Quote
"Which is when Carlos kicks Burr in the face. It’s a championship-winning, full-run-up, top-of-the-foot fifty-yard-field-goal monster."

Pg. 58%

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-PM

This book had so many twists and turns, I did NOT see the end twist coming.

My favorite character is not the whiny, annoying protagonist "Frost." She was created by mad scientist parents, who gave her psychokinesis (which she calls PK), or telekinesis. She can't read minds but she can manipulate and throw matter, hence the GIT-ER-DONE title.

The Twist made me gasp out loud. That rarely happens. I almost docked it a star for the obvious sequel setup at the very end but...whatever. Yay capitalism!

Recommended for fans of the sekrit science lab part of science fiction, and those who don't mind a lot of cussing in print.