Here is the first book in a promising new series that builds foundations for adventures in future books. Within the first couple of chapters, I had met the hero of the story. Luc came from a family that was dominated by his father, and who was dealing with personal issues badly. His frustrations were often taken out on his family, the only time he felt that he had control.

I liked Luc from the start, so I soon felt empathy for him. A freak accident changes his life forever, but at sixteen he is scared to tell anyone about what he has seen and short of guidance as to what to do with his new abilities. The story takes on a supernatural element as Luc’s life branches onto different roads.

I found that at times it felt a little overwhelming with so much taking place all at once. The story went quite in-depth with a lot of detail on the religious aspect of different planes of awareness which slowed the story down somewhat and felt quite deep. I wasn’t too sure of the other choices of characters that were to become part of the team either. It seemed a little too convenient.

I am looking forward to seeing what the team will tackle in future books as I would quite happily read a second book, for this series but hope that there is a little more action than explanation in it.

I wish to thank Net Galley and FSB Associates for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Luc Ponti is a 15-year-old Silicon Valley basketball whiz hoping for a shot at the NBA when he has a near death experience. He meets his paternal grandfather, who passed away before he was born and now tells him he has to return to Palo Alto. When he reluctantly does, he finds himself in possession of amazing superpowers that research scientists, and later the CIA, want to use, no matter the stress it causes Luc.

Several friends help him along the way, most notably Bella and Eric. When he’s introduced to a Bronx-born Tibetan monk named Thay who guides him in the use of his new superpowers, he’s able to put them into use without harming himself or innocent others.

This engrossing YA novel is perfect for teens or adults, as author Jim Cusumano addresses weighty issues in the voice of an intelligent and inquisitive teen. Readers are able to follow Luc’s journey and watch him turn from an easygoing youth to a thoughtful, perceptive young man in this first-in-series title.

This was an interesting idea and the characters were diverse. The plot was easy to follow and the pace was adequate. The downside was unfortunately the writing style. It was a little thick and the characters spoke in a strange 2 dimensional way. The characters have this habit of repeating and talking with too many words. At first I liked the odd italian word thrown in but at times it was too much and cliched. Maybe that was the overall this g holding this book back. It felt cliched. It had a unique concept with the NDE link, and yet it felt obvious and dated. The final thing was things didn't really get going till the last 25% and even then it was a little stunted.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of I Can See Clearly Now in exchange for an honest review.

While interesting and fairly unique in its premise of teens waking up from near-death experiences with superhuman powers and then having to fight government programs like the CIA who want to control them, I Can See Clearly Now has such an uncanny valley style of narration that it was impossible for me to get into.

Every character talked the same and their lingo and speech styles seemed to span eras as a result, but they also all spoke like they didn't quite belong to any era. A lot of conversations are structured as if characters who have known each other their whole lives are meeting for the first time and relaying all the information the reader needs in such an unnaturally robotic way that I couldn't imagine anyone in this as a real person. It was a lot of "don't you remember that [established thing that both characters should know and don't need voicing]" and "let me repeat back what you said point by point, incorporating the phrasing used in all of your questions into my answers" and while it sounds like a small nit-picky thing, it was so discerning that I felt uncomfortable anytime anyone talked.