What would you do if you were given the power to teleport into the mind of any person
around the world, simply by touching an object that belongs to them. By doing so, you
can find their exact location, what they are saying, and how they look at that exact
moment. For the protagonist Jake Lukin in the novel Tunnel Vision, by Susan Adrian, he
has been gifted this ability but has had to hide it from everyone his entire life. However,
Jake reveals his power at a party one day and now a government agency by the name
of DARPA is trying to get him to use that ability for the nation’s military.
I chose to read this book because I wanted to change it up a little bit from what I have
been reading in the past, and I have also had an interest in sci-fi type of novels. Books
that involve a protagonist having a secret power and having to hide it from the world
usually catch my attention quickly. I am honestly glad I chose to read this book. It is not
very long and stays interesting throughout. The characters are well developed and the
plot is very well written.
My favorite character in this book was obviously Jake. The reasons being are because
Jake is extremely humble, intelligent, and is also athletic. He has big ambitions and
knows he needs to work hard to reach his goals. He does not let his ability to tunnel
define him as a person and certainly doesn’t abuse the power just because he can.
Jake is also constantly looking out for his mother and little sister, Myka. He knows the
importance of keeping his family together after his dad’s death, so he also tries to stay
close to his grandfather who lives across the country.
My least favorite character in the book was probably Dr. Liesel Miller. She is my least
favorite character because he forced Jake into a position where he had to comply with
her orders for DARPA. She knew that Jake’s weakness was his family and that he
would do anything to protect them, especially when there is a random man that has
been following Jake around for a week. She also offers Jake a full ride into Stanford, his
dream school, and ensures him and his family 24 hour protection if he complies with her
orders. With all of these offers, Jake can not resist and has no choice but to follow
Miller’s orders. However, Miller and DARPA have no care for Jake as a person, just for
his power, so they can find a way to strengthen America’s military. For these reasons,
Miller classifies as an antagonist and my least favorite character.
In conclusion, Tunnel Vision is a great novel with interesting characters, multiple twists
and turns, and an extremely well written plot. It is a relatively short read for any teen
looking to get their hands on an unique sci-fi novel. For these reasons, I would rate this
book a 5/5 stars.
Check out Tunnel Vision from the Newport Beach Public Library!