THE POSSIBLE, by Tara Altebrando, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, June 6, 2017, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
If you’re the type of reader who likes psychological suspense, The Possible, by Tara Altebrando, is a good choice.
The Possible follows Kaylee, a softball player who’s just going about her normal life when a reporter shows up at her door with life-altering questions. It’s been 13 years since Kaylee moved in with her adoptive parents. Kaylee’s biological mother, Crystal, had once made a name for herself, claiming she had telekinetic ability. That “ability” continued to haunt her when she got a life sentence for killing Kaylee’s little brother in a fit of telekinetic rage.
Kaylee doesn’t think about any of that anymore. At least she didn’t. Then that reporter had to come and start asking questions. The woman wants to interview Kaylee for a podcast about Crystal. She wants to know if the whole telekinesis thing is a hoax. If Crystal does have some kind of special powers, does that mean Kaylee has them, too?
Kaylee’s first impulse — and certainly that of her parents — is to say no to the interview. But then, some strange things have happened to Kaylee over the years… Against her better judgment, Kaylee agrees to talk.
If you’ve ever listened to the Serial podcast, then The Possible will quite possibly appeal to you. Much of The Possible has the same flow, and as the podcasts start to air in the book, you can’t help but think that author Tara Altebrando is a fan of the original.
The difference in The Possible is that you see the story unfold in real-time. You also see the unintended consequences as each episode airs, and you realize that digging for answers sometimes uncovers things best left hidden.
The Possible doesn’t feel like your typical YA novel, and that’s not a bad thing. The fact that it’s unique makes it stronger. There were time, however, when I struggled with the characters. I really wanted to like Kaylee throughout, but there were times that I just wondered at her naivety. And I truthfully never really cared for her “love interest.”
There are enough twists and turns in The Possible to keep me going. Alterbrando’s pacing is strong and her ability to set up tension works well with this style of book.
