David Lubar is best known for his short-story collection In the Land of the Lawn Weenies and Invasion of the Road Weenies, but I am more impressed by his young adult novel Hidden Talents and its sequel, True Talents. I read Hidden Talents when I was twelve yet it’s still one of the best works of fiction that I have come across and it’s not as popular as it should be.
Hidden Talents is about 13-year old Martin Anderson and his stay at Edgeview Alternative School which is basically a dead end for trouble kids. Martin’s smart mouth got him here and now his only hope is to finish the semester without starting any fights, a nearly impossible task for this guy. Lucky he made a few friends to combat the odd teachers and ruthless bullies. His friends might be nice but they have their own problems which have earned them their unusual nicknames; Torchie sets things on fire, Lucky “finds” stuff that isn’t his, Cheater is obviously a cheater, Flinch can’t sit still and Trash throws stuff. They all claim they're innocent and misunderstood, and at first, Martin doesn’t believe them; who would at a place like Edgeview? But the more Martin hangs out with them, the more he starts to see the bizarre truth. His friends aren’t troublemakers, they’re victims of their own hidden talents. Martin is the only one who can teach them to control their supernatural talents. But what good is control if Edgeview doesn’t give you a second chance at normal life? And who’s going to teach Martin to control his own talent at getting in trouble?
Martin is one sassy narrator and David Lubar has an amazing way of writing realistic and diverse characters in a book that is completely fantastical. The book is also unique because it includes photo copied articles and snippets of character conversation that takes place off stage, making the book more realistic and adding levels of depth to the many side characters. All the characters in Hidden Talents have their quirks and individual voices and show real character growth by the end of the novella, Martin especially. There’s nothing I love more than an imperfect hero like Martin. His struggle with keeping his smart-mouth shut is one we can all sympathize with, and we are right there rooting for him as he tries and fails.
I honestly don’t know why there isn’t a bigger following for this book. I love the sassy and sarcastic narration, the whimsical and diverse characters, and the mystical yet realistic plot. If you’re in the mood for a quick and funny read, I highly recommend this book.
