Hypnotized

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University and the co-author of
Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom.

Rufus, a grade eight student in a high school north of Edmonton, and his older sister, Alexa, have an antagonistic relationship. His best friend, Phil, wants to try out his hypnotizing abilities, and for a small monetary fee, Alexa agrees to be Phil’s first test subject. Both Phil and Rufus are amazed when the amateur hypnotist induces a state of hypnosis in Alexa. The boys make suggestions of how Alexa should behave and their requests cause both amusement and angst for Rufus, as well as for other characters. As the plot unfolds, Phil experiences some complications with his hypnotizing abilities, and although the boys worry about Alexa’s reactions to her experience, all ends well.

Written in first person, the book conveys Rufus’s interpretation of events and characters. Although the novel contains some humorous moments, the book is not “mesmerizing” as the plot is highly predictable and the characters are stereotypical. Overall, Hypnotized is a weak addition to the highly acclaimed Orca Currents series. Not a first-choice purchase.