Don’t Even Think About It

Mlynosky, Sarah. Don’t Even Think About It. 2014. 336p. ISBN 0385737386. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Life changes irrevocably for a group of New York City high school sophomores when their homeroom reports for the flu shot and they suddenly begin to suffer an unintended side effect. They begin to hear thoughts. Not only their own, but those of others. All of their secrets, nervous habits, and feelings. Unfortunately, so can the others.

At once, Mackenzie, Olivia, Jordana, Pi, and the other students in 10B know everyone else’s business. Everyone knows that Mackenzie cheated on Cooper with Bennett, who lives in her building. They know that Olivia is afraid they’re all watching her. That Tess’s mother thinks she’s fat. That most boys think about sex all the time, and most girls do too.

Mackenzie is deadly afraid Cooper will find out. Olivia does not want to give her public speaking speech. Pi is looking forward to eavesdropping on other people’s thoughts, becoming extraordinary and showing her mother what she missed by abandoning her and her father. Everyone has their reasons for enjoying this newfound ability, but everyone also has reasons to resent it.

When Cooper is finally affected, he can’t believe no one told him about Mackenzie, even though they all knew. What seemed a cool ability at first becomes a liability. A group of disparate individuals now must grow together, since they have no secrets. If you could hear everyone’s thoughts, would you keep this power? The Espies (ESPies, as they name themselves) now face this difficult choice. What will they choose?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44DbVTq4occ