Minders by Michele Jaffe - OPTIONAL

Jaffe, Michele Minders, 395 pgs. Razor Bill (Penguin Group), 2014. Language - PG-13 (70 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; 

Becoming a Minder is not easy, and just going to orientation doesn't guarantee that Sadie will get into the program. Once she sees Subject Nine and experiences life through his eyes, though, Sadie would do anything to stay. When things get harder for Subject Nine as he pokes into his brother's recent murder, Sadie not only wants to stay but is desperate to help the man who doesn't know she exists. 

The premise for Sadie's story is all at once incredible and terrifying (if you are prone to believe conspiracy theories). I loved experiencing someone else's mind in more detail than usually occurs in a book (so much so that sometimes it felt more like Subject Nine's story than Sadie's). The emotions and associations and thoughts were explained in a way I never considered--and I hope this changes the way I am able to empathize as well as interact with others. Though the idea of being able to literally see life from someone else's eyes--able to feel and understand someone that way--was fascinating and enlightening to read, there were a couple scenes in the book that seemed impossible within the perimeters of the made-up technology (in the form of physical interactions between Sadie and her subject). I was also bothered by the sexual content in a couple scenes. While there isn't much said flat out, there is a lot heavily implied that made me uncomfortable. 

HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen