Truesight

by David Stahler Jr.

Book Overview

Everyone in Jacob's colony is born blind. It has always been this way. They embrace the philosophy of Truesight: Blindness brings unity, purity, and freedom. It is an exceptional community. Everyone... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060522852
• ISBN13: 9780060522858
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Harper Teen
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Truly Entertaining

This book is intriguing in it's concept...the idea that there are those who are set aside, "handicapped", and made to work for the wealthy, able-bodied leaders in this society. Great read for all ages.

Tumbs up!

Truesight is one of the better sci-fi books, not that I've read many! Even if you're just interested in the history of blindness, I'd recommend reading this. Jacob is a realistic 12 year old boy, which with many can relate to. He's not particulary brave, which is a challenge to him when he's faced with his biggest burden of all- starting with minor headaches and turning into something extraordinary. Two thumbs up, all the way, and if you're 11 years or older, but this and enjoy reading!

Best Sci - Fi Novel Ever!!!!

This was an amazing book! It's about a boy named Jacob who lives in a colony of people who genetically engineered themselves to be blind.They believe that blindness brings purity and innoscence.They live by the philosophy of Truesight.It states that sight brings shallow and materialistic lives.Something strange starts happening to Jacob a normal 13-year-old boy.He starts having headaches and feeling sick. Read the book to find out what this all means.

Provocative

Any story featuring a group of people who are determined to create a utopian society is bound to raise some serious questions. But Truesight by David Stahler Jr. takes provocative to the next level. For generations, the inhabitants of the colony Harmony have genetically engineered themselves to be blind. In a society that believes sight leads only to corruption and temptation, thirteen-year- old Jacob is horrified when he suddenly becomes able to see. Jacob has always been disturbed by his best friend Delaney's criticism of the values of the community, but when he attains the faculty of vision he begins to see what really goes on in his town, developing doubts of his own. Already reeling from the shock of being able to see, Jacob is told that Delaney has committed suicide, and his life is thrown into complete turmoil. The drama heats to the boiling point when his secret ability is discovered by others in his community. These people decide that his vision must be "corrected," informing him that he will need surgery to again become blind. Though constructed around some very serious issues, this book offers great opportunities for moral development for mature teens and young adults. Rather than avoiding controversial issues, Stahler has opened the door for the honest discussion of everything from advanced scientific technology to social ostracism. What makes this story appealing, rather than just challenging, is the setting. Harmony is one of two communities founded on Earth and sent to live and develop on a satellite planet. This community has developed amazing technologies to facilitate the lives of the blind. Because the inhabitants are determined to live independently from seeing societies, unusual equipment was fabricated. Featuring everything from advanced tracking tools to personal sounding devices invented to alert the user to the presence of others, this novel is a science-fiction lover's dream. The only hitch worth mentioning is that the reader can never be sure whether there is meant to be romantic tension between Jacob and Delaney or between he and his classmate, Beth, or perhaps both. The romantic tension remains unresolved in the end and though the events that imply the tension contribute meaningfully to the story, to a degree they take away from the plot. The most impressive tidbit about this stimulating and entertaining novel is the fact that it is Stahler's first. A treasure for anyone with a taste for the out-of-the-ordinary, this book is sure to leave his readers anxiously awaiting future publications. Reviewed by Kimberly Bolton for Flamingnet Book Reviews, www.flamingnet.com.

Truesight is a brilliant coming-of-age story

David Stahler Jr. has written a brilliant coming of age story in a place more fanciful than Hogwarts. Jacob's character is revealed and developed masterfully. Reading Truesight was an eye-opening experience into an imaginative world. I can't wait for David Stahler Jr.'s next book!