Jumper by Steven Gould

I don’t usually like to read more than one novel at a time, but for some reason I was already halfway into two other books when I decided to start this one. I just couldn’t resist! I was looking forward to it and pretty delighted when I saw it come in at the library. Looking past the dated, early-90s cover, I was immediately drawn in from page one and had a hard time putting it down. I did, but not for long. I felt like it was my duty or something to finish the other two books I’d already started before getting too far into it. I did find myself thinking more than once about Jumper and when I could get back to it, or rather, read it instead. What would you call that, like, book cheating? I’m guilty as charged.

Seventeen-year-old Davy feels trapped and abandoned, and rightly so. His father is an abusive alcoholic, and his mother left them years ago. But one day he forgets to mow the lawn, his father comes home drunk, and something amazing happens. Just as the belt buckle is about to hit, Davy inadvertently discovers his dormant survival skill: teleportation. Soon enough he’s living on his own in NYC while trying to experience a normal teenage life. But just as his life seems on the up, tragedy strikes, and he finds himself traveling the world, investigating terrorists, and saving people along the way.

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I ended up liking it for different reasons than what made me pick it up. Davy’s such an honest, down-to-earth guy, which you can’t help but root for. He’s grappling to deal with the abuse he’s known daily – not only from his dad’s beatings and put-downs but also from his mom’s departure and the emotional hole it left. Davy’s not exactly the sort of person you’d see most likely given the ability to teleport, but that’s what makes it so compelling. What the perfect ability for someone like Davy, who desperately needs to escape a life devoid of love and care. At first he only uses teleportation to runaway, but eventually he sees it as a way to face his problems, find solutions, and heal. Davy really develops and changes as a character, and this is what I liked most about the book.

Jumper lost a little steam for me in the latter chapters, which were more action-packed. But the opportunity it gave for Davy to show-off his developed skills was well worth it. I loved some of Davy’s tactics, such as when he starts jumping the bad guys all over the place (and globe). Now that was sweet. Also, I had some unanswered questions, but (yes!) there’s a sequel. I look forward to seeing how Davy solves the problem of how he makes his living.