I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind by Jackson Ford Series: The Frost Files #1
Published by Orbit on June 18 2019
Genres: Adult, Science fiction
Pages: 496
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: The most fun I’ve had in a long time, this book is full of high energy, engaging characters and a bunch of crazy shit flying around.
I knew The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind was going to be a fun read as soon as I heard the title, but I was not prepared for its over-the-top action and frenetic pacing. I also didn’t expect this story to have so much heart and emotion, which it did in spades. Jackson Ford, a pseudonym for a bestselling novelist, has written a super-charged story that starts with two women falling from the 82nd floor of a building, and never lets up after that.
Teagan Frost is a 20-year-old with a very special ability. Thanks to her brilliant, geneticist parents, she was “created” in a laboratory and can move objects with her mind. Now she works for a woman named Tanner, who has made a deal with her. Tanner will protect Teagan from the government, who will do anything to get their hands on her, provided she agrees to “work” for Tanner, using her psychokinesis, or “PK,” to help “take out” threats to national security. Teagan took the deal, and has been living in Los Angeles for the past two years, working for a moving company called China Shop Movers, a front for Tanner’s real work. Joining her is a motley crew of other misfits, including an ex-con named Annie, an incomplete quadriplegic computer hacker named Reggie, the group’s driver and Teagan’s best friend Carlos, and the leader of the group, a buttoned-up man named Paul who Teagan doesn’t get along with at all.
After a botched job at the Edmonds Building, their target, a man named Steven Chase, is found dead with rebar wrapped around his neck. Paul knows that only someone with Teagan’s ability would be able to do this, and he immediately assumes the worst: Teagan must have murdered Chase, and now she’s a liability. When Tanner finds out, she gives Teagan twenty-four hours to prove her innocence. With the hills of Burbank on fire in one of the worst fire seasons in history, Teagan and her friends go from L.A. to Skid Row downtown to Burbank itself, trying to find the killer.
The story reads like an over-the-top superhero movie, larger than life but somehow still grounded in the real world. Teagan was a fantastic character, and she sort of reminded me of Buffy, a girl with special abilities that must ultimately stand by herself. Ford slowly reveals Teagan’s tragic backstory, which explains a lot of her angst and anger, but she’s also trying to make connections with the people in her life. No one knows about her secret ability to move objects with her mind except for her coworkers, and it’s a burden she always has to carry around. My other favorite character was Annie, who I didn’t like at all in the beginning. But she grew on me, and after we get to know her backstory, she turned out to have lots of depth. In fact, just about every character felt well-rounded and three dimensional. Despite the outrageous action scenes, there were plenty of affecting emotional moments and I spent most of the book worried about the fate of the characters.
Jackson Ford claims in his “meet the author” in the back of the book that he’s never been to Los Angeles, but relied on friends to fill in the blanks. And I have to admit, he did a pretty good job convincing me that he’s actually driven the streets, seen the brush fires, and visited the landmarks in his story. Ford names very specific places that all exist (he even mentions the hospital where both my children were born!), street names and freeway routes in detail. Why is all this important, you ask? Well, I’ve lived in the Los Angeles area since 1985 and I’ve lived in Burbank for the past twenty years, so I feel confident saying that I really know my town. And the author did a bang-up job with all the details—mostly. The “Burbank fires” as he calls them play a big part in the story, as all the action takes place while the hills are on fire, setting a grim backdrop for the action and violence taking place just out of reach. Ford nails the atmosphere—the smoke-filled air, blaring fire truck sirens and the threat of evacuations as the fires move ever closer to the houses in the hills. But the entirety of Burbank never catches on fire in real life, as the story suggests. During fire season here in California, I can sometimes see the flames from my house, but the fires never get close enough to most of the city’s residents, luckily. Did he exaggerate for the sake of his story? Probably, but in truth, it’s something that won’t bother most readers.
I also had some issues with some of the word usage. I’m pretty sure that whoever Jackson Ford is he’s not American. (And believe me, I’ve been googling his name for information with no success. Someone is keeping his real identity a secret and they’ve done a brilliant job of it!) In any case, no one who lives in California refers to it as “Cali.” That is a surefire way to tell if someone is from out of state! I get that Teagan has only lived here for a couple of years, so maybe she’s not hip to the lingo, but I figure by now someone would have told her, “Dude, whatever you do, do not say “Cali!” She also uses suspiciously non-American phrases like “aircon” for air conditioning (we say “AC”) and “half four” for “four thirty.” I can forgive some of the British spellings I ran across (like “favourite”) seeing that Orbit has a UK division as well, but it’s hard to ignore these phrases that stood out like a sore thumb and pulled me out of the story.
Like all the shit flying around on the cover of the book, the story sometimes tries to do too much, and there are some moments that strained believability. For example, when Steven Chase’s body is found, all of Teagan’s friends are convinced that she killed him with her Superman-like mind strength. I found it very hard to believe that the people you’ve worked closely with for two years would turn on you, just like that. I also couldn’t figure out why Teagan thought she was the only PK in the whole world. She’s absolutely convinced that her parents’ research died with them, and that she is the only one in existence. This notion is blown to bits when the killer shows up, but it was sort of laughable up to that point and it made Teagan feel like a self-centered teen.
But these issues aside, this book was an absolute blast. I was thrilled to find out this is only the first in a series, which is evident when you get to the final WTF chapter in the story. Readers who love twisty, fast-paced action stories and colorful characters are in for a treat. Teagan might be able to rest until the next book comes out, but I have an inkling of what’s in store for her and her friends, and let’s just say I’m already worried!
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
This sounds like fun! (and great title!) 😀
I loved your thoughts on the language usage – Cali, aircon etc – we give so much away with how we use language don’t we? It’ll be interesting to finally find out who Jackson Ford really is …
Great review! It’s on the list!
I love analyzing language, you really can pick up so many clues about people:-)
Oh my, this sounds like heaps of fun. Terrific review, Tammy! Good to know it’s a series and also about that ending!
Super fun, especially if you’re in a reading slump. It pulled me right out of mine!
Great review, Tammy, as always! This book has been doing quite the rounds now. Catchy title, okayish cover (IMHO), fantastic premise – seems like the book would do really well.
Debjani recently posted…Kaerou Time to Go Home by B. Jeanne Shibahara – Review
The cover is cheesy but it actually works when you read the story. I think it will do well, plus you can tell he’s a seasoned writer, he’s very good.
I’m glad you had so much fun reading this. I have been curious about it but was waiting to see some reviews. I think I’ll request it from the library. However, it’s REALLY going to bother me about who is the writer. Things like that drive me CRAZY. I also need a book with a long title for my COYER Treasure Hunt this summer and this one will work nicely. Now to work it in before the end of August.
I also things it’s great that you recognized all the details about California. That must have made the story that much more exciting! However, now I’m singing “I’m going back to Cali, to Cali, to Cali.” You are so bad about earworms lately 🙂
It was actually fun to read about my town and neighborhood! And yes, I hope at some point his identity is revealed, because I really want to know!
Aircon and half four are just so British!
Not sure what to do with Cali… 😀 Maybe this character likes to invent words? 😀
I’m totally going to read this… with a title like this, i have to!
Lots of people in other states actually use “Cali” when they talk about California. But if you do then we know you’re not a true Californian:-)
This book has the best title EVER ❤️
I know! I knew when I saw the title that I would have to read it:-)
Ah! I saw that too: the British words. I think the author used “kerb” too.
Great review. I’m really liked the Los Angeles setting. It worked so well.
Yeah, I’ve always wondered why publishers do that. I know that Orbit publishes for both sides of the pond, but I would think an editor would adjust some of the obvious UK words for the US edition. Ultimately I guess it didn’t really matter!
I was totally ok with it and I assumed that’s the reason also.
I love when an author can change my mind about first impressions for a character! Fantastic review. Definitely adding this.
Me too, especially when I literally hate that character in the beginning and then change my mind!
Fun! Great review. Looking forward to this one.
Thanks Marian, it’s a blast:-)
Sounds like a fun read, indeed – and that might be enough to forgive and forget the linguistic stumbles…
And I can’t resist a good race against time while… well, the world literally BURNS! 😀 😀
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Review: A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE (Teixcalaan #1), by Arkady Martine
Yes, all is forgiven, especially after the ending!
OMG, this sounds like so much fun! I will definitely be adding this one to my TBR after reading your review. The title had me curious all on its own but now I just have to enjoy the wild ride for myself. Great review!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Book Review & Giveaway: ALL EYES ON US by Kit Frick
The title is actually perfect for the story:-)
Yes, another one for the reading pile in June! After seeing all these positive reviews, I’m definitely moving this one from the “maybe” to the “must read” pile! 😀
Definitely a book to read when you’re looking for pure fun!
This sounds like so much fun!!
I love your review Tammy – especially all the little extras about the language and California (or Cali!!).
It’s really funny the way little things can really stand out to you as a reader – I notice similar things as you mention but in reverse but I think I read such a lot of American authors now that it kind of washes over me.
And I can’t believe you can sometimes see the flames from your house – omg!
Anyway, back to the book. I really like the sound of this, it sounds like a whirlwind of a story so I’m going to have to go and take a look at it.
Lynn 😀
Over the top? Say no more, I’m in! 😀
You have me so curious about the author now. And how can I ot read a book with such a crazy title!
Laura Thomas recently posted…Excerpt and Giveaway ~ Come A Little Closer by Chrissy Brown
Such a great review! I’m glad you also enjoyed it. 😀 I definitely felt like the author wasn’t American, either, with some of the word choices and slang. I had to stop and think about a few of them, because they were things I hadn’t heard used before.
Sammie @ The Writerly Way recently posted…The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford
I wanted to read this, simply because of the title (and usually I judge primarily by the blurb). Now, I really want to read it, but only after I read Blake Crouch’s book. 🙂
This one sounds terrific! I may have to pick it up.
I doubt I would want my brilliant geneticist parents to create me in a laboratory, but it does give an impetus to the story!
This book sounds crazy! And I love that. What a great review! 🙂
I want to read it based on the title alone. And it also sounds like a blast.
I kind of like a book with an in your face title. Shock me, surprise me!
Fun review. I just, with no proof or evidence, think it might be Lee Child.
Ooh interesting idea!