By: Kirk Martin Publisher: Cantwell-Hamilton Press Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Cantwell-Hamilton Press Number of Pages: 231 Publication Date: September 20, 2005 Release Date: September 20, 2005
Product Description: GIFTED is a timeless story of love, courage and redemption. In the shadow of New Hampshire's granite hills, three people with little in common find their lives indelibly intertwined. Devan McAllister is a misunderstood seventeen-year-old, a thorn to those frustrated by his ADD, yet content within. Devan lives life on the fringes of high school by choice, but suddenly finds himself at the center of a life-changing struggle. He begins to hear classmates' thoughts and feel their emotions. Devan must overcome self-doubt when he hears the desperate cries of socialite Grace Sullivan. His dilemma escalates when he discovers a secret that threatens the school's principal. Banished to detention, Devan finds unexpected wisdom and friendship in custodian Abraham Thompson, who helps him understand that his intuition is a gift and challenges him to live with a larger purpose. Devan must choose whether to embrace his gift or run from it. In the end, his decision will determine whether a young girl lives to see another sunrise, and whether an aging janitor passes through the sunset of his life with no regrets. This compelling drama will tempt you to turn the pages quickly, but the profound insight into relationships will compel you to savor each scene. An intricately woven story with richly drawn characters, GIFTED reminds us that true love is selfless, and that our weaknesses are often our greatest gifts. GIFTED is a companion novel to Kirk Martin’s simultaneously released non-fiction book for parents titled, “Celebrate! ADHD.” Contrary to the prevailing fatalistic view of ADHD, Celebrate! ADHD is an enthusiastic celebration of the unique, advantageous qualities children with ADHD possess. Purposefully concise and written in an ADHD-friendly format, Celebrate! ADHD is filled with practical tips and an invaluable Action Plan to help prepare children with ADHD for extraordinary success in life. Visit celebrateADHD.com for more information. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS All children deserve to experience the fullness of life without boundaries. A portion of the proceeds from your purchase of Gifted will be donated to The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and The Children’s Success Foundation to help celebrate the many ways children enrich society with their gifts.
My Teenage Son Loved this Book I can't get my 17-year-old son to read anything. Okay, except maybe car magazines. But when I told him it was about a teenage boy with ADHD, it piqued his interest.
He picked it up and didn't put it down all weekend. I was so intrigued by the book that I started reading it Sunday evening. A day after quickly turning the pages, I finished GIFTED.
What a great story! It is so rare to see kids with ADHD portrayed with sensitivity and in a positive manner--kudos to Kirk Martin for his great insight and a truly compelling novel.
Also highly recommend "Celebrate! ADHD" for parents of kids with ADHD or any learning differences. Truly refreshing.
Gifted Is His Third and Best! I read this over a year ago, when Martin first released it, and I think it's great that he has offered it on Amazon in conjunction with his ADHD nonfiction book. Gifted is his most well written novel, with developed characters who seem like real people and a fast paced story.
I liked the relationship between Abraham and Devan (the differences and similarities between young and old people never cease to intrigue me). I liked the development of the characters, the way he made their lives exist beyond words on a page... I could feel (and have always had a soft spot for) the troubled teens, and I appreciated how he said that they had something to say... those people were my friends in high school, and I related in many ways.
The over-the-top cruelty of the teacher and principal (who in this case was certainly not your 'pal') put me in mind of a tv movie. Martin has said something about writing a screenplay to this book, and I want to hold him to it... maybe cast Peter Coyote as the misdirected dad, Sela Ward as the clueless mom, someone like Bob Gunton or Jeffrey Jones as principal, Helen Mirron as teacher... Morgan Freeman or William Cobbs as Abraham... Mandy Moore and that kid who played Eli on Once and Again - because they had such good chemistry in Walk To Remember - could be Grace and Devan.
I must admit... even though I knew what was coming between some of the characters at the end (and you'll have to read it to find out!) I felt the lump in my throat anyway. The prose here is hynotic. The Q & A with Kirk at the end shines a little light on the genesis of this story.
Congratulations on this novel, Kirk, and let us hope for many more!
A Great Story I bought this book because my son attended the Martin's Creativity Camp this past summer...and I found out the Camp leader also wrote a few novels.
I've heard that Shade of the Maple is his best, but I wanted to read GIFTED first. So I gave it a shot. I admit I'm biased because of how much Mr. Martin helped my son, but this is a great story! It moves quickly, the characters are interesting and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. I like how it all wraps up together at the end. I laughed a little and cried a little. All in all, it makes for an enjoyable weekend of reading.
Really Loved the Characters I picked this book up because the author wrote a book for parents called "Celebrate! ADHD" that has helped my son enormously. And I thought it rather intriguing that Mr. Martin had written both a novel and a non-fiction book as well. I hadn't read any of his other novels before.
Well, what a pleasant surprise! The first thing I noticed was that I really, really liked the characters he has created. I can hear them and see them so clearly, and they are intriguing to me. Each of them has his struggles, but also an inner yearning to aspire to the better angels of his nature.
And the story moves along quickly with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. A really great book. I look forward to reading his other novels now!
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