The Lost Causes

Gr 9 Up—Five seemingly disconnected teens are thrust together unwittingly by the FBI to help solve the recent murder of former agent Lily Carpenter. Sabrina, Justin, Gabby, Andrew, and Z are unknowingly drugged with a serum so powerful that each develops special telekinetic powers; thus, the Lost Causes is born. With the advent of these new abilities, each of the teens is gifted with the self-importance and belonging they crave, even if they didn't know it. Patricia, the lead FBI investigator, requests the teens' help, not just with Lily's murder, but also with the retrieval of Lily's store of that same serum, now missing at the hands of her killer. Using these powers of deduction to investigate, the teens are naturally suspicious of Patricia and her partner, Nash. What is Patricia's true connection to Lily? How much does Nash really know about the serum and the FBI program that developed it? The teens must find the killer and reclaim the serum before they are next in line for murder. Although there are some unbelievable plot points, readers will want go along for the ride. The ending begs for the inevitable sequel and will have teens anticipating the next book.