Ivy is just an ordinary girl, at least she was until the slip into the pool occurred. A hit to the noggin and Ivy acquires an extraordinary gift- she can read minds! But with this gift there are consequences and responsibilities. To hear the inner thoughts of those around you isn't always the best ability to have, but because of this new ability, Ivy is given the chance to save not just one life, but the lives of many.

Enter misunderstood bad boy, Brant, and you're sure to have fireworks combined with rampaging teenage hormones that might just boil over and consume them. Not to mention, friendships will be tested as well as the bonds of family.

Into the Deep was an intriguing novel loaded with teenage insecurities and attitude. The idea of someone being able to access the thoughts of people around them was captivating- add in the bonus of potential murder in a high school and the taste of first love, and you have yourself a book that is definitely worth reading. The characters are charming and easy to like, especially Ivy and Brant. The story flowed smoothly without any slow parts. I would definitely call this a fun book to read and one that I would read again and recommend to others. ( )

This starts off as interesting, and gets more and more so. The main character, Ivy, is at first under the influence of a superficial, vain set of girls who see themselves as 'high flyers' but gradually, her new abilities lead her not only to detect a deadly threat to her fellow students but also, that people are often very different from how they appear to be. This has happy and unhappy consequences for Ivy, who begins to question her old values.

In company with the School Bad Boy (colourfully and sensitively drawn) Ivy is forced to confront the dangers into which her new, extra sensory powers lead her.

I particularly like the conjoining of the psychological and the psychic in this book. The writing is lively, but there are serious points being made about teen culture. The two main characters stand out because they are learning to question the accepted values of their contemparies. They are drawn into an uneasy partnership and a terrible sense of responsibility.

There are a lot of brilliant descriptive touches, so many that it is hard to pick one out, but my favourite is 'the clouds looked like orange waves rolling in and crashing against the darkening sky'.

The characters are excellently drawn in this, the pace is well maintained throughout, the tone of realism is impressive, and the contrast between the normal school background of Ivy and her associates makes a telling contrast to her strange experiences.

This is the third YA I've really enjoyed of late, and I have to give it a five star rating. ( )