Title: The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind
Author: Jackson Ford
Publication Date: June 18, 2019
Publisher: Orbit
Format: NetGalley eARC

If you can look at that title and not at least feel the slightest pull of curiosity or a little tingle of interest piquing, then I am concerned for your well-being.

Have you had an apple today? You should sleep more. And maybe try yoga.

By the time I finished reading the title and the Goodreads summary, I knew I just had to read this book.

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind has all the things I’ve been wanting lately in a book: comedy, sarcasm, reluctant heroes, random things flying through the air, pew pew, action, things going boom, and a plot twist that I don’t call from page 10.

This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve read so far in 2019, and the moment I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down.

Remember that post I made asking where all the adult superhero books are? Well, if anyone was also wondering … here’s one!

❧ This book has all my favorite tropes, rolled into one neat little package.

My favorites tend to be a bit niche sometimes, but if you like any of these, too, this book might just be your jam. It certainly was mine. I mean, how often does a book check aaaaall these boxes at once?

✿ Adult superheroes and villains!
✿ Shit flying through the air
✿ Bad guys getting hit with random inanimate objects
✿ Sarcasm that’s always on point
✿ Reluctant hero
✿ Superpowers with a mysterious background
✿ Twists! Mystery!
✿ An ending that wrapped up this conflict, but introduces the potential for another
✿ Multiple types of superpowers
✿ Endless adventure and action
✿ Actual diversity/representation with characters that are more than their illnesses/shortcomings
✿ Found family
✿ Things going pew pew, boom

❧ Teagan is a reluctant hero, which is my favorite type. Through no fault of her own, she has these amazing powers … but man, doing good is a hassle.

Her character was so dang relatable, because she was basically an everywoman. She has no big, grand background that crafted her into the hero she’s become. Like most of us, she’d much rather be binge watching something on Netflix. She’s really only in the saving people business because she has to be.

Also, she uses a Fort Minor reference. I am both old enough and lame enough to have loved Fort Minor, and I’m, like, 88% concerned that Teagan and I might be the same person.

The remaining 12% consists of me trying to get the vacuum and broom to move on their own and failing, so … maybe not. Probably for the best. I’d make a lousy superhero.

❧ The way the book is written is really easy to read, and the voice was super enjoyable. Probably because it was 90% sarcasm.

In other words, Teagan is speaking my language. It’s a very specific language, but it’s so nice to find in books now and then. I had no problem getting into the story, and her voice felt natural and witty and fun. I knew from the very first paragraph that Teagan and I were going to get along just fine, because the book opens with a bang, and it keeps that pace through most of the book.

The second point of view character, Jake, was less sarcastic, and his story was a bit repetitive at times, but it was easy to empathize with his plight. He was raised in the system, abandoned by his mother at a young age, and he just wants to know who he is. While trying to discover his history, he ends up losing himself, and watching it was hella fun.

❧ As fun as Teagan is, and as much as I loved her, there were plenty of flaws to her character, as with all the other characters. Which actually made me like them all the more.

Yes, even the antagonist. Who became more and more unlikable as the story progressed, but it felt realistic and true to his arc.

The banter between the characters was hilarious, but at the same time, they all had secrets. Because of course they do. They’re not exactly in the secret undercover business just for the heck of it. Someone has dirt one them. Which, of course, makes for some interesting characters.

As the story progressed, the depths to all the characters became more obvious—both their strengths and their flaws.

And some of them had some pretty spectacular flaws, you know. Like Teagan’s brashness and ability to get everyone around her into trouble. The sort that has a 50-50 chance or more of getting them killed. It’s not her superpower, but it’s a close second.

❧ I can’t believe I’m saying this, but … having LA as the setting was actually pretty cool?

As an East Coaster, and a former New Yorker, it feels weird to say. Who sets things in California and not New York? Pffft. Lame. The setting actually worked really well here, though, and was done realistically, highlighting both the good and the bad of LA.

Ford didn’t shy away from the ugly underbelly of LA, with wildfires and evacuations and gangs and the Skid Row tent city. But at the same time, through Teagan’s fascination and love for the city, he highlights the beauty of it, too.

Like … topnotch restaurants! Because who doesn’t like food? The setting plays a big role in the story itself, so I thought it was nicely balanced and unique.

❧ This was a light read, but it also had a certain amount of gravitas, without being too preachy about it.

As I’ve said, Ford tackles the good and bad about LA, and the same happens for the characters. Nobody is clearly good or evil. They’re human. Which, I mean, isn’t the best thing you could be (being a dragon, for example, would be better), but they make do with what they’ve got.

As the story progresses, the characters learn important things about themselves and each other and the world, until you realize that no one is exactly what they seemed at their first impression.

I loved discovering more and more tidbits about both. The characters ended up being much more complex than I originally gave them credit for.

❧ There are so many perks to reading ARCs, and I’m thankful for the opportunity, but now I have to wait even longer for the sequel! D:

And what’s up with that? Why don’t I have it already? Why has the author forsaken me?! According to the back of the eARC, the next book is going to be called Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, and if that doesn’t sum it up, I don’t know what does. Though this story is over, I can’t wait for the next one!

❧ There were times the narrative became either repetitive or vague, where things are either explained too much or too little.

I can’t get into too much detail, because most of it is spoilers. Where I noticed this the most was with Teagan’s history. There were things I was confused about (and I’m still not sure), and then there were things that were explained, but given all the foreshadowing surrounding them, what actually happened was … a bit of a letdown. Making a mountain out of a molehill, if you ask me.

There is a book two, and I assume that more of Teagan’s history will be explored in that, which I’m looking forward to! But needless to say, I still have soooo many questions about it.

Do you have any superhero books you’d recommend? Do you like your heroes with a hefty dose of sarcasm, or is there a different kind of hero you prefer?