In 1997, Carol Matas introduced us to Jade?a fifteen-year-old heroine struggling to adapt to life with an unexpected “gift.” The book became a popular seller, pre-dating our current fascination with all things psychic. In Tales of a Reluctant Psychic, all three titles in Matas's Freak series are available in one volume.
In The Freak (Book I), Jade wakes up from a serious illness with a new “gift” and struggles to come to terms with what it means. In Visions (Book II), she struggles to put her new powers to good use, helping solve a series of horrible murders in her hometown. And in Far (Book III), Jade and her family travel to Palm Springs, California. Part business trip for her father, and part family vacation, the trip is also an opportunity for Jade to visit a psychic institute. Are her powers for real, and how can she learn to control them?
PRAISE FOR CAROL MATAS
“Matas's books are always refreshing. She has an open mind and doesn?t opt for easy stereotyping?. Visions is a first-class read from a first-class children's author?.???--Winnipeg Free Press

Carol Matas is an internationally acclaimed author of over thirty-five novels for children and young adults. Her best-selling work, which includes three award-winning series, has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Taiwanese, Turkish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, German, French, Indonesian and Russian.
A graduate of the Actor's Lab, in London England, Carol first earned a B.A. (English) from The University of Western Ontario. Her teaching experience includes Artists in the School, Manitoba Arts Council;visiting professor at Bemidji State University, Minnesota; and a Creative Writing instructor, Continuing Education Division, The University of Winnipeg. Carol is an inspiring and passionate speaker who is frequently invited to address children and adults alike across North America.
Carol writes contemporary and historical fiction, as well as science fiction and fantasy. She first began writing historical fiction when her Danish husband told her stories about his parents' experiences fighting the Nazis in World War II. She has often written about Jewish themes, and is well known for her books concerning the Holocaust, writing Daniel's Story at the request of The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Over the years, her knack for successfully infusing serious and thought-provoking issues into an action-driven format has kept readers of all ages engaged.
The list of awards for her books is long, and includes two Sydney Taylor awards, The Geoffrey Bilson award, a Silver Birch award, The Jewish Book Award, as well as the inclusion of her books on many honour lists, such as the ALA notable list, The New York Times Review notable list, The New York Public Library list for the Teen Age, and the Voya books in the middle, Best Book list. She has also been nominated for the Governor General Award twice.
More information is about Carol is available on her web site: http://www.carolmatas.com.

Carol Matas' profile page