Jumper by Steven Gould

While the movie Jumper was based on this book, it is nothing like it. Well, almost nothing like it. The main character being a teleporter, having an abusive father, and jumping to a library are in both, but handled very differently.

While being abused by h is father, teenager David first "jumps," his term for teleporting, to the library in his home town. He is, understandably enough, freaked out by that. He decides to run away. After making it almost 900 miles away, he is about to be gang-raped by some truckers when he teleports again. Back to the library. He wonders if that is the only place he can go, and discovers it is not.

There are many subplots that mix together throughout the story. The small-town boy learning to survive in New York City. A love story between him and Millie, that is anything but smooth. The search for his mother. Running from the government. And, improbably (but somehow believably), fighting terrorism.

Gould does a good job with the way David slowly begins to discover the limits and extent of his ability. He wisely keeps it a secret only he knows, afraid what might happen should the government find out. This book is very much a character study. The first person narration of events makes it immediate and brings the reader into David's world and his dilemmas on an emotional level as well as an intellectual one. Gould's ability to make David, and his other characters, come alive is what makes this book work.

If you want a novelization of the movie, this book is not for you. If you haven't seen the movie, or are willing to take a departure from it, this is a good book to read.