By Jordan Sunkel
Round Table editor

A really spectacular program that Barnes and Noble just started is called PubIt! PubIt! is a way for aspiring authors to publish their books for others to buy and read. I got interested in PubIt! because one of my best friends is very interested in having a writing career, so I informed her about it, but had not seen anything written using it.

Recently when I was trying to find the next book to read, I ran across Hush Money by Susan Bischoff. It didn’t take me very long to realize it was a PubIt! book, due to the fact that the synopsis was written in a different style, and the book only cost $0.99. Naturally, I had to buy it.

Hush Money is about Jocelyn, known as Joss, and Dylan, telling their stories in their different point of view. Their lives are not simple, they are not uncomplicated and they are not like human lives. Joss and Dylan are Talents.

Talents are people with special abilities. In this day and age, Talents must document their special abilities at the National Institute for Abilities Control, but people have found out that those who admit their abilities don’t return. Those who try to hide and are found by NIAC don’t return either.

Joss has been trying to hide her talent. She tries to be the most average, nondescript student in the school. She doesn’t want any attention. But when a popular girl, Kat, befriends her and invites her to a party, she can’t say no.

Recently a boy has been found to have an ability, but the NIAC officials hadn’t retrieved him yet. Instead, they choose to go after him at Kat’s party, and suddenly Joss’s world is turned upside-down. There are more Talents around her than she could have ever imagined possible.

Someone is giving away secrets, someone is a mole and someone is turning on the other Talents. Joss is being called on as their leader, but it’s not a job she wants to handle. Joss and Dylan must fight against those oppressing them, and stick together to survive against NIAC.

I did not have many expectations when it came to the grammar, writing style or plot due to the fact that this is a PubIt! book, but Bischoff could be any other author found in stores.

The writing style was good, and the plot was one that kept me from putting the book down. The book is long, but I finished in a few days because it is so fast-paced and interesting. Hush Money is ended in a way that makes it obvious that sequels will follow, and I cannot wait.

The one problem with PubIt! is that the books are only available on the nook, their eReader, so it prevents others from reading it. Hopefully after receiving attention by readers all over the world with nooks, Bischoff will be able to publish books on paper, for all to read.