Book Reviews
Power of the Mind and Friendship
3/5
Catalyst
by Tracy Richardson
The drumming changes to a slow, resonant tempo, and I feel my vibration slow as I focus on connecting with the earth. The feeling of connectedness and of being beyond space and time are still with me as I leave the Fifth Dimension, but there is also sadness in knowing that I can’t stay there yet.―
Tracy Richardson, Catalyst
About
Marcie is spending her summer working on the archeological dig that her mother runs: Angel Mounds, a site of an ancient indigenous civilization. Soon after she arrives, she meet some intriguing individuals, and becomes wrapped up in a supernaturally-charged mission to save the planet from the destruction man has brought upon itself.
Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the “I see dead people” way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can’t be explained-an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since.
This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.
Stats
Paperback, 248 pagesExpected publication: June 2nd 2020 by Brown Books Publishing GroupISBN1612544452 (ISBN13: 9781612544458)Edition LanguageEnglish
My Thoughts
Catalyst is a book with enormous ideas. It takes on fracking, environmental degradation, thoughts, human relationships, religion, archaeology, and familial relationships. Those ideas are a lot to cover in 248 pages. Frankly, if you focused on even one of these ideas, you could cover it, but all is a tall order. But, in general, Catalyst conveys what it sets out to. It is a story about an archeological dig site and how environmental degradation is happening all over the planet.
One of the main focuses of the story is the relationships between the main characters. Mainly, the protagonist of the story is Marcie. Marcie is supported by her brother Eric, girlfriend Renee, and possible love interest Leo. These four characters come together at a dig site to do some summer work. Their advisors are grad students Loraine and Zeke, who also play pivotal roles in Marcie’s development. There is something different about Loraine and Zeke. Something that takes the four main characters by surprise and changes their lives forever. I can’t tell you more than that because…. spoilers. But, know the story does not go where you think it will.
“Maybe this is what I’ve been waiting for: a mission and a purpose, connecting with the collective consciousness. I feel a little like I’m stepping off a cliff into the unknown, but if I don’t move forward, I know I’ll regret it.”
―
Tracy Richardson, Catalyst
I think some of the difficulties I faced reading this story are the pacing. It felt choppy. I think if it had another two hundred pages of story development, I would have connected with the characters on a deeper level. I enjoyed the environmental aspects of the story. I think a book that takes on fracking is essential. Not many people know the degradation that fracking does to the land, and I am glad that the author took the time to explain why it damages everything so much.
Even though this was not a book for me, I don’t connect with YA as much as some readers do, this story has a lot of good. It is interesting, and I am curious about what the next book will look like. Plus, if you are interested in the metaphysical aspect of the human consciousness that this is an even better book for you as a reader.
All in all, Catalyst did not connect with me, but I think that readers of YA with a metaphysical or environmental theme will love this.
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Procurement
I received a copy of this for the tour.
About the Author
TRACY RICHARDSON wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way that book has even shaped her life through odd synchronicities. She has a
degree in biology like Mrs. Murry, and, without
realizing it, she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents.
Tracy uses her science background in her writing through her emphasis on environmental issues, metaphysics, and science fiction. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her doing any number of creative activities — painting furniture, knitting sweaters, or cooking something. She lives in Indianapolis, and, in case you’re wondering, yes, she’s been to the Indianapolis 500.
