Jumper: Griffin's Story, Steven Gould

Gould, Steven (2008).
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
New York: Tor Books
978-0765357854
Genre: Science Fiction

Hiding a secret ability to teleport to any place he has previously visited, Griffin vengefully remembers the dangerous men who murdered his parents when he was a child and plots to avenge himself against the people who would kill him for his powers.
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Based on Gould’s 1992 novel Jumper, Griffin’s Story provides the backstory for the recent movie. At the age of nine, Griffin witnesses the murder of his parents. Using his ability to “jump” or teleport himself, Griffin escapes, but he quickly realizes that each time he jumps, the assassins track him down. Griffin befriends various people around the world; yet, each time he does so, they are hurt or killed. The novel spans seven years, and Griffin matures as he learns to survive on his own. Griffin creates an underground dwelling, and at one point, gets a girlfriend to share his secret with (and sex, too!). Griffin isn’t certain why people are trying to kill him; he only learns that the people after him kill all child jumpers—Griffin is one of the few who has managed to allude them. After Griffin loses everyone he is close to, he plans to avenge their deaths. The quick pace and constant action are guaranteed to maintain the attention of even the most reluctant reader. The span of seven years seems stilted at times, but Griffin’s predicament overshadows the jump from childhood to young adulthood.