The start of an action-packed teen series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans.

To everyone at Meridian High School, fourteen-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette’s syndrome. But in truth, Michael is extremely special—he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities, and their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens—and through them, the world.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans introduces a character whose risk-filled exploration marks the beginning of a riveting new series. With only his powers, his wits, and his friends to protect him, Michael will need all his strength to survive….

Michael Vey is the first title in Glenn Beck’s Mercury Ink publishing program.

Excerpt

1
Chopsticks and Spiders

“Have you found the last two?” The voice on the phone was angry and coarse, like the sound of car tires over broken glass.

“Not yet,” the well-dressed man on the other end of the phone replied. “Not yet. But we believe we’re close—and they still don’t know that we’re hunting them.”

“You believe you’re close?”

“They’re two children among a billion—finding them is like finding a lost chopstick in China.”

“Is that what you want me to tell the board?”

“Remind the board that I’ve already found fifteen of the seventeen children. I’ve put out a million-dollar bounty on the last two, we’ve got spiders crawling the Web, and we have a whole team of investigators scanning global records for their whereabouts. It’s just a matter of time before we find them—or they step into one of our traps.”

“Time isn’t on our side,” the voice returned sharply. “Those kids are already too old. You know how difficult they are to turn at this age.”

“I know better than anyone,” the well-dressed man said, tapping his ruby-capped pen on his desk. “But I have my ways. And if they don’t turn, there’s always Cell 25.”

There was a long pause, then the voice on the phone replied darkly, “Yes. There’s always Cell 25.”

© 2011 Richard Paul Evans

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions for

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

By Richard Paul Evans

1. Based on the book cover and the book title, what do you think this book will be about?

2. What do you think is so special about Michael Vey?

3. Who do you think the prisoner is going to be?

4. Based on the prologue, how do you think the book will end?

5. Do you think Michael is capable of abusing his special powers? Why? Explain

6. Realistically, other than moving, what other alternatives does Michael have to keep his powers a secret?

7. Do you think Michael can trust Taylor? Why? Explain

8. Why do you think the evil man called his co-hort Zeus?

9. Why do you think the evil gang took Michael’s mom and Taylor?

10. What has happened to Taylor at the beginning of Chapter 18?

11. What is Nichelle’s role in the book? Why does the author have someone like Nichelle in the book?

12. What does Michael have that reminds him of his mom and brings back memories that are painful to remember?

13. If you had a special power, what would that power be? How would you use it? Do you think you would be tempted to use it for the wrong reasons?

14. Michael is bullied by some bigger boys. If a friend confided in you that he was being bullied, what would you advise him to do?

15. What do you think motivates someone to bully someone else? Do you think fear might be part of it? Why do you think the boys bullied Michael?

16. Michael and his mom have a very close relationship. She’s very protective of him, but in what ways is Michael protective of her? How do you think Michael feels about all the things his mother has to do keep him safe?

This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.

About The Author

Photo by Emily Drew.

Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty novels. There are currently more than thirty-five million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. Richard is the recipient of numerous awards, including two first place Storytelling World Awards, the Romantic Times Best Women’s Novel of the Year Award, and five Religion Communicators Council’s Wilbur Awards. Seven of Richard’s books have been produced as television movies. His first feature film, The Noel Diary, starring Justin Hartley (This Is Us) and acclaimed film director, Charles Shyer (Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride), premiered in 2022. In 2011 Richard began writing Michael Vey, a #1 New York Times bestselling young adult series which has won more than a dozen awards. Richard is the founder of The Christmas Box International, an organization devoted to maintaining emergency children’s shelters and providing services and resources for abused, neglected, or homeless children and young adults. To date, more than 125,000 youths have been helped by the charity. For his humanitarian work, Richard has received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award. Richard lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children and two grandchildren. You can learn more about Richard on his website RichardPaulEvans.com.

Product Details

Publisher: Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink (July 10, 2012)
Length: 352 pages
ISBN13: 9781442468122
Ages: 12 - 99
Lexile ® HL500L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Fountas & Pinnell™ Z+ These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System