Amazon George Matthew Cole Author Site Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, LLC ISBN-10:  1608442624 Type: Fiction Pages: 204 Copyright: Dec 10, 2009 ISBN-13: 9781608442621 Colt O'brien doesn't think that he has to prove anything. He is the most savvy computer technician at Highline High in Burien, Washington. The short, energetic senior, with his bright, colorful attire and cocky attitude, knows that he is the best. Colt is cruising through senior year, but his life is about to be turned upside down. Two freshman nerds start a computer class that will challenge his credibility. Three women will show him the meaning of love. One will show him the meaning of hate. And, his hidden psychic powers will emerge when he least expects them to. Hang on Colt. Colt O'brien grew up in Normandy Park, wanting to show his father and the world that he could be a great athlete.  When he wasn't able to live up to his father's expectations, the young boy picked a different playing field to compete on.  Along with his best friend Bobbie Jones, Colt began fixing personal computers at school and eventually outside of school. Colt needed to be the best.  After years of fixing PCs Colt has made it to the top of the heap. At least he thinks so. Longtime girl friend Staci Parks has finally become so controlling that Colt has had enough.  After breaking up with her, he is free to do what he wants, when he wants.  He is not interested in college but both of his parents are pressuring him to get accepted and achieve great things, like his sister Kelly.  When the new computer certification program starts, Colt is suspicious. In his mind two freshmen can't be that good at computer networking. When he is challenged to prove his skills, Colt expects to succeed with little effort.  As Colt studies, like never before, to pass a certification exam, events cause him to make choices. He is seduced by an older woman. He falls in love with a girl he has never met. Most of all, Colt O'brien is transformed by his desire to succeed and the emergence of his hidden psychic abilities. Excerpt Colt O'brien flashed down the main hall of Highline High School. The five foot four inch senior was dressed to garner attention. He strutted like he owned the town of Burien and the state of Washington. His jet-black hair, dark blue eyes and unique style of dress made him stand out. He wore purple tennis shoes, gray T-shirt, red shorts with a day-glo orange backpack that bounced up and down his back. Crowds of students were strolling between classes and talking in small groups. Colt's rapid strides and decisive, churning, arm movements, made the other students seem stationary. A piercing, monotonous, sound pealed through the air causing Colt to stop. Students moved away from him as he grabbed something from his belt. He held the small, black, rectangular noise producer between his thumb and forefinger and waved it to those around him. "Haven't you heard a pager before? It's not a fire alarm. Chill out. I have another computer to fix, that's all." A high-pitched male voice from the crowd whined "Can't you make that thing stop beeping. Isn't there a silent mode or something?" "Whatever." said Colt with a shrug. "Later dude, later."

From New Age Reveiws
Reviewed by Eibhlin Macintosh

Colt O'Brien Sees the Light, by George Matthew Cole, is an engaging book suited to mature teens and adults.
The story is well-written, with passages like, "Colt O'Brien flashed down the main hall of Highline High School. The five-foot, four-inch senior was dressed to garner attention."
I like that use of words. It doesn't stop at a fifth-grade vocabulary, as many teen books do. The author respects his readers, and correctly estimates their intelligence.
The story line also escapes the frequent folly of many "young adult" authors: It doesn't talk down to the reader.
One of the most important issues this book tackles is the challenge to discover one's own identity. The story shows the impact of others attitudes and expectations, and the importance of finding a strong sense of self in a challenging world.
It also portrays the effects of adults' standards, sometimes from a place of low self-esteem.
Many of today's parents had no one at home to show them effective parenting; they were part of that generation where moms had recently started full-time jobs, and the community wasn't ready to fill in the role model gaps.
The proverbial "village" hadn't come into its own voice, yet. In this book, the support systems are evolving, but many of the adults seem in an awkward, colt-ish phase (no pun intended) when they deal with teens.
I think Colt, his friends and his schoolmates are representative of many of today;s teens. Even better, Cole - the book's author - has written his characters very well. Instead of littering the story with two-dimensional stereotypes, each of the main characters has a clear back story. These kids and adults seem very real.
Though their flaws and features are timeless, they're written in an up-to-date context with a raw honesty that teen readers will appreciate.
What makes this book especially intriguing - and worth mentioning to fans of New Age literature - is the added ingredient of Colt's psychic awareness. It's one thing to escape narcissistic external cues and find one's inner confidence.
It's quite another to accomplish that while also discovering the inner/outer voice of psychic gifts.
The book includes themes related to sexuality. For many teens, there will be nothing "shocking" in this novel.
However, for those with sheltered upbringings - and especially their parents who are oblivious to the gritty, honest conversations in most high schools - some plot elements may seem too frank for an average teen.
Though armchair editors may spot a few technical errors in the writing, this is one of those rare books that wasn't over-written or over-edited. I'd rather read a book like this, that could have more paragraph breaks, but has also retained the fresh voice of an energetic, interesting writer.
That's what this book delivers.
I recommend Colt O'Brien Sees the Light for mature teens, and adults who'd like better insights into what's really going on with today's high school students.
It's a good, engaging read.
In addition, George Matthew Cole is an author to note. One doesn't have to be psychic to predict a great future for his books, and the movies likely to be made from them.

Rating: Rating: ★★★★☆