The Third Eye (Lois Duncan novel)

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The Third Eye is a 1984 novel for young adults by Lois Duncan. It is a supernatural/suspense novel and tells the story of a girl with a psychic gift. In the UK, the book was re-titled The Eyes Of Karen Connors.

Plot summary ==

The Third Eye is based on the life of the high school senior, Karen Connors. Karen never wants to stand out, but when she discovers that she has psychic powers her life suddenly changes Karen who is dating a popular guy named Tim Dietz. While she is dating him her popularity level rises and people actually start noticing her. One day, Karen is over at the Zenner residence to baby-sit Stephanie and her older brother, Bobby. Bobby leaves the house to go and play with his friends, but when he doesn’t show up at dinnertime Karen begins to worry. She walks around asking the nearby families if they’d seen him, but when they all reply that they haven’t she contacts the police.

The police arrive at about the same time that the Zenner’s get home. Karen looked at Officer Wilson and instantly thought that he was way too young to be a cop. He questioned what happened, but Karen couldn’t explain properly. Suddenly, Karen sees Bobby in a box or something. She could tell that he was scared and he looked sick. She then envisioned a license plate and she told the police. Tim showed up not too much after to come and take Karen home. Karen noticed the license plate on the car and the police opened the trunk to find Bobby.

When Karen arrived home she was asked by the police officer Ron Wilson if she would be willing to help out with locating a missing girl named Carla Sanchez. Karen said that she would help (going against her parents decision) because she loved children. Ron then told Karen that he would’ve asked his friend Anne Summers (who is also a psychic), but she was out on a case in Texas.

Officer Wilson drove Karen to Ms. Sanchez’s house and Karen went into Carla’s room. She picked up and held Carla’s clothes and toys. She was attempting to receive a vision of Carla, but when nothing happened she told Ms. Sanchez and Karen and Ron left the house.

On the way back, Karen had a vision that lead Officer Wilson and her to a riverbank. They found a pair of sandals and a bicycle. Karen felt absolutely weak and hunger filled her stomach. A flash went in front of Karen’s face and she saw Carla’s last moments. The last things that happened to her before she drowned in the river.

When Karen arrived home things weren’t going so smooth between her and Tim and they ended up breaking up. Karen was on her way to work a few days later when a car pulled over and asked her how to get to the Daycare. Karen was already on her way there, so when she was offered a ride for directions Karen agreed and got into the car.

The lady driving the car was named Betty Smith and Karen suspected her of foul play after the first few minutes. Karen thought this because Betty had said Karen’s’ name without being told what it was. Karen tried to escape from the car, but the doors were locked. Betty then drove her to an apartment where a guy named Jed tied her down and pushed her onto the floor. After Jed and Betty left, Karen cleverly used her feet to trigger a smoke alarm and a firefighter rescued her.

Right after Karen got home Ron came by and told her that eight (8) children had been taken from the Center and that it has been shut down. There were a lot of news reports about Karen going on at the moment, so Karen and her mother planned a getaway to San Francisco. Karen ditched the vacation to try and help Ron to find the missing children. One of the young boys (named Matthew) was Ron’s nephew, so this had a serious impact on him.

Karen and Ron went to go and see Anne Summers in Dallas and to try and find the kidnapped kids. When Ron and Karen reached the hospital they saw Anne Summers in a bed. She had been shot at her house. Anne started talking about her and Karen’s psychic powers. Karen had a vision that the kidnapped kids were in Colorado. Ron and Karen headed out to where the house was. They camped out at Pike Pikes. The next day they had reached the house.

Ron came out of the car and when a dog attacked him, he shot the dog. Jed and Betty then heard the shot and captured Ron and Karen. Karen’s mother was a psychic too, but no one knew her. She had a vision that Karen and Ron were in danger and she contacted the police. The police found them all and they took Betty and Jed away and the kids were saved.

Karen then realized that she was in love with Officer Wilson. She had a vision of beautiful blue eyes (identical to Ron’s) and she also figured out that she was having dreams and an angel appear before her in her dangerous times. After her mother confessed she saw the same invisons of an angel when she was younger, she realized that the angel that came to her rescue would be her future daughter, Karen. Karen was fascinated and decided she would use her abilities to help others and await for her future daughter also.

[edit] Awards

·1985: Nominated for Edgar Allan Poe Award yes ·1985: Jr. Literary Guild ·1985: Selected for Children's Books of the Year Exhibit, England ·1985: Indiana Young Hoosier Award ·1986: Child Study Association of America's Children's Books of the Year citation ·1986: Nominated for Land of Enchantment, New Mexico Young Readers Award ·1987: West Australian Young Readers Award ·1987: Nominated for Texas "Spring Jackrabbit" Young Readers Award ·1988: Nominated for Volunteer State Book Award, Tennessee ·1989: Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award ·2001: ALA "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults" selection