Marti Ward’s Time for PsyQ is a well-written tale for young readers, a fascinating blend of science fiction and paranormal elements. Eleven-year-old Airlie Sanderson has burgeoning psychic abilities, and her kitten, Sooty, makes for the perfect companion, helping her see things she couldn’t see before. As her connection with Sooty grows stronger, she helps solve crimes in school and her neighborhood. The highlight of her adventures with Sooty is when she goes to Camp Polis, where kids like her with special sensory skills linked to animals are invited. After camp, Kate, a blind girl, is kidnapped, together with her guide dog, Goldie. Now, Airlie must use her skills to help find Kate. Tim joins her in the quest to save Kate. Will they succeed?

Time for PsyQ is fast-paced with scenes that are focused and emotionally engaging. What I enjoyed most about the book is the author’s deft characterization. Airlie is an intriguing character; besides her curiosity, she is intelligent and emotionally mature, and her developmental arc is well-drawn in the story. The author presents young characters with unique skills, and it is interesting to watch as they harness these skills. Marti Ward’s first book in this series is skillfully plotted, and each character in the cast offers a unique perspective on the story. I loved the sparkling dialogues and the connection between the characters and the animals. This author writes about telepathy in a way that makes you think it is possible.

The audiobook is well-executed, narrated by AI-generated voices that feel real and show human emotions with clarity. The audio recording is clear, and each voice is distinctly captured. Overall, listening to this book was enjoyable, and I appreciated the author’s creativity in using AI voices.

Time for PsyQ by award-winning Marti Ward is a captivating adventure story for children. Airlie, an eleven-year-old girl, has unique telepathic abilities that get noticed by the school’s headmaster and Inspector Humble of the Minor Crimes police department when Airlie helps solve the mystery of school thefts. As a reward, Airlie is offered a free place at a summer camp run by Inspector Humble. At the camp, Airlie makes friends with other children who also have unique talents. But the real adventure awaits Airlie when her blind friend from camp, Kate, is unexpectedly kidnapped, together with Kate’s guide dog, Goldie. Airlie and Inspector Humble join forces with the police and other talented children at the summer camp to rescue Katie. But will they succeed?

I have so much praise for Marti Ward and Time for PsyQ! Airlie’s crime-solving stories were suspenseful and captivating, and the storyline was fast-moving. Goldie, a guide Labrador, and Airlie’s kitten, Sooty, were the show stealers and delivered the animal-loving message so important for children’s upbringing. I liked how Airlie was portrayed as a model for children to follow—as a good student and even better person. Her role in rescuing Kate and Goldie was wonderful, as it conveyed the message of inclusiveness and care for the handicapped. The educational messages were second to none, and the Hadron Collider was fascinating. But most of all, I liked the bonus part about the science of quantum physics, psychology, and brain-computer interface technology.

I listened to the full cast AI-voiced audiobook, and it made me marvel at the current state of technology that enabled this fascinating audio production with the distinct voices of forty-two characters. These Google AI voices had different accents and varied between male and female characters. It is a great story and a unique audio production that I thoroughly enjoyed. Both children and adults who enjoy suspenseful adventures and science will love this story!

Time for PsyQ by Marti Ward is a hilarious and exhilarating romp for young readers. The story follows eleven-year-old Airlie Sanderson, a nerd, and her kitten called Sooty. Airlie begins to perceive things that she had never noticed before, revealing insights beyond her previous understanding. As she steadily hones her emerging psychic abilities, she gains recognition by solving numerous mysteries and crimes, both at her school and within her community. Her skills eventually draw the attention of Inspector Jonathan Humble of Minor Crimes. The peak of their adventure is when they are invited to Camp Polis, a place where kids with extraordinary sensory abilities explore quantum-based sensory connections with animals. While Airlie enjoys exploring her deepening connection with Sooty, a blind camper, Kate, with her guide dog, Goldie, is kidnapped. Airlie teams up with Kate’s brother, Tim, to find her. Can she use her psychic abilities to help Kate?

I enjoyed Time for PsyQ for several reasons. The narrative voice is arresting. It grips you and keeps you going. The characters are well-imagined and skillfully executed, and I was instantly drawn to Airlie. She is depicted as a nerdy kind of kid, intelligent, and imbued with a rare gift of curiosity. Her desire for a unique type of computer demonstrates her love for science. The supporting cast, from Tim to Kate and Inspector Jonathan Humble, is fully drawn. Marti Ward infuses the writing with humor, and there is a singular quirkiness in Airlie’s worldview; her interactions with Sooty are exciting. The themes of telepathic communication, teamwork, and sleuthing are well-crafted.

The author used AI-generated voices in this production, and it was impossible to differentiate them from human voices. The dialogues, the paragraph breaks, and the punctuation were well done as I listened to the audio. The voices successfully captured the drama, the tension, and the humor of the narrative.

Time for PsyQ by Marti Ward follows Airlie Sanderson, an eleven-year-old whose life takes an unexpected turn on her birthday when she receives both a Brain Computer Interface kit and a kitten named Sooty. As weeks pass, Airlie discovers that Sooty helps her perceive the world differently, unlocking latent "psi abilities." She gains a reputation for solving mysteries and crimes at her school and in her neighborhood. While this makes her famous, it also draws the attention of Inspector Jonathan Humble of Minor Crimes. Toward the end of the school year, Airlie receives intriguing invitations, including a scholarship to a new middle school offering "Quantum Psychology" and a free spot at Inspector Humble's summer camp for those with "psyq powers." Recognizing the connection, Airlie attends and makes friends with kids with similar powers. However, before she knows it, the happy times at the camp turn into chaos when one of her new friends gets into danger. It becomes a race against time as Airlie must rescue her new friend before it is too late. But can she?

Author Marti Ward created a wonderful world of not really magic, but a mix of abilities with technology. As I listened to the story and became immersed, I loved it. Airlie is a relatable and intelligent protagonist who embraces her powers and uses them for the good of all. She doesn’t let the power get to her head and actually thrives on the feeling of helping others. The dynamic between Airlie and Sooty was endearing. The concept of these powers, the execution, and the plot are fantastic, to say the least. This is a delightful story to listen to, and I’m sure young listeners will enjoy it even more.

This is my first time listening to a children’s novel as an audiobook, and I loved the experience. The story is narrated by Virtual Voice, and the listening experience is surprisingly good. The pacing of the narration was just right, the voice was pleasant, and the eloquence ensured that listeners would enjoy the experience. I found the narration to be very soothing.