The Hypnotists is the first installation in a series of middle grade science fiction novels by Gordon Korman, published by Scholastic Press in 2013. Korman is the bestselling author of over 100 novels for young readers. Born and raised in Canada, Koran wrote his first novel at the age of 12 as a creative writing assignment for class. That novel, This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall, was published by Scholastic Canada when Korman was 14 years old (“About Gordon Korman.” Gordan Korman). Korman’s books have gone on to sell over 30 million copies around the world.

The Hypnotists follow Jackson “Jax” Opus, a seemingly ordinary New York City teenager whose color-changing eyes allow him to hypnotize other people. As Jax struggles to control his powers, he finds himself pulled into a conspiracy that will threaten his family, friends, and the whole free world. Rooted in Jax’s point of view, the novel explores themes of control, morality, and heroism as Jax steps up to save the world.

This study guide uses the 2013 first edition published by Scholastic Press.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide refer to suicide.   

Plot Summary

Jackson “Jax” Opus, a 12-year-old New Yorker, keeps accidentally hypnotizing people around him with his color-changing eyes. The only person immune to his power is his colorblind best friend, Tommy. After accidentally commanding a bus driver to speed, a rival basketball player to miss, a doctor to jump out the window, and a vaudeville-reenactment hypnotist to act like a chicken, Jax finds himself with an invite to join the Sentia Institute, an elite, mysterious school for hypnotists run by the enigmatic luminary, Dr. Elias Mako. Jax begins attending classes at Sentia every day after school to perform hypnotic experiments on study participants.

At Sentia, Jax meets other young hypnotists who view him as a threat and compete with him for Dr. Mako’s favor. Jax butts heads with Wilson, the class bully, and struggles to find a sense of belonging. He learns how to control his powers and encounters the flipside of hypnosis, the emotional “blowback” that occurs as he absorbs the feelings and memories of his hypnotic subject. Jax learns about his family history and discovers that he exists at the convergence of two illustrious hypnotist family bloodlines, which explains his powers. As his powers grow, Dr. Mako believes that he could change the world.

An alternate group of hypnotists called the Sandman’s Guild, run by the comparatively disheveled Axel Braintree, scout Jax. The Sandman’s Guild functions more like a support group, helping hypnotists resist the urge to use their powers for corrupt aims. Axel encourages Jax to question Dr. Mako, pointing out how Dr. Mako has not been honest. Jax initially resists the Sandman’s Guild, responding to their disheveled and disorganized appearances in favor of Sentia’s polished reputation.

Jax discovers that Dr. Mako is using his students to meddle in the upcoming Democratic presidential primary in hopes of swaying the election toward his crony, Senator Trey Douglas. Dr. Mako finally reveals his grand plan to use Jax’s powers to send a hypnotic suggestion through a video to millions of New Yorkers, forcing them to vote for Senator Douglas. When Jax refuses, Dr. Mako threatens Jax’s parents by placing a post-hypnotic suggestion in their minds that would cause them to throw themselves in front of a train when a trigger word is spoken. Jax has no choice but to comply with Dr. Mako’s demands and help him with the video.

As the video circulates, Jax experiences significant blowback, making it impossible for him to sleep or eat for days. He breaks down and tells Tommy and his family, knowing that they cannot get help from the police who are in Dr. Mako’s pocket. In desperation, he reaches out to the Sandman’s Guild. Axel Braintree helps Jax vanquish the post-hypnotic suggestion planted in his parents’ minds that will trigger them to die by suicide if they hear the word “Lusitania.” Axel Braintree gathers the other sandmen to help infiltrate the party convention to thwart Dr. Mako’s plan. Jax fights his way into the teleprompter box and hypnotizes Senator Douglas through the teleprompter, commanding him to drop out of the race.

Dr. Mako chases after him and vindictively says “Lusitania,” which fails to kill Jax’s parents. Dr. Mako hypnotizes Jax directly, sending him into a state of euphoria and relaxation as he rides the elevator up to the top floor. He steps off the balcony and plummets through the atrium. Braintree and the other sandmen mass hypnotize the crowd to grab one of the campaign banners and stretch it like a trampoline to catch Jax as he falls, saving his life. Security ushers away Dr. Mako, but he tells Jax that this isn’t over.

Jax knows his family is still in danger and convinces them to move away from New York. He finally hypnotizes Tommy and commands him to forget about their friendship and feel nothing about Jax moving away. Jax and his family disappear.