From the first time I read Frindle, I have been a fan of Andrew Clements. From A Week in the Woods, to The Report Card, all the different tenors of his writing and slightly off-balance sense of humor have never failed to cath my interest. When I discovered Things Not Seen, his first young adult book, I was thrilled.

Its beautiful writing and unusual take on"invisibility echo so many of the obstacles that challenge adolescents. In Things Not Seen, Bobby, an average high school boy, wakes up one morning physically invisible.

At first it seems great to him-- he can do anything he wants. But soon enough he realizes that his invisibility makes it impossible to have friends or do anything normal, since telling anyone would put him at the mercy of the government as a lab rat.

He begins to feel completely alone until he meets Alicia, a blind girl who feels invisible herself. In the second installment, Things Hoped For, Bobby travels to New York, where he meets Gwen, a young violinist, who is searching for her missing grandfather.

And after an oh-so-long wait ( I'm so excited) Things That Are is finally out and it is well worth it. Reunited after his New York trip, Alicia and Bobby now have to deal with an increasing government threat and a mysterious man named William.

These books make you think about what it means to be invisible, about the judgements you make about other people, and about what it means to have a voice about your own life. They are also page-turning fun reads crafted with Andrew Clements' usual authentic wit and trademark style.

Reviewed by Adriana

Things That Are (Hardcover)

By Andrew Clements

$16.99

ISBN-13: 9780399246913
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Philomel, 09/01/2008

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