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The Amanda Project: invisible i

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Compelling, quirky onion of a mystery.

Themes in this book include:   friendship, growing up, peer pressure

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Urges readers to read closely and search for clues; the mystery encourages creative thinking and the related Web site encourages creative writing and imagination.

  • Messages:

    Amanda's actions are mysterious but appear to be positive. Plus the importance of family and friends is key.

  • Role models:

    The main character, Callie, and the missing girl, Amanda, are smart, caring, and creative. Amanda's friendship leads Callie to the confidence she needs to quit being friends with the superficial and mean "i" girls. Her missing mother is a gifted astronomer. Her new friends, a boy and a girl, are both independent, self-aware, and mature.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    In a hit and run accident, a 14-year-old girl "borrows" her parents' car and hits an acquaintance on a bicycle. There is some minor vandalism.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    The book jacket promotes the interactive Amanda Project Web site. While the Web site promotes creativity it also advertises the book and the 9 books to follow in the series.

     

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The main character's mother disappeared months earlier and in despair her father starts drinking and becomes irresponsible. After being confronted by her, he does stop drinking.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Amanda Project: invisible i was written by Debra Bogart

Parents need to know that despite the apparent commercialism of a series of 10 books tied to a Web site that promotes their purchase, this is an excellent book by a talented writer. Each book in the series will have a different author, all writing under the pen name of Stella Lennon (this one is written by Melissa Kantor). Because of that, the quality of the subsequent titles may change. Complex themes are age appropriate and thought provoking. Besides a hit-and-run accident by a 14-year-old driver and one parent who drinks too much, the characters are very positive.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about why Amanda wanted to bring Callie together with her two new friends.
  • Does the intent behind Amanda's actions justify the results (detention for Callie and two others)? How about the anxiety and worry she causes them?
  • Why does Callie drop her old friends, and is she right?
  • Does it help Callie or hurt her to keep the secret about her missing mother?
  • What is the biggest mystery in the book?
Did this review help you decide?

Is it a keeper for your kids?

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More on The Amanda Project: invisible i

Book Summary

Callie and two other random ninth-graders are called to the vice-principal’s office to explain an act of vandalism -- or give up the girl who did it. The girl who did it, Amanda, has disappeared only months after arriving at their school, but she left many messages behind. As they pursue why she implicated them they discover many lies. Convinced that the lies had a higher purpose of uniting them, they seek more clues, and the truth about where Amanda has gone.
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Is It Any Good?

The writing and the book design are both beautiful. Main characters are smart, resilient, and optimistic -- Kantor’s dialogue is spot on, and the characters will resonate with readers. Callie’s life is a roller coaster, and yet her new-found friendships empower her. Amanda’s disappearance seems to lead to more secrets and more revelations at the same time, and Callie finds the strength, and the support, to make some big changes in her life. Courage leads to confrontations that help many people; but Amanda is still missing.

This is a cliffhanger that will have readers anxiously awaiting the next book, and the Web site may inspire them creatively.
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Publisher’s Details

Publisher: HarperTeen, Publication date: 10/1/2009
Number of pages: 304, Price: $16.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 12, Read Alone: 12

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    luisbaby
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    nice book

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    Kristils
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Great for kids 12+

    I thought it was a great book. I cannot wait for the 2nd 1!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    _saldana_
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    englishmuffin717
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    Great Book!!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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