Landscape with Invisible Hand

Book review by Michael Berry, Common Sense Media
Landscape with Invisible Hand Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Darkly funny sci-fi shows future with aliens, economic woes.

M.T. Anderson Science Fiction 2017
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Landscape with Invisible Hand is a satirical sci-fi novel by M.T. Anderson, author of The Pox Party and Feed. It is set in the aftermath of an alien invasion and the subsequent economic collapse. The level of violence is low, limited to a threatening attack against Adam's mom by a desperate job seeker. Sexual content is limited mostly to cuddling and kissing, with some hints of more intimate activities. Swearing includes one or two instances each of "bitch," "ass," "s--t," and "f--k."

Community Reviews

A-L
A-L Adult
October 3, 2018
age 15+

More sex than expected

There are only three times this book is inappropriate for tweens to young teens, but they ruin the book for my 13 year old. Why even add these three? I don’t understand why writers do this. It’s a great book for my 13 year old....except the mentioning of porn, alluding to characters having sex, protagonist touching a girl’s breast and turning up the music so loud so you can’t hear people f***ing. Author’s words, not mine. I’m not unrealistic. I know that kids know about sex, but does it have to be in what, we hope, is good literature written at an eighth grade reading level? My daughter remarked that maybe, “The author wrote it for teenagers who aren’t very good readers.” She didn’t even care about reading it after I told her it was inappropriate.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Set in the wake of an alien invasion, LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND follows teen artist Adam Costello as he and his family adjust to a broken economy. Thanks to the job-destroying technology of the extraterrestrial vuvv, Adam and his mother and sister have little money for food, water, or medicine. Because the aliens are fascinated by human inventions such as "true love," Adam and his neighbor Cleo pretend to be romantically involved and allow their actions to be recorded in a pay-per-view arrangement. The pressure of pleasing their alien overlords takes its toll, and Adam finds himself heading for a crisis of artistic integrity and gastric distress.

Is It Any Good?

Darkly funny and politically insightful, this satirical sci-fi novel takes a unique look at the consequences of alien contact. Landscape with Invisible Hand pits a young painter against the artistic preferences of conquering extraterrestrials. It's not action-packed, but the book's narrative urgency comes from how relatable Adam's predicament is. Anderson shows the perils of runaway capitalism, and it's not a pretty picture.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Landscape with Invisible Hand imagines a worldwide economic collapse. What kinds of factors influence the health of a nation's economy?

  • Should artists pay attention to the monetary value of their work? How do artists balance their own interests against those of the marketplace?

  • Is affordable health care a right or a privilege? Why is medical care so expensive?

Book Details

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