Transparent
By Mary Eisenhart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Invisible girl flees mob dad in inventive fantasy thriller.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
In a world that closely resembles ours, a scientific mishap in the '70s unleashed many genetic mutations, which today cause large numbers of people to have unusual powers, from the scary to the silly. Teenage Fiona O'Connell is TRANSPARENT, and her mob boss father has been exploiting her invisibility (and her mother's telekinetic powers) for criminal purposes since she was 5. Now she and her mother have fled the mob and her dad, who's determined to hunt her down. Meanwhile, she's also dealing with being in high school, making the first friends she's ever had, struggling with math, and falling in love.
Is It Any Good?
The unlikely mix of genres here may seem a bit over the top, but the imaginative premise and the author’s appealing voice deliver for those willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Aside from a remarkable range of superpowers, the teen characters are dealing with issues that will resonate with many readers, from family dysfunction to social awkwardness to academic struggles.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the idea of invisibility is so interesting. Does Fiona's description of the up- and downsides of her ability give you a different perspective from what you might have read in other books?
In a world where lots of people have some kind of superpower, would you choose to have one, or not? If you could choose one particular power, what would it be?
How are the lives of Fiona and her friends like the lives of teens you know?
Book Details
- Author: Natalie Whipple
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperTeen
- Publication date: May 21, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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