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Transparent

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 216 ratings · 89 reviews

Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fion...more

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: May 21st 2013 by HarperTeen

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Apr 21, 2013 Blythe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, 2-stars, almost-fell-asleep, arc, awful-ending, caught-in-a-bad-romance, didn-t-see-that-coming, disappointments, doesn-t-deserve-the-hype, highly-anticipating-2013, hooray-for-masochism, i-totally-saw-that-coming, judge-a-book-by-the-cover, love-triangle, meh, netgalley-edelweiss-arc, snark-bait-ooh-ah-ah, take-your-insta-love-and-leave, unmet-potential, read-reviewed

Natalie Whipple's Transparent is pitched as a YA mashup of The Godfather and X-Men, with compelling characters, writing, and practically compelling everything abounds. Adding to that awesome pitch, it's received a copious amount of positive early reviews from some very trusted friends of mine. And so, due to all those aforementioned points, I found myself asking before diving into Transparent, "What could possibly go wrong?"

A lot. The answer to that question ended up being 'a lot.'

Transparent...more

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May 17, 2013 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-2013, cover-lust, harper-teen, i-have-superpowers, edelweiss, ya, reviewed-in-2012

3.5 stars
Look, Mom, it’s a standalone! I feel like I haven’t read one since the 90’s. Such a rare bird! I totally want to dissect it.

In some ways, Transparent is a wonderful surprise. The worldbuilding is fairly simplistic, but that is far more preferable to a messy, underdeveloped world. During the Cold War, a pill was developed to neutralize the risk of radiation, only it had unforeseen consequences on DNA of those who took it (and of their children). Abilities like super strength, telekinesi...more 3.5 stars
Look, Mom, it’s a standalone! I feel like I haven’t read one since the 90’s. Such a rare bird! I totally want to dissect it.

In some ways, Transparent is a wonderful surprise. The worldbuilding is fairly simplistic, but that is far more preferable to a messy, underdeveloped world. During the Cold War, a pill was developed to neutralize the risk of radiation, only it had unforeseen consequences on DNA of those who took it (and of their children). Abilities like super strength, telekinesis, or even flying became a part of everyday life. There are sport teams and competitions especially for the gifted.

Most often, the gifted are somehow connected to the mafia. If someone has an ability the syndicate bosses can use, they always find a way to get that person to cooperate. Fiona’s father is one of those bosses, and to make matters worse, he is a Charmer. He uses his gift of persuasion to keep those who work for him compliant. Fiona and her mother tried to run from him many times, but he always found a way to bring them back.

Again on the run, they find a place for themselves in a small town where Fiona’s father can’t easily reach them. For the first time, Fiona is allowed to go to school and make friends. Naturally, she is mistrustful, careful not to get close to anyone. But two gifted families take her under their wing and Fiona is suddenly surrounded by friends and a boy she likes.

While it was both entertaining and well-paced, Transparent was far from being without problems. A couple of things made very little sense, including Fiona’s lack of knowledge about her own appearance. For example, she didn’t know whether her hair was curly or just wavy, but surely hair dye would have helped her see. Her facial features were a mystery, but wasn’t there some sort of heavy makeup that would have allowed her to see herself, at least for a minute or two? (Supposedly, when her skin absorbs something, it becomes transparent as well.)

One character’s transformation (or should I say redemption?) came completely out of nowhere and made very little sense. Surprising your readers is good, but things need to click together in retrospect. Making a random thing happen with absolutely no foreshadowing isn’t the same as tricking your readers into thinking one thing when you’ve been leaving clues about something else throughout the novel. The ending was awfully abrupt and entirely unbelievable. If there was a sequel planned, I’d understand, but Transparent seems to be a standalone and for a standalone, a rushed, implausible ending simply didn’t work.

Nevertheless, Transparent is enjoyable and fairly original. I recommend it for a slow, lazy day when you want to be entertained and not much else.

(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's spunky, exciting, and full of surprises!

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Feb 04, 2013 Emily May rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ya-na, 2013, sci-fi, coverly-love, annoying

Transparent is a decent debut made up of various bits of excellent, some touches of meh and a few dashes of annoying. However, Whipple's humourous dialogue, complex set of characters and inventive imagination make her an author that I still intend to seek out in the future, despite the fact that I found this book only slightly better than okay. It is one of those books with fantastic potential that goes some way towards achieving it but is let down by a gradually-building pile of negatives.

The...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Ashleigh Paige rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, back-in-the-oven-with-you-dear-book, i-hate-infodumping, main-character-needs-to-shut-up, edelweiss, what-kind-of-mess-is-this, uh-oh-someone-has-the-idiot-ball, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, such-a-disappointment, right-reaction-wrong-reason

See more of my reviews on Birth of a New Witch! My copy was an ARC I received from the publisher via Edelweiss.

I'm not into The Godfather and Mafia stories in general, but the X-men? Yes please! Transparent has been pitched as a mix of the two and once you start reading, you can see both elements in it clearly. Too bad The Godfather is much more intimidating and the science behind the X-men is more easily swallowed than anything you'll find in this novel.

Transparent is a fast read good for when...more See more of my reviews on Birth of a New Witch! My copy was an ARC I received from the publisher via Edelweiss.

I'm not into The Godfather and Mafia stories in general, but the X-men? Yes please! Transparent has been pitched as a mix of the two and once you start reading, you can see both elements in it clearly. Too bad The Godfather is much more intimidating and the science behind the X-men is more easily swallowed than anything you'll find in this novel.

Transparent is a fast read good for when you need to be occupied, like during a long flight or a boring road trip (the latter being for those lucky people who can read in moving vehicles without getting carsick). Sitting down and devouring it all in one afternoon if one has the free time is an easy feat and if you're the kind of reader that turns your brain off completely as you read, you'll do just fine with this. Anyone who starts to examine the science of the novel is going to start running into problems.

Characters in books don't need to be likable for me to understand them. After all, I'm a huge Courtney Summers fan and her characters are never likable. If a character is likable, well-constructed, or both, I can happily get invested in them and their story. When they are unlikable and badly drawn like Fiona is, that's where the problem begins. Fiona's invisibility, her fear of going back to her father (which we are told instead of shown, sadly), and how awfully she treats her mother are her only real identifiable traits, rendering her as flat as the rest of the cast, including her love interest.

Speaking of that last trait, she treats her mother like dirt when she should appreciate what she has done for her. Her mother has simultaneously escaped an unhealthy relationship, put her life on the line, and kept Fiona from becoming a killer, but all Fiona ever does is throw vitriol at her. The situation between Fiona's parents can be compared to both an abusive relationship and drug addiction, making Fiona's actions even more reprehensible. This might be forgivable if Fiona were a decently drawn character, but she isn't.

She's also terrible at hiding. Multiple people figure out very quickly that she's on the run and she is also enrolled in school under her real name. Lesson one of going into hiding when the Mafia is after you: change your name. She has a lot more problems than that when it comes to keeping her secret and staying hidden, but the list is so exhausting that it's better left alone.

Much of the novel's science is simply told instead of shown or dumped onto us. This is the most explanation we get about where everyone's superpowers came from: back during the Cold War, people popped antiradiation pills like candy and about five years later, the babies these people had were born with superpowers like flying, scent imitation, telekinesis, charm, and smelling like Port-o-Potties when someone scares you. All that takes up about a page or two early in the novel and you're flying on your own from there.

Swallowing the mysterious-X-gene explanation of X-men is much easier than swallowing any of what's in the previous paragraph even with my healthy suspension of disbelief. Even if I did accept that psuedoscience, none of it explains how someone's ability to see emotions allows a person to see anyone who is invisible. I've tried to think about it a million ways and none of it explains how they can her so clearly that they know her hair and eye color when no one else does. That would have been the straw to break my back.

My verdict is that Transparent is a book to pass on, but if you're still interested in it and feel certain it will be better for you than it was for me--or even if you want to dissect the science of the novel, seeing as there's a lot there to critically examine if you're a science whiz--go for it. Just be warned that this book is good science the way 4 x cake donut = roflcopter is good math: hilarious but wrong.(less)

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May 12, 2013 Lucia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, paranormal, may-2013

2.5 STARS. I like YA paranormal stories a lot, but this one was just too childlish and juvenile for my liking...

"All I know about myself is that I'm five foot eight, a houndred and forty pounds, and the owner of one rocking wardrobe. When all anyone sees is your clothing, it's important.

Fiona has special ability or curse as she sees it - she is completely invisible. Her father is criminal and charmer, able to persuade females to do what he wants. And he wants Fiona to spy, steal and do a lot of...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Mitchii rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, young-adult, science-fiction, fantasy, humour, paranormal

To say I have lower expectations with this book is a sure understatement. Before I begin, I have already formulated on how it will turn out. Often times I always get it right. But not this time. Transparent provided a highly entertaining story of a girl who is invisible from the day she was born and how she’s coping with it. And we thought being invisible saves you from scrutiny of others. But even she gets the same treatment or much worst.

Fiona is the invisible girl. And here I thought that wal...more To say I have lower expectations with this book is a sure understatement. Before I begin, I have already formulated on how it will turn out. Often times I always get it right. But not this time. Transparent provided a highly entertaining story of a girl who is invisible from the day she was born and how she’s coping with it. And we thought being invisible saves you from scrutiny of others. But even she gets the same treatment or much worst.

Fiona is the invisible girl. And here I thought that waltzing around with all her invisible glory will be walk in the park. Not for Fiona, some people despise her and her father. But who wouldn’t when her dad forced her to do horrendous things for others. He’s manipulating her to do things against her morals. And she and her family had enough so they escaped. But that didn’t stop her father to come after them. He wants her. Badly.

This is such a surprising book in so many ways. When I started I thought it could action-packed sort of story. I mean, two words, super. powers. So I dive in waiting for those but for the first half of the book, it’s about Fiona’s life fitting in with normal people. Well, the visible people. People looked at her with accusations and fear. And it’s hard for her. Even though they can’t even see her proves that the judgment people thrown at her surpasses the physical aspect. But not all of them are like that some people even tried to be friends with her. She even got a boyfriend in the process.

Of course there’s this romance in the name of Seth. And because I’m spoiler maniac I asked my sister why made him special. It didn’t ruin my reading, mind you, it actually boost the anticipation but little did I know that revelation of what he is and the reason why their relationship could work happened in the few remaining pages of the book. What a complete bummer, haha. So that is why Seth can…well…read it to find out. *winks*

In the later part of the books that’s where what I was waiting came in. Action. Her father found them and oh boy that had me anticipating for more. I was sort of disappointed how she didn’t maximize her awesome powers. Come to think of it, she didn’t completely embrace her powers and used it to her own advantage. While still great, it all happened too fast and too loose.

In hindsight it doesn’t have a distinctive plot. Even the summary admits by comparing it to other popular fictional titles. I, on the other hand don’t mind if it’s some sort of new twist of this and that. When a book is entertaining it can conquers my nit and gritty.

I received an eARC from HarperTeen via Edelweiss. Thank you.(less)

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Apr 26, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: may-releases, challenge-paranormal-fantasy, challenge-debut-author

ARC Giveaway on the blog! (US) http://somelikeitparanormall.blogspot...

Fiona has been her dad's tool all her life. His power is that he is basically irresistible to women so he controls Fiona, her mom, and a ton of other females. Fiona is invisible and that makes her a great thief but when her dad finally wants to make her commit murder, her mom grabs Bea and they run. They have tried to run many times but her dad is very powerful. Fiona has low self esteem because she is literally completely in...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Debby rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: harpercollins, own-egalley, waiting-on-wednesday, reviewed, 2013-reads, characters-i-want-to-shake, could-have-been-better, disappointing, cover-fraud, le-sigh, paranormal, pov-first-person, pretty-cover, romance, science-fiction, stand-alone, young-adult

2 stars

Let me start by saying that the tagline "X-Men meets the Godfather" is cruelly misleading. Of course, we should know that with taglines by now, but they're still deceptive. The inherent action and intrigue implied by that tagline is really only present in the first 10% and the last 10%. What do we have in the middle? A contemporary-like romance with some supernatural elements thrown in there in an attempt to create a deep story that kind of just fails in the execution.

The beginning of the...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Enna Isilee (Squeaky Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, squeaky-book, waiting-to-be-reviewed

Natalie is SUPER AWESOME, and I'm pretty sure her book may be the only thing AWESOMER than her. I haven't read it, but I'm still pretty sure. ;)

EDIT: Okay, now I actually HAVE read it and I was totally right! Love!!!!!

This book grabs you from the first page. Seriously. I wasn't even 10 pages in before I knew that I needed to buckle up. I felt like I had stepped into a mix of the X-Men and Oceans 11 and it. was. awesome!

First of all, it was clear that Natalie had thought about this book in every...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Riley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

This book doesn't reinvent any wheels, but it's a fun read with surprising depth about identity and family. For me the characters were the strongest part -- I'm a sucker for a great cast of friends, and TRANSPARENT has that in spades. I also thought the ending was smart and believable, which can be tricky when superpowers are involved. In all, a great debut, and I look forward to more from Natalie Whipple.

(view spoiler)...more

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May 15, 2013 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let me tell you about the awesomeness that is this book.

I used to read classical literature. For fun. I used to have an attention span LIKE A BOSS. I used to read till 3am every night and then get up early the next day, ready for more. I used to be young.

And then I had four kids, and suddenly, my attention span is almost nil, and staying up till 11pm ranks as a major accomplishment.

But when I read Transparent, by Natalie Whipple, it was like traveling back in time. Because I was young again. Be...more

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May 03, 2013 BookHookup rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received an ARC from the publisher
but that did not influence the review**

4.5 stars! LOVED! So unique! I have been on a massive sci-fi kick lately and this novel quenched my appetite. To top it off, Transparent is post-apocalyptic as well. Win, win, win.

Fiona is invisible. That’s right, she actually can’t be seen. After the cold war and the anti-radiation drugs people developed strange powers and characteristics that seemed to get passed do...more This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received an ARC from the publisher
but that did not influence the review**

4.5 stars! LOVED! So unique! I have been on a massive sci-fi kick lately and this novel quenched my appetite. To top it off, Transparent is post-apocalyptic as well. Win, win, win.

Fiona is invisible. That’s right, she actually can’t be seen. After the cold war and the anti-radiation drugs people developed strange powers and characteristics that seemed to get passed down through the generations. Fiona’s is invisibility. She was born that way. She was also born to a mother and father with special abilities as well. Fiona’s father is head of a syndicate, a mafia, and has forced Fiona to work for him. Finally she and her mother run away and hide from him to start anew, with the hopes of a normal life. But when you are invisible nothing is normal…

I loved Fiona. While I expected her to be shy, she was actually quite confident. Maybe it was because no one could see who or what she was looking at, or the expression she had while doing it. She never had any friends, but that didn’t stop her from working through it and finally believing she had something to offer even though no one could see her.

The boys in this novel were awesome. I loved every single one! From the love interest to Bea’s brothers (who were hilarious). Then there were Fiona’s brothers. I loved Miles and hated Graham. I didn’t know how a brother could be so heartless!

Did I have any gripes? Well, maybe a tiny one. What was lacking a little for me was the romance. Ok, ok. I know it had a natural progression but I really do adore my kissy scenes. I wish the romance had been ratcheted up a few notches. While it was there and quite sweet, I would have liked a little more intensity. I don’t necessarily mean physical interaction, but the chemistry. It still felt a little platonic for me.

For those of you who know me, I LOVE double crossings. While there weren’t any in this book, I got my itch scratched because I wasn’t sure who to trust. Graham and her mom were ones that I flipped back and forth on so many times. However, by the end their true colors showed. It was written brilliantly. :)

Ultimately, Transparent is a fantastic book that created a world with endless possibilities. The action was definitely intense and it seemed like there was never a dull moment. I was always waiting for someone to swoop in and take Fiona away. With danger lurking around every corner it was a great ride. The ending wrapped up so nicely and it’s a great stand alone novel. If you love sci-fi and want something new and fresh this is a must for your TBR list.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Step Into Fiction rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: jessica

So when you look at the story and this concept, it's intriguing and absolutely captures your attention. Then you mix it with the characters, which I really enjoyed, especially her friends she makes once her and her mother escape from under her father's nose in the middle of the night. They move to the middle of nowhere (aka Madison, Arizona) and she attends a normal high school. For the first time, she can make friends but she doesn't trust anyone. She feels like the second she lets her guard do...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-bridget

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Great Sci-Fi book, with a great plot and awesome characters.

Opening Sentence: I nearly died the second I was born.

Excerpt: No

The Review:

Fiona McClean lives in a world where everyone has some kind of mutation. Years ago there was a drug called Radiasure and it was suppose to help protect people from radiation but it came with side effects that no one was expecting. Even though people stopped taking the drug — the damage had been done and it...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Bari Coslow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advanced-reader-copy, paranormal, romance, young-adult

I received this advanced reader copy of Transparent (a young adult novel) by Natalie Whipple at the Haper Teen preview meeting for librarians. I am a little more than 1/2 way through.

Where to begin - I am going to get right to the point. I LOVE THIS BOOK - well written, captivating, hard to put down, fast paced, unique (I have never read anything like this before).

Teen readers and those who enjoy a teen novels which have paranormal/romance elements will put this debut author on the map. I for o...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Rashika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013, paranormal, ya, sci-fic

I rather liked this book. It wasn’t over the top and didn’t particularly amaze me so I cannot give it more than a 3.

However, there were some really interesting things going on in this book.

This whole world this author has created was interesting; because of an anti-radiation medicine, people started to mutate. They got interesting “powers”. But you cannot call them powers because they aren’t that. You cannot always decide when to use them or not, they are a part of you.

This whole idea amazed me...more

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May 09, 2013 Deidra (Simply Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-author-challenge, edelweiss

Why I Loved It: When radioactive poisoning was a huge threat during the Cold War, people started taking a little blue pill called Radiasure. The thing about this whole pill is that it started causing mutations in DNA. It wasn't seem much at first, but when a generation started to having children with strange features like pink skin or weird hair or special abilities, the effects became more apparent. After a time, it became even more and more obvious. Now people liked to use Radiasure to increas...more Why I Loved It: When radioactive poisoning was a huge threat during the Cold War, people started taking a little blue pill called Radiasure. The thing about this whole pill is that it started causing mutations in DNA. It wasn't seem much at first, but when a generation started to having children with strange features like pink skin or weird hair or special abilities, the effects became more apparent. After a time, it became even more and more obvious. Now people liked to use Radiasure to increase their power. And just like any kind of drug like that, power becomes wrapped up in the pills.

Powerful criminals then start manipulating the people with special abilities and fighting for control of the pills. Fiona's father is one of the biggest crime lords, and she was born as the first invisible person in the world. Sadly, that makes her a pawn in her father's hands. I mean an invisible person is every crime lord's dream come true. Her father's ability is that he is able to pretty much make women do whatever he wants them to do. Which makes manipulating Fiona and her mother, a telekinetic, so much easier.

Living as a pawn of her father, she didn't exactly live a normal life. When her mother decides that she really wants to escape, Fiona has to learn how be normal. It's not really easy to be normal when you are invisible. I mean I'm sure it would seem weird seeing a walking set of clothes. Plus, being the only invisible person in the world and the daughter of a well-known criminal tends to follow her.

The story was quite interesting. I know that there were a couple of things that bothered me while I read, but the story really was captivating. The friends that Fiona makes in her learning to be normal, as normal as you can be when you are invisible, are incredibly interesting. I really enjoyed getting to know them. Fiona's two brothers were interesting as well. Graham was a jerk and Miles was wonderful. And the boy that Fiona ends up falling for has a power that is just what Fiona needs.

I found that the novel was well-thought-out and quite interesting. I love reading books about people with super powers. Some people might get all focused on the science, but that's never really been a problem for me. I found Transparent to be funny, with sweet and sour moments, and a concept that I found incredibly interesting. Granted, I was just looking for some light reading. It was what I needed at the time.

Low Points: There wasn't a massive amount of world-building, Fiona could be a bit rude and selfish at times, her mother is treated poorly at times considering how much of a victim she really is in the story.

High Points: Super powers, mafia-type world, Miles *awesome big brother*, some super friends, and a really sweet romance.

Who Should Read It: I think people who love the whole super powers things and the Oceans movies would appreciate the book. (less)

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Feb 07, 2013 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I read a digital ARC so I can't really be quoting this book. But if I DID quote the opening paragraph, it would read something like this:

"I nearly died the second I was born. The doctor dropped me, but it wasn't his fault. When I smacked the floor and let out a screeching cry, all anyone could see was the semitransparent umbilical cord. The poor guy scooped me up, grasping in shock at my invisible body."

Sold on the first paragraph. But you should see the first chapter past the Prologue. Wo...more Okay, I read a digital ARC so I can't really be quoting this book. But if I DID quote the opening paragraph, it would read something like this:

"I nearly died the second I was born. The doctor dropped me, but it wasn't his fault. When I smacked the floor and let out a screeching cry, all anyone could see was the semitransparent umbilical cord. The poor guy scooped me up, grasping in shock at my invisible body."

Sold on the first paragraph. But you should see the first chapter past the Prologue. Wow.

Here's the premise: Driven by fear of radioactive poisoning due to the Cold War, people took a little blue pill called Radiasure. It was supposed to protect from radiation poisoning. Whether it did or not is beside the point. There were side affects that could not be foreseen. Small for the generation that took the drug, their DNA was rearranged to some small degree. It played out more acutely in their children. Then their children's children. What they birthed were children with mutations that included anything from unwanted hair to weird abilities. Fiona is the only known case of invisibility. She's never even seen herself.

So some of the powerful crime lords either recruit or couple with others who have mutated DNA to create super criminals. Fiona is a child of a crime lord and she wants out for reasons set up in the book. She may be invisible but she is not immune to mobsters and thugs, particularly those with super abilities.

I want to say more but I'm afraid I'll give spoilers. Let me simply say that the story's pace is well timed, the character depth and detail is well developed, and the supporting characters are consistent without being boring.

It's an original story line with interesting characters with fun quirks. Expect some farm words and a bit of violence but an overall clean read. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and the fact that the book can stand on its own or continue into a series. I don't know if there is another down the road but if there is, I'll read it.(less)

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Apr 10, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the premise of this and it drew me in quickly. I liked the simplistic but fun set-up. There were of course complexities to the plot, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how things would play out.
Fiona is a character that is easy to root for. I totally cannot imagine being invisible! In some ways, it would be awesome, but it others it would suck. And we get to see both of these drawbacks through her eyes. I felt so sorry for her how her dad treated her like a tool, a means to his...more I love the premise of this and it drew me in quickly. I liked the simplistic but fun set-up. There were of course complexities to the plot, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how things would play out.
Fiona is a character that is easy to root for. I totally cannot imagine being invisible! In some ways, it would be awesome, but it others it would suck. And we get to see both of these drawbacks through her eyes. I felt so sorry for her how her dad treated her like a tool, a means to his end. It is so brave of her and her mom to try to get a fresh start.
Liked her relationship with her older brothers. Seemed realistic, and cool that they were close. The way they grew up and what they went through together made that bond even stronger. The protective side that Miles has, and their covert communication added another whole element to the story.
Bea is a lot of fun. She is a girl at the new school who befriends Fiona. She also is gifted and her and Brady are the strongest and the ones ostracized in a community of mostly normal mutations. She is able to throw her voice, and Brady has strength. I liked Fiona and Bea's friendship, and how Fiona (and myself as a reader) had to work through the trust issues, and see her for what she was. I liked how she was bold, and told it like it was. She didn't pretend like Fiona wasn't unique, and didn't sidestep around her abilities. She also was so funny. I loved her lines and she made me laugh a lot.
The other characters are great too. Brady, as I mentioned earlier is a guy at her new school, who is hot and has abilities. Seth is a hot math tutor, more of the broody kind that keeps to himself a lot. Bea has a ton of brothers, and I love the dynamic there as well. The dialogue feels authentic and it is downright hilarious at times. But there is a lot of emotional connections and depth when you look below the surface.
She eventually lets them in, but she is keeping to herself at first, so there is just the minor flirting with whom I will not say but I def had a clear team and would love to talk to someone about it if they have read. I liked the slow build of the romance though, and the bantering that helped lead up to it. I am glad that Fiona wasn't afraid to speak her mind to this person because it made him respect her more I think.
The town she is in just assumes that she is a spoiled brat and her dad put her there as a statement. Fiona's dad has a conflict going on with the leader of the area that Fiona and her mom are hiding it--hiding in plain sight, because they counted on her dad not thinking they would move into Juan's (his enemy) land.
It wrapped up pretty well, but I have the feeling that there will be a sequel. While it was a good ending, and tied up the book, I just sense that the resolution can't last forever. But I could be wrong.

Bottom Line: Great premise, executed well, with surprising emotional depth and well developed characters that are easy to root for. (less)

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May 01, 2013 Caryn Caldwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

In an alternate America filled with people who have special powers, Fiona has one of the rarest abilities of all: she was born completely invisible. Unfortunately, this has been more of a curse than a blessing, since her father, a power crime syndicate boss, repeatedly uses her to commit crimes on his organization's behalf. But when he orders her to do something unforgivable, she finally takes the opportunity to escape. Her father's reach seems to extend everywhere, however -- even the tiny Ariz...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

Omgosh I got to read an ARC!!!! I feel cooler than I really should :) Transparent is an awesome read. The pace and character/plot development runs along nicely. Love the touch of edginess without being trashy and Whipple captures that angsty teen acceptance obsession without going over the top. My high school issues can totally relate! J/K But for reals: I want either super-powers or a letter saying I got into Hogwarts.

Transparent gets four stars for witty, clever dialogue, but doesn't get 5 sta...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Celeste_pewter rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Two-second recap: Natalie Whipple's Transparent is a fun, unique take on the concept of self-identity, and what it takes for a person to discover truly who they are.

***

Full review:

I first heard about Natalie Whipple's Transparent months ago, and it immediately caught my attention. The premise sounded incredibly unique - an invisible protagonist?! How the heck is *that* going to work? - and Whipple's been a complete joy to follow both on Twitter and her blog.

Luckily for me, Transparent definit...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love. Love. Love. This book is by far one of the best. Everything about it pulls you in, the cover will make you stop and everything after that will make you fall head over heels in love.

Fiona is by far one of my most favorite female heroines, but she can't be seen. Literally invisible since birth, she is just awesome. Her dad uses her to steal, but she's ready to be out when he wants to take things too far. So her mom packs her up and they run. Everything about this book has you sitting on the...more

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May 10, 2013 Kassidy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, books-i-won, books-i-own

*3.5*

The synopsis for this story is slightly misleading. Although it is partially Sci-fi because many humans now have these weird abilities, I would actually consider this more contemporary (aside from the superhuman bit). It deals more with Fiona trying to accept herself and learn who she is without being under her father's control. So, it isn't exactly this gritty tale of a superhuman girl trying to outrun her drug lord father. Fiona starts a new highschool and majority of the book is about he...more

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May 06, 2013 Luna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Transparent really exceeded by expectations. I was hoping for good but Natalie Whipple delivered so much more. The writing and especially the characters had that extra bit that takes it from good to brilliant.

Fiona is invisible which sounds like a great superpower but she doesn’t even know what she looks like. Under the control of her father Fiona has done a lot of things she’s not proud of. The story starts with Fiona and a mother escaping to a small town outside of her father ‘reign’ (He lords...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 4-stars, fantasy, read-in-2013, young-adult

Review Posted on Reading Lark 4/23/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...

Fiona O'Connell lives in a world where organized crime rules the world and her father is the leader of one of the largest syndicates in the United States. Fiona is a weapon that he loves to control, but can she truly do everything her daddy says? When her father orders her to assassinate the daughters of another syndicate leader, Fiona and her mother go on the run. They are tired of being criminals and risking their l...more Review Posted on Reading Lark 4/23/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...

Fiona O'Connell lives in a world where organized crime rules the world and her father is the leader of one of the largest syndicates in the United States. Fiona is a weapon that he loves to control, but can she truly do everything her daddy says? When her father orders her to assassinate the daughters of another syndicate leader, Fiona and her mother go on the run. They are tired of being criminals and risking their lives to please a man who never truly loved either of them. Hidden in the Arizona desert, both women seek to move on with their lives and live for themselves. All of this would be a lot easier if Fiona wasn't invisible. Fiona can't risk being caught by her father; an invisible assassin would be a perfect weapon and she'd never be free.

In Fiona's world, people are born regular or gifted. Those called gifted have genetic mutations that allow them to do incredible things - some minor and others major. For example, aside from Fiona's invisibility, one character has super human strength while another can fly. I won't go into too much details about the variety of mutations that crop up in this book, but they are fascinating. Like in the X-Men, those with mutations are feared by those who have none and are desired by criminals who want to use their gifts for nefarious purposes. The origin of the mutations was a source of intrigue for me. I loved the creativity behind it and the historical connections.

In addition to the fascinating world, I loved these characters. Fiona is a truly an independent, take charge kind of girl. She is coming into her own and by the end of the novel, I feel like she is truly comfortable in her own invisible skin. She learns to trust others and to value her own strength. In the beginning, she struggles with how her invisibility makes her different from everyone, but by the end of the novel she begins to realize that she has a lot in common with her new group of friends. I loved The Pack and Fiona's brothers too. I have a particular fondness for Brady and Seth. In general, I adored all the characters - even the villains were well written and people I loved to hate.

Transparent was a fun read that kept me riveted from start to finish. The story is fast paced and exciting. It does have flaws, but they didn't impede my enjoyment. I think the key to loving this one is loving Fiona. She has her selfish moments and she's quite stubborn. If you're on her side, then you'll enjoy the novel.

One Last Gripe: There were some plot elements that irked me. For example, if you're trying to hide from your crime boss father, why do you enroll in public school?

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The mutations

First Sentence: I nearly died the second I was born.

Favorite Character: Seth

Least Favorite Character: Fiona's Father
(less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Anastasia & Demitra marked it as to-read

This book sounds amaaaazing <3
WAIT. Pause. Scroll up. That release date ... Tell me today is May 20th 2013 ...

So, let me get this straight ... you expected me to go on reading other books knowing that THIS book wouldn't be released until next year? Oooooooooh, I get it! In fact, why don't we just make that release date say "Not in your lifetime!" :D Oh, yes! I must admit that sounds absolutely delightful.

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Oct 10, 2012 Renee Collins rated it 5 of 5 stars

The thing that really made this whole book for me is the main character. An invisible girl. It's such a creative, challenging idea. In the hands of a writer with less skill, it could have flopped. But Fiona was completely true and alive to me. I'm pretty sure that Natalie Whipple actually has an invisible friend that she consulted with in the writing of this novel.

But Fiona's not the only character that feels truly real. Every one jumps off the page. As does the setting. This book has such a vi...more

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May 05, 2013 David Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

The world that Natalie Whipple has constructed for this novel is an interesting one. The variety of 'powers' that emerge throughout the course of the story definitely serves to keep things interesting, and the characters themselves feel quite real and grounded.

My only complaint, unfortunately a bit one, is that the ending of the novel is too perfect. Whatever tension is built throughout the earlier portions of the novel feels wasted, because the central conflict of the story is ultimately resolv...more

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About Natalie Whipple

Natalie Whipple, sadly, does not have any cool mutations like her characters. Unless you count the ability to watch anime and Korean dramas for hours on end. Or her uncanny knack for sushi consumption.

She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck ar...more

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