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Things Not Seen (Things #1)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 11,047 ratings · 1,088 reviews

Bobby Phillips is an average fifteen-year-old boy. Until the morning he wakes up and can't see himself in the mirror. Not blind, not dreaming. Bobby is just plain invisible...

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to Bobby's new condition; even his dad the physicist can't figure it out. For Bobby that means no school, no friends, no life. He's a missing person. Then...more

Paperback, 251 pages

Published March 8th 2004 by Speak (first published March 4th 2002)

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Jan 15, 2012 Dustin Crazy little brown owl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, read-in-2010, amazing, teen, worth-reading-again-and-again, disability, read-in-2012

A fun & wonderful read! I loved this book from start to brilliant finish! Things Not Seen is an interesting, creative and I believe successful way to introduce disability to teens and adults. Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and is invisible; throughout the book invisibility is shown to parallel living with a disability. One passage early in the book says: "... it's not like I've got the chicken pox or the flu or something. This is completely...different, and it's happening to me, and it...more

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Aug 04, 2007 Akyla rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an imaginitive modern day science fiction story (more science than fiction) about a boy who wakes up one morning to find himself invisible and befriends a recently blind girl who can relate to this newfound unusual disability.
I found this a great book overall. Unlike some books for young adults, this book was not predictable for adults. Although the gravity of the situation of a missing child and the impact on his parents needed to be emphasised to a younger reader, it does not take awa...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is an under-appreciated young-adult classic. An everyboy named Bobby wakes up one morning to find himself invisible. But his biggest concern isn't how to use this new power for good or evil; it's simply how to get back to his normal life. The characters are all incredibly well written, and Bobby's thoughts are engaging and familiar, or at least they would be if I'd ever been invisible. Though it has a few bits of sci-fi in it--mainly centering around Bobby becoming invisible, and attem...more

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May 25, 2011 Danielle E rated it 5 of 5 stars

This Book is Amazing! It starts off as a a boy that's 15 and named Bobby. He usually gets up in the morning and takes a shower in teh dark to make it see like an extra 10 mins of sleeping. Except this time he went to wipe away the fog on the mirror and only saw a floating towel and he doesn't know what to do. He gets scared and runs down stairs to tell him mother. His mom and dad think he's playing a joke on them with a walkie talkie or microphone. But then they realize he's serious. So for a co...more

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Mar 02, 2009 KConaway rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book surprises - the idea of an invisible boy seemed too far-fetched for a novel that would otherwise fit into the catagory of realistic fiction. But Clements finds a way, in the creation of Bobby's relationship with Alicia, to make this a story that digs deeper into other issues about invisibility. When will Bobby's parents stop ignoring him to see him for who he really is? Who sees Alicia for who she really is now that she's blind, and what can she now "see"? This was a good choice for di...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2009 Gabby R. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Andrew Clements really kept this interesting and reallistic. If it was a series, I would have devoured it in a few days.

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bobby Phillips is a normal teenager. Neither popular nor unpopular in school, he argues with his parents, dislikes his private school, gets ignored by the popular girls. But Bobby Phillips has a problem. A big one. One morning after his shower Bobby notices something peculiar when looking in the mirror. Nothing. Bobby Phillips is now officially, literally, invisible.

This novel is great for many levels of readers. Even struggling readers can follow along and appreciate Bobby's dilemma as he tries...more Bobby Phillips is a normal teenager. Neither popular nor unpopular in school, he argues with his parents, dislikes his private school, gets ignored by the popular girls. But Bobby Phillips has a problem. A big one. One morning after his shower Bobby notices something peculiar when looking in the mirror. Nothing. Bobby Phillips is now officially, literally, invisible.

This novel is great for many levels of readers. Even struggling readers can follow along and appreciate Bobby's dilemma as he tries to literally find himself. This is also a great young adult novel because it is told from a very believable perspective of a very likable teenage boy, a nice change from the novels typically told from a female point of view.

While Bobby struggles to figure out how to become visible, readers experience his anguish and frustration as he realizes it took becoming invisible to make people (specifically his busy career-driven parents) truly see him. Bobby befriends a girl with complete and total blindness named Alicia, who soon becomes his only confidente, helping readers to grasp the subtle hint that what's on the outside isn't always what's most recognizable.

Excerpt:

"I'm not assuming anything. I'm talking about experience. You can tell if someone thinks you're nothing. Like, just a few weeks ago, I'm walking towards this beautiful girl named Jessica in the hall, and I smile and look at her, and her face doesn't change, her eyes don't connect with me, nothing. It's like she looks right through me, like I'm not even there."

Alicia's eyebrows shoot up, "Hmmm...she looked right through you, eh? Like you weren't even there? Interesting way to describle your old life, don't you think?" (p.160-61)

Classroom Use:
Great novel for grades 7-12 depending on reading levels. Excellent for struggling readers and reluctant male readers. Not only can the moral message of "it's what's on the inside that counts" be re-emphasized, but the process of finding one's self is a great unit theme as well. Bobby is a likable, relatable, character who walks his readers through everything he is feeling, helping them to understand and discuss his feelings as he's feeling them. Any teenager who has ever felt overlooked, neglected, ignored, or just incurably average, will appreciate Bobby and his journey to find himself.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 Clarinda Dodson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

This review was originally written on my blog in January 2007.

If you're looking for an easy read with lots of twists, this is a great book to add to your list.

One of the classes that I've been helping out in when I sub at Duniway Middle School is a 7th grade Language Arts class. They are reading this title for class, and the teacher recommended it to me. She lent me one of her copies, and I read it all in just a few shorts days. I think I started reading it on Thursday and finished it on Saturda...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Isaac rated it 3 of 5 stars

Things Not Seen
By: Andrew Clements

This book is made for entertainment maybe science in a way. This book was intended for middle aged teens. This book is written in first person narration. The narrator of this story is Bobby Phillips. It is very important that Bobby is the main character because it would not be the same if there was not an invisible kid. In this story there are some parts where it seems that it could be true but the part of with where Bobby turns invisible that’s fake. I can’t re...more

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May 20, 2013 Cameron Tuckéár rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read the book Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements. The book was about a boy named Bobby. One morning after his daily morning shower, he discovers that he was invisible. At first he believes it is just a dream, until he tells his parents and they freak out. Bobby's father begins running test and relizes that he isn't "invisible", it is just that light rays don't bounce off of Bobby. Meanwhile, Bobby goes through life as an invisible kid. He goes through many trials, including the police questio...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Chy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh, it's great to have a story about someone going invisible and still being a good person. It's also great to have a story about something like this just happening to some random teenager. And Bobby's great and---get this---it was the good kind of first-person, present-tense POV. Perfect, and this coming from the overcritical reader of such POVs.

The beginning was a bit jarring. I mean, it was cool to start where it started, but the writing of it made it take a while before I even knew if I coul...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Eddie Shifrin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The main character named Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning invisible. His body was still there, but could not be seen by anyone. His father is a scientist, so he get very interested by what has happened to his son. But, his mother is scared to death and just wants it all to be over. One day on one of Bobby’s invisible walks in public, he meets a pretty blind girl when he bumps into her. Her name is Alicia, she doesn’t know about how Bobby is actually invisible, but he eventually tells her. Her...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Leah Berns added it

Shelves: 1st-quarter-independent-reading

Book talk:

The book "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements was awesome! The book is about a boy named Bobby. One day he is getting out of the shower and BAM! He is invisible! His parents are totally freaked out. Bobby and his family have no idea how this happened. Bobby misses school and all of his activities. He cannot see his friends because his father is not letting him leave the house. Three days days into being invisible, his parents get into a car wreck. Department of Child Family Services co...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Christine Wu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recently read this book because my 8 year old son was reading it and I trust his taste in books. What a great writer for young boys! The topics, issues and characters that Andrew Clements writes about are highly relevant for grade school and middle school kids, especially boys. How many authors could you actually point to positively and recommend to your sons? Clements understands the pre-adolescent mind and inspires, relates, challenges, and raises the bar for his young readers to rise up from...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Princess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

I’ve learned a few things after reading YA fiction over the last two months. The first thing is not to trivialize. The kids that I am reading about have real issues – issues that are real to them anyhow, and it doesn’t score me any points to dismiss their feelings or their reactions. It doesn’t do to dismiss books because they’re not literary enough either, because I’ve found that I can enjoy a book just as much for its plot as for its beautiful sentences. I’ve been kidding myself sitting on a h...more I’ve learned a few things after reading YA fiction over the last two months. The first thing is not to trivialize. The kids that I am reading about have real issues – issues that are real to them anyhow, and it doesn’t score me any points to dismiss their feelings or their reactions. It doesn’t do to dismiss books because they’re not literary enough either, because I’ve found that I can enjoy a book just as much for its plot as for its beautiful sentences. I’ve been kidding myself sitting on a high horse and looking down on “pop” fiction. So long as a book moves me in some way, that book is worth reading. This realization has been profound for me.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements is a book about a fifteen-year old boy who wakes up one morning, looks in the bathroom mirror and finds that he cannot see himself. That’s an intriguing enough start to a story, no? Well, Bobby and his parents (after the initial mind-numbing shock) try to find a logical solution to the problem. If Bobby is invisible, something must have caused it, and what is that something? How do they fix it? Along the way, Bobby meets Alicia, a blind girl, with whom he decides to share his secret. Alicia tells her parents. Together, Bobby and Alicia and their parents try to figure out a solution to Bobby’s problem.

What is particularly fascinating about this book is the fact that the author treats Bobby’s invisibility like it is a legitimate real-world problem. There are no super-powers or aliens or wizards. The puzzle is eventually solved by old-fashioned sleuthing and some cold, hard logic. Additionally, the story underneath the story is just as intriguing. What happens when a girl who cannot see the world and a guy the world cannot see get together? What can the two teach each other about loneliness and friendship?

This book takes an interesting premise and carries it through successfully, managing to throw in a few good lessons for teenagers who feel that they are not really being seen or heard. The language is not exactly exciting, but it is very readable – I, for one, read the book through in one sitting. It’s a good enough way to pass the time, and it has taught me one or two things about how to write YA fiction.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Snow White rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Emily Adkins, Hannah Thigpen

Shelves: awesome, epic-sci-fi, fiction, mystery, sooo-cuuuttteee, well-developed-characters, would-recommend-in-a-heartbeat, ya, mrs-holley-hall-recommends

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 09, 2011 David Center rated it 3 of 5 stars

The outside reading book I chose to read is the book things not seen by Andrew Clements.I chose to read this book because it look very interseting even the tittle of the book made me want to know more about this story. In this review I will summerize, tell you my recondemnation, and give you my evaluation of the book Things Not Seen.

This book is about a young boy named Bobby Phillips who wakes up one day and cannot see him self in the mirror. He thinks maybe it is just his eye sight but he wou...more The outside reading book I chose to read is the book things not seen by Andrew Clements.I chose to read this book because it look very interseting even the tittle of the book made me want to know more about this story. In this review I will summerize, tell you my recondemnation, and give you my evaluation of the book Things Not Seen.

This book is about a young boy named Bobby Phillips who wakes up one day and cannot see him self in the mirror. He thinks maybe it is just his eye sight but he would come to know that no one in his family could see him ither.At first this really scared him but he realized of all the things he could do and learn about He starts to explore more and figure out things he could do useing his invisibilty to his advantage. As a couple of weeks pass by he changes his mind about the whole thing and wants to be seen by people again. His parents and himself try to find many way to. While they are trying to figure this stuff out he meets a girl named Alicia who cannot see her self ither but this is becuase she is blind. These two characters become very good friends because they can feel what one another are going through and they feel for each other. Bobby and his family think of maybe setting that night up when this incconet happened and doing everything that night over again.When he woke up that morning he could be seen again by everyone. He still felt bad for Alicia because he waqs fix but she never could be fixed but the two will still be bestfriends forever.

I would recomend this book becuase it has a very interesting story line. This book also has many meanings to it.The fisrt meaing is that you should be nice and not judge people because you have no idea on what their going through.The second meaning is that when things go bad and you dont think they will work just keep trying because sooner or later you will acomplish your goals.This book was a good book but i feel like they could have added more adventure to it to make it more epic. If they did this thiis book would revive five stars. Besides that this book was very well written and i would recomend it to all of my good read friends.

This is my review of my out side reading book. The story was very well Written and i never wanted to put this book down it had me on the edge every time i read this book. I recomend this to everyone and i hope you enjoyed reading my review of the book Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements(less)

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Jul 28, 2011 Seahee Park added it · review of another edition

Clearly by looking at other books Clements wrote are for children or teens. However, myself not being a children nor a teen, reading his book, 'Things Not Seen' was definately not just another teen book from Clements.

At first, when I read about two or three chapters I thought this book will be about an avarage teenager looking for the real meaning of life and becoming more mature. (You know just another kid book thing) However, as I flipped through the book, there were more meanings to it.

Of c...more

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Feb 15, 2011 bookczuk added it

Shelves: bookcrossing, kids-of-most-ages

Bobby is pretty invisible in real life, to his parents and the kids at school, etc. Then Bobby actually becomes really invisible, but it does very little to improve his personality. He's invisible and a teenager, so what's the logical thing to do? Flaunt your "power" over your parents, break rules, feel sorry for yourself, meet a blind girl who doesn't know you're invisible. Then his parents are in a horrible crash, so Bobby, who has been down on his parents for thinking of how his invisibility...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Cassandra Barboza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Almost anyone can relate to the feeling of being invisible, of being ignored. But can anyone know what it's truly like to become invisible. This book is a book for younger children but it nevertheless brings to perspective the reality of the world we live in today. We have parents that don't completely know their children because they lead such busy schedules and a society where being handicapped can mean being ostracized and becoming invisible.

Bobby wakes up one morning, invisible. No one can s...more Almost anyone can relate to the feeling of being invisible, of being ignored. But can anyone know what it's truly like to become invisible. This book is a book for younger children but it nevertheless brings to perspective the reality of the world we live in today. We have parents that don't completely know their children because they lead such busy schedules and a society where being handicapped can mean being ostracized and becoming invisible.

Bobby wakes up one morning, invisible. No one can see him. Even though many an author could have come up with a story about Bobby causing mischief and having fun with his invisibility the whole story through, the author actually shows that invisibility is a hindrance and not a gift as many people wish to believe. Yes, Bobby does have some fun with his invisibility, which is completely rationale since the character is only thirteen but the story quickly begins to center on the fact that being invisible is more complicated than it seems. Bobby quickly finds Alicia, a girl who had recently become blind. She is the only person to which Bobby can reveal himself to because she understands what it's like to not be seen. She is the version of Bobby that exists all around us and is not based on science fiction. The book looks into the significance of becoming invisible through the guise of invisibility while digging deeper into the real life matter. Invisibility is becoming afraid to do the things you don't think you can do anymore. But the books shows that anything can be done if you are dedicated and committed to fighting for a place in the visible world. It's a book that shows there is more to be seen than what is just in front of us.

In style and writing the book is very honest. If the character gets mad he gets mad. The author does not prevent the characters from having real emotions. The characters react like real people would. They are not unbelievably gracious. I want to write characters that are truly possible and not idealized versions of people. Bobby acting petulant during the beginning of his situation is like what a real thirteen year old would do and I am glad that the author wrote the scenes to reflect real life. (less)

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Jan 09, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a book I read because my daughter insisted on it. I should listen to her more often. Bobby is a young boy who becomes invisible one day. His physicist father and English professor mother decide to keep it a secret. Unfortunately, they are involved in a car accident that keeps them away from home for several days. Bobby must fend for himself and “stay out of sight” until his parents can help him find out why he is invisible. Of course, as any fifteen year old would do, Bobby decides to tr...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Chance added it

d.e.a.r. Project
chance thompson
plot

the main character bobby philips wakes up one morning and he is invisible. Next bobby runs and tells his parents they then tell him he cannot go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. then, he takes off his clothes in the bathroom and enters the recording studio in the library.he meets a friend alica who is blind.
Then he tells her that he is invisible and then he meets her at the library a couple more times and then he gets her number a...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Tony Mckenzie added it

d.e. a. r . project
TONY

plot
The main chracter bobby phillps wakes up in the moring and he is invisble. Next, bobby runs and tells his parents. Then, they tell him he cannot go to school.
He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then, he takes off his colthes and enters the recording studio in the libary. He meet a friend,alicia who is blind.

Then he has to prove to her that he is invisble .then bobby says that you cant tell no one about what has happen to me. and then his mom and dad go...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Tamia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dear project Tamia adkison

Plot
The main character bobby Phillips wakes up one morning an he is invisible.
Next Bobby runs an tells his parents they then tell him
he cannot go to school.
He put on clothing so that he can go to the library. The he takes off his clothes an enters the recording studio the library. He meets a friend , Alicia who is blind.
They go on a walk a he tell her that hes invisible but
then the get into a big fight about him being invisible.
HE went home an he told his parents t...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Michaela rated it 4 of 5 stars

D.E.A.R Project

Michaela Nickerson

PLOT
The main character Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and he is invisible Next ,Bobby runs and tells
his parents they then tell him he cannot go to school.
He puts on clothing so he can go to the library .
Then ,he takes off his clothes and enters the recording
studio in the library. He meets a friend ,Alicia, who blind.

Then Bobby and Alicia go on a walk and Bobby tells Alicia that he is invisible. Then Alicia got hit by a man and then she gets mad at Bobb...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Noah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. D.E.A.R
noah cron

plot : then main character Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and he is invisible, Bobby runs and tells his parents they hen tell him he cannot go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then, he takes off his clothing and enters the recording studio on the library. He meets a friend, Alicia who is blind.

Then, Bobby and alicia go on a walk and bobby tells her that he is invisible. Then alicia got hit by a man and she gets mad at bobby because he might be a we...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Jordan.v rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dear project #2 Jordan Vandyke

PLOT
The main character Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and he is invisible. Next, Bobby runs and tells his parents. They then tell him he can not go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then , he take off his clothes and enters the recording studio in the library. He meets a friend, alicia , who is blind.

While he's walking Alicia home he tells her he's invisible and she doesn't believe him. He proves Alicia that he is invisible. So when B...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Clara added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. D.E.A.R PROJECT
CLARA SORIA

PLOT
The main character Bobby Philips wakes up one morning and he is invisible.

Next, bobby runs and tells his parents.
They then tell him he cannot go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then, he takes off his clothes and enters the recording studio in the library. He meets a friend, Alicia who is blind.

When bobby met Alicia more better they went for a walk. But then bobby told Alicia that he's invisible. But she doesn't believe him so they pr...more D.E.A.R PROJECT
CLARA SORIA

PLOT
The main character Bobby Philips wakes up one morning and he is invisible.

Next, bobby runs and tells his parents.
They then tell him he cannot go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then, he takes off his clothes and enters the recording studio in the library. He meets a friend, Alicia who is blind.

When bobby met Alicia more better they went for a walk. But then bobby told Alicia that he's invisible. But she doesn't believe him so they proved that he's invisible. So when bobby goes home he can see his parents car on TV. And it was his parents. So the phone was ringing but he couldn't answer it. So it went to the answering machine. The next day he dressed up and went to the hospital in a cab to see his parents. Bobby went to the bathroom and took his clothes off. Then he went out to see his mom. So when bobby went home and his parents came home from the hospital Ms.pagett came with a search warrant and ms.philips said that bobby went to Florida to go see his aunt Ethel. So when she left, bobby's dad and Mr. van dorn(Alicia dad) met and they were trying to figure out why he turned invisible.

SETTING
One of the main settings take place in bobby's house. His house is clean, his room is neat, and he has a blue electric blanket. The kitchen looks beautiful and has food in the refrigerator. Also ,the house has two floors. The other main setting is the library. Bobby would always go to the library with Alicia. There are books everywhere and there are a lot of floors. There is a recording studio in the library. T hats were bobby and Alicia met.

CONFLICT
The main conflict in the story is that bobby is invisible. This is a problem because he cannot go to school. He fails school because of this. The social worker comes to his house, and his Mom has to lie because of it.

RESOLUTION
Bobby and Alicia were instant messaging and Alicia said that two negatives make a positive and bobby says that’s right and so he gets the electric blanket and turns it on and he went to sleep. Then when his parents wake up the police andMs.pagett look around the house and bobby was still naked in bed so when he hears the police come into his room he runs near his mirror and he doesn't see hiself so he hides his junk with a book and one of the cop says who are you and ms.philips see's bobby and she is surprised. So bobby see's hi self in the mirror and the police leave so bobby puts on clothes and his mom was glad to see him. So bobby walked over to Alicia’s house and ms. Van dorn answered and she said who are you and he said it was bobby Philips and before bobby was invisible ms. Van dorn didn't trust bobby with Alicia alone. So now she knows that’s what bobby looks like she left them alone. So bobby was telling Alicia that it worked and when they were about to kiss Alicia didn't feel right so she ran to her room and bobby went home. Then they were instant messaging each other.(less)

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Jan 06, 2011 Kenzie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Dear project
kenzie kesner

PLOT The main character Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and he is invisible.
Next Bobby run and tells is parents they than tell him he can not go to school.
He put on clothing and than goes to the library. Than he takes off his clothes and enter the recording studio in the library. He meets a friend, Alicia who is blind. Bobby and Alicia go for walk. Bobby tells Alicia that he is invisible. Alicia does not believe him so she get some one to see if he is there. The pe...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Alivona rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. D.E.A.R. Project
Alivona Thomas

PLOT
The main character Bobby Phillips wakes up one morning and he is invisible. Next Bobby runs and tells his parents. They then tell him he cannot go to school. He puts on clothing so he can go to the library. Then, he takes off his clothes and enters the recording studio at the library. He meets a friend, Alicia, who is blind.
Then Bobby tried to tell Alicia that he was invisible but,she did not believe that he was really invisible. Then when they where walkin...more

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Invisible you!	25	82	11. Dezember, 00:50 Uhr
Invisible you!	23	44	12. Oktober, 21:32 Uhr
i love this book	5	14	10. August, 19:22 Uhr
Would you like to be Invisible??	4	15	10. August, 19:20 Uhr
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in the middle of it!	2	20	12. April, 08:53 Uhr

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About Andrew Clements

I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books an...more I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.(less)

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“Two wrongs don't make a right, but don't three lefts make a right? Two wrongs don't make a right, but don't two negatives make a positive?” — 144 people liked it

“But fear doesn't need doors and windows. It works from the inside.” — 22 people liked it

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