What do you think?
Rate this book
The Invisible Boy
If no one sees him, does he exist? This superhero-inspired adventure story explores friendship and what it means to be a truly brave.
Nadia finds adventure in the pages of her Superman comic books, until a mysterious boy saves her dog from drowning during a storm and then disappears. Now she finds herself in the role of Lois Lane, hunting down the scoop of the Invisible Boy, and suddenly she’s in a real-life adventure that’s far more dangerous than anything in her comic books.
The Invisible Boy is a mystery and an adventure story, as well as a story about child labor trafficking. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Crenshaw and Wishtree, Alyssa Hollingsworth takes a difficult subject matter and makes it accessible for middle-grade readers.
Nadia finds adventure in the pages of her Superman comic books, until a mysterious boy saves her dog from drowning during a storm and then disappears. Now she finds herself in the role of Lois Lane, hunting down the scoop of the Invisible Boy, and suddenly she’s in a real-life adventure that’s far more dangerous than anything in her comic books.
The Invisible Boy is a mystery and an adventure story, as well as a story about child labor trafficking. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Crenshaw and Wishtree, Alyssa Hollingsworth takes a difficult subject matter and makes it accessible for middle-grade readers.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
16 people are currently reading
1812 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Hollingsworth
9 books122 followersAlyssa Hollingsworth was born in small-town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College and her MA with honors in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. In 2013, she won a prize from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity for her creative non-fiction essay, Naan in the Afghan Village.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College and her MA with honors in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. In 2013, she won a prize from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity for her creative non-fiction essay, Naan in the Afghan Village.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 14, 2020
Readers prepare: such a treat of a book is coming this summer! Full of hope and adventure, whilst never avoiding difficult truths, this is a beautifully crafted story of friendship and survival, complete with well-drawn characters to fall in love with. Humanitarian themes are wielded with grace, never weighing too heavily on the story. In turn, the story deftly peels away a layer of injustice, revealing an often heartbreaking scene beneath -- but in doing so, letting the light in.
August 23, 2021
Read this book in one sitting. Started it at 10:30p and finished it at around 2:30a. I have no regrets.
~
I Learned : Writing about sensitive and/or disturbing topics for children can be done, but must be handled very delicately. And Hollingsworth did a great job of this. Didn't even see it coming.
~
I Learned : Writing about sensitive and/or disturbing topics for children can be done, but must be handled very delicately. And Hollingsworth did a great job of this. Didn't even see it coming.
March 26, 2021
The Invisible Boy by @alyssa_hollingsworth is a MG appropriate book about human trafficking. As a #dressember advocate for two years as part a fabulous team led by @definitelyRA, I am so grateful this book is in the world.
.
.
.
Nadia Quick is an aspiring journalist and treats her neighborhood as her local beat. She's nosy and always on the lookout for superheroes and villains. She dubs one boy a villain: Paddle Boy (he broke her canoe paddle) and imagines his other dastardly evil deeds. Another mysterious boy who helps save her dog is given the superhero name Invisible Boy. Soon, however, Nadia befriends the real Invisible Boy, Eli, as well as Paddle Boy who is not as evil as she thought. Eli's life is strange, however. He works all the time, always wears the same clothing, and she can only see him at 1:30 pm on weekdays in his garden. He also doesn't attend school and is always anxious. As Nadia learns more about Eli, she begins to see that he is living a life in the shadows that she didn't even know was possible in suburban Virginia. But now that she can really see him, can she help him?
.
.
.
I know this sounds like a heavy topic for middle school. It is, but the book is exceptionally well done, engaging, and even funny in parts. The one page superhero style comics that start each chapter help keep it age appropriate, as does the sense that Nadia does have adults she can turn to for help (like her aunt who is a human rights lawyer). This book is IMPORTANT and I can't wait to put it in my library.
.
.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #theinvisibleboy #untilallarefree #humantrafficking #modernslavery
.
.
.
Nadia Quick is an aspiring journalist and treats her neighborhood as her local beat. She's nosy and always on the lookout for superheroes and villains. She dubs one boy a villain: Paddle Boy (he broke her canoe paddle) and imagines his other dastardly evil deeds. Another mysterious boy who helps save her dog is given the superhero name Invisible Boy. Soon, however, Nadia befriends the real Invisible Boy, Eli, as well as Paddle Boy who is not as evil as she thought. Eli's life is strange, however. He works all the time, always wears the same clothing, and she can only see him at 1:30 pm on weekdays in his garden. He also doesn't attend school and is always anxious. As Nadia learns more about Eli, she begins to see that he is living a life in the shadows that she didn't even know was possible in suburban Virginia. But now that she can really see him, can she help him?
.
.
.
I know this sounds like a heavy topic for middle school. It is, but the book is exceptionally well done, engaging, and even funny in parts. The one page superhero style comics that start each chapter help keep it age appropriate, as does the sense that Nadia does have adults she can turn to for help (like her aunt who is a human rights lawyer). This book is IMPORTANT and I can't wait to put it in my library.
.
.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #theinvisibleboy #untilallarefree #humantrafficking #modernslavery
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2020
The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth was an amazing middle grade fictional story that is part mystery, part adventure, and part informational text on a very real tragedy that occurs every day all over this country. Nadia Quick is a 12 year old aspiring journalist on summer vacation in her hometown of Arlington, Virginia. She is spending her summer trying to right a news story worthy of winning the Junior Journalists Contest. While Nadia is out for a walk, her dog has an accident and is rescued by an unseen boy. Nadia begins searching for this mystery hero, who she nicknames The Invisible Boy. Nadia does find The Invisible Boy and so begins the friendship between The Invisible Boy and Lightning Lane (AKA Nadia). As Nadia gets to know The Invisible Boy, she soon sees who he really is . . . and learns why he is never seen. The truth is super villains and super heroes may only exist in comic books, but evil does live in our cities -- we just don't always see it. Human trafficking often goes unseen because the victims are hard to spot. Many times the victims are children who are groomed in their roles so well that they may not even realize that the are slaves because they are trying to escape to a better life.
This was a moving book that presented human trafficking in a way that people can actually understand. Though this is a work of fiction, it does provide very real information in the Epilogue on what human trafficking actually is, how to identify the signs of potential victims, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline if you suspect someone is being human trafficked.
This was a moving book that presented human trafficking in a way that people can actually understand. Though this is a work of fiction, it does provide very real information in the Epilogue on what human trafficking actually is, how to identify the signs of potential victims, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline if you suspect someone is being human trafficked.
April 24, 2020
Addressing topics such as human trafficking can be difficult at best – but talking about in terms that do not diminish the importance and staying age appropriate can be next to impossible. Alyssa Hollingsworth address this tough topic perfectly. The Invisible Boy is presented through the eyes of a middle school reporter. Nadia is always on the search for an adventure, but this time she gets more than she bargains for. Hollingsworth skillfully weaves a mysterious adventure story that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats while addressing the sad reality of human trafficking in an age appropriate manner. Readers, young and old alike, will live through Nadia and her adventures and learn that sometime the right thing to do is not always the safe thing to do. This Must Read needs to be on the shelf of every classroom.
March 22, 2021
4+ Stars!
*I might bump this up in time.
“Doing what’s right is more important than doing what’s safe.”
I’m going to admit…This was a cover buy for me. I was shopping in Barnes and Noble during Spring Break, and with March being “Middle Grade March” month, I purchased a few books from the middle grade section that looked pretty interesting to me. I had NO idea what this book was about going into it, and honestly, I think people should go into this knowing very little!! I wasn’t expecting the book to be about what it was actually about, and I was very pleasantly surprised on well this was done!
I’m going to try and review this book without spoiling the reveal (even though it’s not a secret if you were to read the blurb on Goodreads). However, I think I enjoyed the book more being surprised with the overall plot.
This story follows twelve-year-old Nadia who wants to be a journalist more than anything. She is also in love with superheroes, and her hero is Lois Lane from Superman. One day during summer break, Nadia is walking her dog and he ends up nearly drowning but is rescued by her hero, “Invisible Boy.” Nadia makes it her mission to find “Invisible Boy” and figure out more about him, but she has no idea what she will discover while on her mission.
The main plot of this book wasn’t really introduced until about the half-way point in the book, and I was pretty shocked with the turn of events since I don’t read blurbs or summaries of books before reading them. I’m so glad I went into this one blind.
I loved Nadia’s character and her passion to do what was right. She is such a great friend, and so brave and determined. I think young readers will like reading from her first-person narrative. I also appreciated her admitting that she was wrong and judgmental about “Paddle Boy.” Young kids (and even adults) can still make wrong calls about people, and this was a nice addition to the story of admitting when you’re wrong and becoming the better person and reaching out to them as a friend.
I also loved how the author took a pretty tough and hard-hitting topic and was able to write about it in a way young reader would understand, be able to ask questions, and also able to have a discussion about this topic. I say this every time I pick up a new middle grade book, but I honestly don’t remember books being this good when I was a young reader. This was impressive.
The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5-star rating is because of how Nadia’s parents were throughout the story. I understand that they thought it was part of her imagination, but her parents didn’t even try to listen and have a conversation with her. How will kids ever try to go to their parents about a serious issue if they don’t think adults will listen to them? I didn’t care for that message, and I really didn’t care for the way they told Nadia about their big surprise.
I might bump this up to a 5-star rating if I can get over the flawed adults in this story over time, and I would recommend this to my students and friends. But try to go into it without knowing much about it! I’ve never read a middle grade book about this topic before, and I enjoyed the surprise!
*I might bump this up in time.
“Doing what’s right is more important than doing what’s safe.”
I’m going to admit…This was a cover buy for me. I was shopping in Barnes and Noble during Spring Break, and with March being “Middle Grade March” month, I purchased a few books from the middle grade section that looked pretty interesting to me. I had NO idea what this book was about going into it, and honestly, I think people should go into this knowing very little!! I wasn’t expecting the book to be about what it was actually about, and I was very pleasantly surprised on well this was done!
I’m going to try and review this book without spoiling the reveal (even though it’s not a secret if you were to read the blurb on Goodreads). However, I think I enjoyed the book more being surprised with the overall plot.
This story follows twelve-year-old Nadia who wants to be a journalist more than anything. She is also in love with superheroes, and her hero is Lois Lane from Superman. One day during summer break, Nadia is walking her dog and he ends up nearly drowning but is rescued by her hero, “Invisible Boy.” Nadia makes it her mission to find “Invisible Boy” and figure out more about him, but she has no idea what she will discover while on her mission.
The main plot of this book wasn’t really introduced until about the half-way point in the book, and I was pretty shocked with the turn of events since I don’t read blurbs or summaries of books before reading them. I’m so glad I went into this one blind.
I loved Nadia’s character and her passion to do what was right. She is such a great friend, and so brave and determined. I think young readers will like reading from her first-person narrative. I also appreciated her admitting that she was wrong and judgmental about “Paddle Boy.” Young kids (and even adults) can still make wrong calls about people, and this was a nice addition to the story of admitting when you’re wrong and becoming the better person and reaching out to them as a friend.
I also loved how the author took a pretty tough and hard-hitting topic and was able to write about it in a way young reader would understand, be able to ask questions, and also able to have a discussion about this topic. I say this every time I pick up a new middle grade book, but I honestly don’t remember books being this good when I was a young reader. This was impressive.
The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5-star rating is because of how Nadia’s parents were throughout the story. I understand that they thought it was part of her imagination, but her parents didn’t even try to listen and have a conversation with her. How will kids ever try to go to their parents about a serious issue if they don’t think adults will listen to them? I didn’t care for that message, and I really didn’t care for the way they told Nadia about their big surprise.
I might bump this up to a 5-star rating if I can get over the flawed adults in this story over time, and I would recommend this to my students and friends. But try to go into it without knowing much about it! I’ve never read a middle grade book about this topic before, and I enjoyed the surprise!
January 2, 2021
RECOMMENDED
Nadia is an aspiring investigative reporter who notices something not quite right with a boy down the street. What should she do? What if the adults don’t listen? HOORAY for a middle grade book that broaches human trafficking in an age-appropriate, compassionate, interesting way! 🙌 I highly recommend it to all of the teachers, parents, librarians, and counselors out there who want to read with the kids in their lives. The content is not graphic, and there are so many discussion opportunities. Each chapter starts with a comic-book-style page that helps you understand how Nadia interprets the world through her big imagination. The whole thing is charming and clear-eyed, and I put it up there with Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed as a top pick for this age range on a tough subject. As with any good book for a younger reader, there’s a lot for adults here, too. The story reminded me of this excellent quote from journalism pioneer, Ida B. Wells: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
💛 In the back matter of this book, you can also learn about Love 146, a nonprofit organization that exists to end child trafficking and exploitation through survivor care and prevention. So cool to see that real-life connection in this novel.
Nadia is an aspiring investigative reporter who notices something not quite right with a boy down the street. What should she do? What if the adults don’t listen? HOORAY for a middle grade book that broaches human trafficking in an age-appropriate, compassionate, interesting way! 🙌 I highly recommend it to all of the teachers, parents, librarians, and counselors out there who want to read with the kids in their lives. The content is not graphic, and there are so many discussion opportunities. Each chapter starts with a comic-book-style page that helps you understand how Nadia interprets the world through her big imagination. The whole thing is charming and clear-eyed, and I put it up there with Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed as a top pick for this age range on a tough subject. As with any good book for a younger reader, there’s a lot for adults here, too. The story reminded me of this excellent quote from journalism pioneer, Ida B. Wells: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
💛 In the back matter of this book, you can also learn about Love 146, a nonprofit organization that exists to end child trafficking and exploitation through survivor care and prevention. So cool to see that real-life connection in this novel.
September 29, 2020
3.5*
I was a little afraid that I really wasn't going to like this book. That is was going to be just another middle grade fiction book, written in that dumbed-down tone for middle-graders. Well, I was wrong. (Yay!)
First of all, I somehow read this book without knowing what it was actually about. In other words, when the plot twist (that the Goodreads blurb totally spoils) came, I was actually experiencing it along side the MC. (Wait... does that mean I have the IQ of a 13yo....?) I don't know. But that's the best way to experience a plot twist in my opinion.
I didn't like the parents. Seriously, they weren't very good parents. And I didn't like how that caused the main characters to have to take things into their own hands. Parents, be there for your children. Don't write off their concerns. Writers of MG fiction, can we have some more respectable parents?? That was my only major problem with this book.
I really liked the theme. It's also not one you see very often, especially in MG fiction, and I think it was handled really well.
In short, I think we need more books like this (except maybe with some better parents ;P).
I was a little afraid that I really wasn't going to like this book. That is was going to be just another middle grade fiction book, written in that dumbed-down tone for middle-graders. Well, I was wrong. (Yay!)
First of all, I somehow read this book without knowing what it was actually about. In other words, when the plot twist (that the Goodreads blurb totally spoils) came, I was actually experiencing it along side the MC. (Wait... does that mean I have the IQ of a 13yo....?) I don't know. But that's the best way to experience a plot twist in my opinion.
I didn't like the parents. Seriously, they weren't very good parents. And I didn't like how that caused the main characters to have to take things into their own hands. Parents, be there for your children. Don't write off their concerns. Writers of MG fiction, can we have some more respectable parents?? That was my only major problem with this book.
I really liked the theme. It's also not one you see very often, especially in MG fiction, and I think it was handled really well.
In short, I think we need more books like this (except maybe with some better parents ;P).
January 31, 2021
Kinda shaky after how hard this one hit. Not only is the book so powerful, but the Author's Note left me with so, so much to think about. This is one of those books that takes a HUGE topic that even adults have difficulty with (child labor trafficking) and the author is such a lionhearted talent that she sets up an understandable story for middle grade readers that feels authentic in the most powerful way. This book is bravery and compassion at its finest.
And the comic page kicking off each chapter added an element to the story that I loved - and I'm sure middle grade readers will, too.
"Journalists don't run from disaster. They run toward it."
And the comic page kicking off each chapter added an element to the story that I loved - and I'm sure middle grade readers will, too.
"Journalists don't run from disaster. They run toward it."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2020
I received this ARC from the publisher.
Nadia Quick is looking for a story. As a budding investigative journalist, she has already decided her neighbor Paddle Boy is the super villain, the mysterious dog-saving invisible boy is the hero, and she is the intrepid reporter, just like Lois Lane. As she gets to know the two boys she realizes that maybe her assumptions are hiding the truth, but does she really want to see what is right in front of her.
When I read that this was a story that touched on child labor trafficking, I thought about putting it at the bottom of the stack, such a heavy topic. What I realized when I read it was that Hollingsworth is telling a story about kids and their view of the world. She is telling a story about making assumptions and judging character. She is telling a story about all different kinds of families. The story does include the topic of child labor and its realities, but it does so in a gentle way that is perfect for middle grade kids. Kids will be there for the story and they will learn harder truths in the end, but the characters continue to shine through.
Nadia is such a great character. Her love of comics and the comic inserts before each chapter will pull in those older kids who still haven't branched out into chapter books. I highly recommend this book for grades 4-7.
Nadia Quick is looking for a story. As a budding investigative journalist, she has already decided her neighbor Paddle Boy is the super villain, the mysterious dog-saving invisible boy is the hero, and she is the intrepid reporter, just like Lois Lane. As she gets to know the two boys she realizes that maybe her assumptions are hiding the truth, but does she really want to see what is right in front of her.
When I read that this was a story that touched on child labor trafficking, I thought about putting it at the bottom of the stack, such a heavy topic. What I realized when I read it was that Hollingsworth is telling a story about kids and their view of the world. She is telling a story about making assumptions and judging character. She is telling a story about all different kinds of families. The story does include the topic of child labor and its realities, but it does so in a gentle way that is perfect for middle grade kids. Kids will be there for the story and they will learn harder truths in the end, but the characters continue to shine through.
Nadia is such a great character. Her love of comics and the comic inserts before each chapter will pull in those older kids who still haven't branched out into chapter books. I highly recommend this book for grades 4-7.
July 4, 2021
Thank you to MacMillan Children's Publishing for giving #BookAllies a copy of this ARC
I was absolutely enthralled with this one and thought Hollingsworth did a phenomenal job blending this tough issue of child labor trafficking into a middle grade novel. This was yet again another page-turner for me. I knew based on the blurb on the back of the book that it would discuss child labor trafficking so I was eager to see how it would turn out since this is such a difficult subject to take on for a younger audience. As each chapter ended I wanted to learn more about how the author would craft the character of the Invisible Boy and how the main character Nadia would react when she found out what was going on. My heart was racing and I was fighting left and right for justice of the Invisible Boy. I think this would be a great text to connect with my students about real-world issues that are present in today's society. It's a real thing. It is not made up like superheroes are. I think it would be a great read aloud.
I was absolutely enthralled with this one and thought Hollingsworth did a phenomenal job blending this tough issue of child labor trafficking into a middle grade novel. This was yet again another page-turner for me. I knew based on the blurb on the back of the book that it would discuss child labor trafficking so I was eager to see how it would turn out since this is such a difficult subject to take on for a younger audience. As each chapter ended I wanted to learn more about how the author would craft the character of the Invisible Boy and how the main character Nadia would react when she found out what was going on. My heart was racing and I was fighting left and right for justice of the Invisible Boy. I think this would be a great text to connect with my students about real-world issues that are present in today's society. It's a real thing. It is not made up like superheroes are. I think it would be a great read aloud.
June 8, 2020
*Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
After reading the "blurb" about this book, I was highly interested to see how Hollingsworth would weave such a difficult real-world issue into a middle-grade novel.
Wow. This was a book that I could not put down. Full of adventure and curiosity, Nadia is such a great and tenacious character. Even though she keeps getting proven wrong throughout the story, she continues searching for the truth as a budding journalist. I loved seeing the friendship between Nadia, "Paddle Boy" and "Invisible Boy" unfold. I think Hollingsworth did an amazing job blending the child labor trafficking issue into this book. This was a moving book that presented human trafficking in a way that people (and kids) can actually understand. I think this would be a great text to connect with my students about real-world issues that are present in today's society that is explained through a kid's eyes.
This is one I cannot wait to add to our classroom library!
After reading the "blurb" about this book, I was highly interested to see how Hollingsworth would weave such a difficult real-world issue into a middle-grade novel.
Wow. This was a book that I could not put down. Full of adventure and curiosity, Nadia is such a great and tenacious character. Even though she keeps getting proven wrong throughout the story, she continues searching for the truth as a budding journalist. I loved seeing the friendship between Nadia, "Paddle Boy" and "Invisible Boy" unfold. I think Hollingsworth did an amazing job blending the child labor trafficking issue into this book. This was a moving book that presented human trafficking in a way that people (and kids) can actually understand. I think this would be a great text to connect with my students about real-world issues that are present in today's society that is explained through a kid's eyes.
This is one I cannot wait to add to our classroom library!
July 12, 2020
Thank you to the author and Roaring Brook Press for providing #bookexpedition an ARC to read and share.
Nadia is a budding journalist, reading about adventure in the pages of her Superman comic books and looking for a scoop in her neighborhood. One day during a rainstorm, a mysterious boy saves her dog from drowning, but then disappears! Determined to do some investigating reporting (like her hero, Lois Lane), Nadia searches for the identity of the "Invisible Boy." However, the information she uncovers is far more painful and dangerous than the stories she loves to read.
Each chapter began with a sketch paralleling the events of the next pages. Full of mystery and adventure, this MG novel touches on the tough topic of child labor trafficking in an age appropriate way. With themes of friendship, hope, and survival, be sure to pre-order your copy now. Publishing September 2020.
Nadia is a budding journalist, reading about adventure in the pages of her Superman comic books and looking for a scoop in her neighborhood. One day during a rainstorm, a mysterious boy saves her dog from drowning, but then disappears! Determined to do some investigating reporting (like her hero, Lois Lane), Nadia searches for the identity of the "Invisible Boy." However, the information she uncovers is far more painful and dangerous than the stories she loves to read.
Each chapter began with a sketch paralleling the events of the next pages. Full of mystery and adventure, this MG novel touches on the tough topic of child labor trafficking in an age appropriate way. With themes of friendship, hope, and survival, be sure to pre-order your copy now. Publishing September 2020.
June 4, 2020
"Doing what's right what is more important than doing what's safe"
In Alyssa Hollingsworth's The Invisible Boy, our 13 year old super hero, Nadia, learns this lesson. Nadia has a vivid imagination where the neighbor boy has become her arch nemesis in a world of her making. The neighborhood is a pretty quiet place to be, until she discovers Invisible Boy! He's everything Nadia is looking for, a super hero that will lead to her big break in the Junior Journalism contest.
The thing I love best about Nadia is that she's tenacious. She is repeatedly proven wrong in the story, the things she believes are proven to be erroneous, and yet, she still has courage in her judgment to pursue the truth.
Hollingsworth did a tremendous job revealing the truth to the reader. Her characters were very well written and flawed just enough to make them lovable and believable.
In Alyssa Hollingsworth's The Invisible Boy, our 13 year old super hero, Nadia, learns this lesson. Nadia has a vivid imagination where the neighbor boy has become her arch nemesis in a world of her making. The neighborhood is a pretty quiet place to be, until she discovers Invisible Boy! He's everything Nadia is looking for, a super hero that will lead to her big break in the Junior Journalism contest.
The thing I love best about Nadia is that she's tenacious. She is repeatedly proven wrong in the story, the things she believes are proven to be erroneous, and yet, she still has courage in her judgment to pursue the truth.
Hollingsworth did a tremendous job revealing the truth to the reader. Her characters were very well written and flawed just enough to make them lovable and believable.
January 21, 2020
I won this book in a giveaway and was so excited. I mean, just look at that beautiful cover! I didn’t know what the book was about exactly, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! First of all, there are really cool comic book illustrations at the beginning of every chapter. The main character is the perfect kind of protagonist: super brave, speaks her mind, persistent until the very end. I didn’t know this was going to be a book about human trafficking! It was so beautifully written and well done and age accessible. It opened my eyes and helped me be aware of this problem and how it is more prevalent than I thought. Such an important story!
June 2, 2020
Can a girl who pretends to be Lois Lane help save the day? Nadia Quick loves journalism and superheroes. Using her Lois Lane journalism skills, she tries to uncover the truth behind the neighborhood superhero, the Invisible Boy.
I love how this book includes real life issues of child labor trafficking, but is also appropriately written for middle grade kids. The beginning of the story reminded me of a Nancy Drew mystery. The book quickly escalates and becomes hard to put down. This a great book to help kids start conversations about real world issues.
I love how this book includes real life issues of child labor trafficking, but is also appropriately written for middle grade kids. The beginning of the story reminded me of a Nancy Drew mystery. The book quickly escalates and becomes hard to put down. This a great book to help kids start conversations about real world issues.
August 17, 2020
It’s rare that an author can write about such a troubling subject for middle grade readers, but Alyssa Hollingsworth has done just that with The Invisible Boy. I particularly loved how Nadia's first person narration gradually shifts from a superhero laced fantasy world to a more realistic one as she herself realizes the situation Eli is in. The book introduces and educates the subject of human trafficking at an age appropriate level without ever reading like an informational pamphlet. A first purchase for all middle grade and YA libraries. Reviewed from NetGalley copy.
March 6, 2020
Thanks to SLJ for the ARC!
Captivating story about an inspiring journalist who leans to look beyond her fantasies and the truth she wants to find to reality. Loved the Superman angle. The page of drawn story that preceded each chapter made for a more enjoyable read and art was well done. Very good story about how child trafficking can happen anywhere. Good notes included at webs by author as well.
Captivating story about an inspiring journalist who leans to look beyond her fantasies and the truth she wants to find to reality. Loved the Superman angle. The page of drawn story that preceded each chapter made for a more enjoyable read and art was well done. Very good story about how child trafficking can happen anywhere. Good notes included at webs by author as well.
June 10, 2020
This started out as a story of a girl trying to find herself in her world, a world she fills with super hero thoughts. It turned into a story about human trafficking.
This subject was handled well, you learned to like the characters, discovered their flaws, and saw real life issues.
I enjoyed the story, I was not expecting where it went, but in hindsight saw all the clues.
This subject was handled well, you learned to like the characters, discovered their flaws, and saw real life issues.
I enjoyed the story, I was not expecting where it went, but in hindsight saw all the clues.
July 15, 2023
Excellent book. In modern day Virginia, a couple of kids befriend a middle school boy who they eventually discover is a domestic servant (child labor trafficking). The author weaves in great info to help readers understand that slavery still happens around the world today, even here, along with how to recognize some common signs.
Primary theme: People are not what they appear to be on the surface (for good and for bad), and that faulty assumptions can be hurtful. The book shows various examples with different characters.
“The crime of human trafficking is far from invisible, but most people don’t know or refuse to notice the signs. […] What will you choose to see?”
_
Nadia loves superheroes. She likes to pretend she’s Lois Lane: a reporter looking to uncover big stories.
The 1st half of the book is pretty light. Nadia follows neighborhood “scoops” about people (assumptions she’s sure are correct). She decides there’s a supervillain and a superhero, gives them nicknames, and treats them accordingly.
In the 2nd half of the book, she realizes she’s gotten her scoops all wrong. What she saw on the surface was not the whole story. She works to find the truth, make amends relationally, and bring about justice.
_
There’s a secondary theme about how social media (blog, livestream) can unintentionally hurt loved ones.
There’s also a nice side story that humanizes a homeless veteran (brief).
_
I realize I’m not the intended audience for this middle grade fiction, and I wasn’t that interested in the 1st half (lots of superhero stuff). However, the 2nd half was wonderful and engaging!
Once finished, I understood how the 1st half sets up excellent themes / lessons to be learned. It also allows the book to cover a heavy topic without becoming too weighty or depressing. Very well done.
_
Content info:
Nadia notices visible signs of her friend having been abused: bruises, welts, split lip, scars, skinny, unkempt, afraid. Not graphic. No details about how they occurred.
Boy’s abusive father (no details) gave him to a “foster mom” who was a human trafficker (eventually arrested for child abuse). No graphic details.
No profanity. There is one instance of “freakin’ cool” but nothing else like that.
Nadia notices a neighbor is interested in her aunt (he acts goofy around her). She and her mom arrange a couple of situations where the neighbor and aunt will be in the same place at the same time. You hear they end up going on a date, but no details and this relationship is not a main theme.
One kid alternates spending time at his mom’s house or dad’s house.
No politics.
Note: There is NO mention of sex slavery.
Primary theme: People are not what they appear to be on the surface (for good and for bad), and that faulty assumptions can be hurtful. The book shows various examples with different characters.
“The crime of human trafficking is far from invisible, but most people don’t know or refuse to notice the signs. […] What will you choose to see?”
_
Nadia loves superheroes. She likes to pretend she’s Lois Lane: a reporter looking to uncover big stories.
The 1st half of the book is pretty light. Nadia follows neighborhood “scoops” about people (assumptions she’s sure are correct). She decides there’s a supervillain and a superhero, gives them nicknames, and treats them accordingly.
In the 2nd half of the book, she realizes she’s gotten her scoops all wrong. What she saw on the surface was not the whole story. She works to find the truth, make amends relationally, and bring about justice.
_
There’s a secondary theme about how social media (blog, livestream) can unintentionally hurt loved ones.
There’s also a nice side story that humanizes a homeless veteran (brief).
_
I realize I’m not the intended audience for this middle grade fiction, and I wasn’t that interested in the 1st half (lots of superhero stuff). However, the 2nd half was wonderful and engaging!
Once finished, I understood how the 1st half sets up excellent themes / lessons to be learned. It also allows the book to cover a heavy topic without becoming too weighty or depressing. Very well done.
_
Content info:
Nadia notices visible signs of her friend having been abused: bruises, welts, split lip, scars, skinny, unkempt, afraid. Not graphic. No details about how they occurred.
Boy’s abusive father (no details) gave him to a “foster mom” who was a human trafficker (eventually arrested for child abuse). No graphic details.
No profanity. There is one instance of “freakin’ cool” but nothing else like that.
Nadia notices a neighbor is interested in her aunt (he acts goofy around her). She and her mom arrange a couple of situations where the neighbor and aunt will be in the same place at the same time. You hear they end up going on a date, but no details and this relationship is not a main theme.
One kid alternates spending time at his mom’s house or dad’s house.
No politics.
Note: There is NO mention of sex slavery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2022
We loved how this book takes the super hero trope and totally turns it on its head. But a quick caution: don't read this expecting a Squirrel Girl-type silly adventure. It's not that kind of super hero book. It's a serious topic and prepare to ugly cry while reading this one.
Nadia's dog, Wonder, is almost swept away in a drainage culvert when a mysterious boy she's never seen before swoops out of nowhere and saves him. But before Nadia can thank the boy, he's vanished. Poof! Gone. The girl-journalist-in-training is convinced he's a super hero.
The rest of the book is Nadia figuring out where Eli lives and gaining his trust to figure out why she's never seen him before, despite the fact that they live on the same block and apparently have for years. They even should have gone to school together. But they didn't. The answer why she's never seen him, and why he's not in school, has nothing to do with super powers. It's tragic and criminal.
In the end, however, Nadia recognizes the situation Eli's trapped in and does the right thing -- tells a parent, who makes a police report. Then it's a matter of sifting through the "adults never believe kids" tropes to set Eli on the path of finding his true family.
An engaging read that will make you think a bit harder about all the kiddos you don't see.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Nadia's dog, Wonder, is almost swept away in a drainage culvert when a mysterious boy she's never seen before swoops out of nowhere and saves him. But before Nadia can thank the boy, he's vanished. Poof! Gone. The girl-journalist-in-training is convinced he's a super hero.
The rest of the book is Nadia figuring out where Eli lives and gaining his trust to figure out why she's never seen him before, despite the fact that they live on the same block and apparently have for years. They even should have gone to school together. But they didn't. The answer why she's never seen him, and why he's not in school, has nothing to do with super powers. It's tragic and criminal.
In the end, however, Nadia recognizes the situation Eli's trapped in and does the right thing -- tells a parent, who makes a police report. Then it's a matter of sifting through the "adults never believe kids" tropes to set Eli on the path of finding his true family.
An engaging read that will make you think a bit harder about all the kiddos you don't see.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
September 1, 2020
Nadia wants to be a reporter. So when she sees her classmate she has dubbed "Paddle Boy," who inexplicably broke her family's second canoe paddle, she follows him around, taking notes. Her dog gets swept off into a storm drain and she's worried he's going to drown. When a mysterious boy appears out of nowhere, saves her dog, and vanishes again.
Obviously she's now got a bigger story to report! Emulating her hero, Lois Lane, she tries to find the boy she dubs Invisible Boy, as that's obviously his secret power. Paddle Boy (who lobbies for a new superhero name) annoying tags along, and they do eventually meet the boy, who lives in the basement of a house on their street, can only talk with them when his "foster mother" isn't home, and doesn't seem to go to school. It takes them a while to figure out what's going on--he's been trafficked and is being forced to work for free all day. What will Nadia do once she figures it out?
Luckily the ending really works. It's not one of those implausible crazy endings you sometimes see. Her aunt is a lawyer who actually works with human trafficking (she never understood her aunt's job and thought she worked with traffic as in cars and roads.) And in the end, after a bit of an adventure, they go to grownups for help. The ending was exciting and an adrenaline rush and it doesn't read like a book with an agenda--it reads like a story about a girl who gets caught up in something over her head that she eventually needs help with. This truly could happen to anyone. Luckily Nadia is a persistent, loyal, and determined girl.
Obviously she's now got a bigger story to report! Emulating her hero, Lois Lane, she tries to find the boy she dubs Invisible Boy, as that's obviously his secret power. Paddle Boy (who lobbies for a new superhero name) annoying tags along, and they do eventually meet the boy, who lives in the basement of a house on their street, can only talk with them when his "foster mother" isn't home, and doesn't seem to go to school. It takes them a while to figure out what's going on--he's been trafficked and is being forced to work for free all day. What will Nadia do once she figures it out?
Luckily the ending really works. It's not one of those implausible crazy endings you sometimes see. Her aunt is a lawyer who actually works with human trafficking (she never understood her aunt's job and thought she worked with traffic as in cars and roads.) And in the end, after a bit of an adventure, they go to grownups for help. The ending was exciting and an adrenaline rush and it doesn't read like a book with an agenda--it reads like a story about a girl who gets caught up in something over her head that she eventually needs help with. This truly could happen to anyone. Luckily Nadia is a persistent, loyal, and determined girl.
March 27, 2020
I'm not a superhero person. I don't care about superheros and I never will. Except Batman (Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight Rises does not exist to me nor does any other Batman). With that being said, Nadia, a 12 year old girl, has an unhealthy obsession with Superman that detached me from the story. I know five year olds with this level of obsession pertaining to Thomas the Train and Dora, but Nadia is 12 and still lives in a fantasy world.
The constant Superman talk was overkill. Every other paragraph seemed to mention Superman, Lois Lane, Superman comics, and Nadia's Superman attire. I honestly didn't care and skimmed those sections (which is a large portion of the book) because it had nothing to do with the actual story. Nadia is so obsessed with superheroes that she truly believes a supervillain and a superhero live on her street which is something a child would believe. Not a teenager. It takes her over half the book to realize that superheros and villains do not exist and Eli and Kenny are just kids.
I would have rated it 4 stars because of the content and story because the reader has no clue what this is really about based off the summary. The message is an important one, but the Superman obsession ruined it for me.
Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC.
The constant Superman talk was overkill. Every other paragraph seemed to mention Superman, Lois Lane, Superman comics, and Nadia's Superman attire. I honestly didn't care and skimmed those sections (which is a large portion of the book) because it had nothing to do with the actual story. Nadia is so obsessed with superheroes that she truly believes a supervillain and a superhero live on her street which is something a child would believe. Not a teenager. It takes her over half the book to realize that superheros and villains do not exist and Eli and Kenny are just kids.
I would have rated it 4 stars because of the content and story because the reader has no clue what this is really about based off the summary. The message is an important one, but the Superman obsession ruined it for me.
Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC.
October 10, 2020
The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth is set near Washington D.C. and deals with human trafficking. Nadia loves the Superman comics, specifically she loves Lois Lane and wants to be a reporter like her. She sees her world in terms of ace reporters, superheroes and supervillains.
Nadia's first supervillain is a boy she calls Paddle Boy after she witnesses a neighbor take one of her canoe paddles and smash it against a tree. Her first superhero she calls Invisible Boy, a kid who does good deeds around the neighborhood but is otherwise never seen.
Over the course of the book, Nadia becomes friends with both Paddle Boy (who isn't a supervillain, nor a bully) and Invisible Boy. Through her aunt's work with a human trafficking non-profit, she also realizes that Invisible Boy is probably being held against his will. She and Paddle Boy decide to team up to help him.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
S/M Home Blue Highway 996633
Nadia's first supervillain is a boy she calls Paddle Boy after she witnesses a neighbor take one of her canoe paddles and smash it against a tree. Her first superhero she calls Invisible Boy, a kid who does good deeds around the neighborhood but is otherwise never seen.
Over the course of the book, Nadia becomes friends with both Paddle Boy (who isn't a supervillain, nor a bully) and Invisible Boy. Through her aunt's work with a human trafficking non-profit, she also realizes that Invisible Boy is probably being held against his will. She and Paddle Boy decide to team up to help him.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
S/M Home Blue Highway 996633
October 2, 2024
《"Doing what's right is more important than doing what's safe"》
◇nadia: girl reporter
◇eli: invisible boy
◇kenny: really a hero
~~review
Absolutely a must read for preteens and up.
Nadia, Eli, and Kenny are engaging characters, and the plot is action packed and exciting, but more than that, The Invisible Boy discusses human trafficking in modern day America. And keeps it appropriate for preteens on up.
Definitely a book to read and learn from.
~~content
Human trafficking. Domestic servitude is the type of trafficking in this MG novel. Depictions of physical abuse related injuries.
◇nadia: girl reporter
◇eli: invisible boy
◇kenny: really a hero
~~review
Absolutely a must read for preteens and up.
Nadia, Eli, and Kenny are engaging characters, and the plot is action packed and exciting, but more than that, The Invisible Boy discusses human trafficking in modern day America. And keeps it appropriate for preteens on up.
Definitely a book to read and learn from.
~~content
Human trafficking. Domestic servitude is the type of trafficking in this MG novel. Depictions of physical abuse related injuries.
December 24, 2020
Alyssa Hollingsworth wrote, The Invisible Boy, to highlight domestic slavery and trafficking which she writes about in the Author’s Note at the start. However, this note acts as a spoiler as it’s not until about halfway through the book that it becomes apparent the type of slavery that is going on in the story.
Eli is fourteen years old and lives in Alexandria, near Washington DC. His father was taking drugs and became indebted to his dealer. Since he was unable to pay, he left his son with the dealer who became his adoptive mother. Eli is required to do domestic and gardening jobs to pay off his father’s debt. Eli doesn’t attend school, is undernourished and often physically abused.
Nadia Quick is twelve and dreams of being a journalist. She enjoys comics and superheroes. She lives in the same street as Eli but never sees him. She becomes aware of his presence when he rescues her dog from floodwaters in the local drain. Another boy called Kenny, who attends Nadia’s school, lives on the same street. Nadia initially doesn’t like him and calls him Paddle Boy because he broke a canoe paddle that belonged to Nadia’s family. (Later we discover this was an accident.)
After some weeks, Nadia and Kenny get to know Eli and his strange lifestyle. However, it’s not until Nadia attends the Newseum, a museum about the history of journalism, with her aunt that she learns about domestic slavery and she realises that Eli is a victim.
The Invisible Boy draws attention to the problem of slavery and how it can happen without detection in modern society. It shows the importance of noticing and reporting on situations where there could be incidents of trafficking. Alyssa Hollingsworth uses Nadia’s love of superheroes and comics to bring a lightness to an otherwise heavy subject matter. The book is well-written and plotted with a good message. It’s a believable story with relatable characters.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.
Eli is fourteen years old and lives in Alexandria, near Washington DC. His father was taking drugs and became indebted to his dealer. Since he was unable to pay, he left his son with the dealer who became his adoptive mother. Eli is required to do domestic and gardening jobs to pay off his father’s debt. Eli doesn’t attend school, is undernourished and often physically abused.
Nadia Quick is twelve and dreams of being a journalist. She enjoys comics and superheroes. She lives in the same street as Eli but never sees him. She becomes aware of his presence when he rescues her dog from floodwaters in the local drain. Another boy called Kenny, who attends Nadia’s school, lives on the same street. Nadia initially doesn’t like him and calls him Paddle Boy because he broke a canoe paddle that belonged to Nadia’s family. (Later we discover this was an accident.)
After some weeks, Nadia and Kenny get to know Eli and his strange lifestyle. However, it’s not until Nadia attends the Newseum, a museum about the history of journalism, with her aunt that she learns about domestic slavery and she realises that Eli is a victim.
The Invisible Boy draws attention to the problem of slavery and how it can happen without detection in modern society. It shows the importance of noticing and reporting on situations where there could be incidents of trafficking. Alyssa Hollingsworth uses Nadia’s love of superheroes and comics to bring a lightness to an otherwise heavy subject matter. The book is well-written and plotted with a good message. It’s a believable story with relatable characters.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.
September 25, 2020
Great story, much fun, much awkward pre-teen-ness. The discovery that super-villains are real, but maybe they aren't wearing masks and capes, and maybe you can't even see them.
Perfectly balanced writing that introduces young readers to a deep modern issue without being overly graphic for the age group.
Perfectly balanced writing that introduces young readers to a deep modern issue without being overly graphic for the age group.
August 17, 2021
Nadia Quick is Superman mad. Without a doubt, she believes him to be the very best superhero. Not because of all the cool stuff he can do, but the fact that he has an alter-ego Clark Kent, and has to hide his superhero status at least half of the time.
Of course, Superman’s love interest is Reporter Louis Lane, who Nadia adores and models herself on daily. Every chance she can get, Nadia is scoping out her neighbourhood with her trusty Wonder Dog (real name) at her side, looking for a scoop.
Outside one day when a storm hits and Wonder Dog is suddenly swept away towards a looming waste water tunnel, a boy appears out of nowhere! He dives into the rushing waters, grabs Wonder Dog’s collar just before she is swept away, and with Nadia’s help drags himself and her dog to safety.
And then he is gone…
What a scoop! Nothing else matters now. She has a real life superhero on her street, with the powers of invisibility! She focuses on finding The Invisible Boy. Where does he live? Why has no-one seen him before? Can he really turn invisible?
She finally tracks him down, but he is nothing like she expected. If she wants to talk to him, there are rules. She must speak softly, never tell anyone about him, and never come to his house on the weekends.
Superheroes always have a nemesis – a villain to defeat, and Nadia has pinned that title on another boy on the street. Ever since she saw Kenny smash one of her canoe paddles, she has named him Paddle Boy. She refuses to speak to him, never asking why he did what he did.
As the school holidays go by, Nadia soon deems The Invisible Boy a friend. His name is Eli, and despite always wearing the same clothes, working constantly in his backyard and making her stick to his strict rules, they have fun.
One day, her aunt says something in conversation, that opens Nadia’s eyes to the truth about Eli. How will she get anyone to believe her?
Nadia is a quirky 12 yr old, determined to be a journalist like her much loved Lois Lane. Looking for a scoop to enter a junior journalist competition, she inadvertently stumbles on something too terrible to contemplate on her own street.
I loved her determination to find the truth whenever she got her teeth into an idea, and how she made friends with two boys who had previously dubbed her weird or nosy. She reminded me a little of Anne of Green Gables, who is strong minded, won’t be swayed from a truth no-one else will see, and also an organiser – making things happen.
Before each chapter is a page of superhero comic strip, showing each of the characters in their superhero or villain personalities, taking the reader into Nadia’s imaginative view of what’s happening around her.
With a thread of social media woven through (Nadia’s mum), a matchmaking plan being hatched, and acts of kindness between the story strings, this tale of friendship, loyalty and the terrible truth of human trafficking is a great read.
The Author’s Note in the front of the book is sobering and should be read by all.
Of course, Superman’s love interest is Reporter Louis Lane, who Nadia adores and models herself on daily. Every chance she can get, Nadia is scoping out her neighbourhood with her trusty Wonder Dog (real name) at her side, looking for a scoop.
Outside one day when a storm hits and Wonder Dog is suddenly swept away towards a looming waste water tunnel, a boy appears out of nowhere! He dives into the rushing waters, grabs Wonder Dog’s collar just before she is swept away, and with Nadia’s help drags himself and her dog to safety.
And then he is gone…
What a scoop! Nothing else matters now. She has a real life superhero on her street, with the powers of invisibility! She focuses on finding The Invisible Boy. Where does he live? Why has no-one seen him before? Can he really turn invisible?
She finally tracks him down, but he is nothing like she expected. If she wants to talk to him, there are rules. She must speak softly, never tell anyone about him, and never come to his house on the weekends.
Superheroes always have a nemesis – a villain to defeat, and Nadia has pinned that title on another boy on the street. Ever since she saw Kenny smash one of her canoe paddles, she has named him Paddle Boy. She refuses to speak to him, never asking why he did what he did.
As the school holidays go by, Nadia soon deems The Invisible Boy a friend. His name is Eli, and despite always wearing the same clothes, working constantly in his backyard and making her stick to his strict rules, they have fun.
One day, her aunt says something in conversation, that opens Nadia’s eyes to the truth about Eli. How will she get anyone to believe her?
Nadia is a quirky 12 yr old, determined to be a journalist like her much loved Lois Lane. Looking for a scoop to enter a junior journalist competition, she inadvertently stumbles on something too terrible to contemplate on her own street.
I loved her determination to find the truth whenever she got her teeth into an idea, and how she made friends with two boys who had previously dubbed her weird or nosy. She reminded me a little of Anne of Green Gables, who is strong minded, won’t be swayed from a truth no-one else will see, and also an organiser – making things happen.
Before each chapter is a page of superhero comic strip, showing each of the characters in their superhero or villain personalities, taking the reader into Nadia’s imaginative view of what’s happening around her.
With a thread of social media woven through (Nadia’s mum), a matchmaking plan being hatched, and acts of kindness between the story strings, this tale of friendship, loyalty and the terrible truth of human trafficking is a great read.
The Author’s Note in the front of the book is sobering and should be read by all.
May 16, 2022
Nadia Quick is an aspiring journalist in the book Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth. One day when she sees her classmate whom she had dubbed “Invisible Boy” who strangely broke her family's second canoe paddle, she decides to follow him around. Until her dog who she calls “Wonder Dog’ gets swept away into a storm drain where the dog could drown. When just out of nowhere, a mysterious boy she has never seen comes and swoops the dog out of the water. Just to leave. Nadia Quick then realizes she has a huge break at a story!
Emulating her hero, Lois Lane, she tries to find the boy she titles Invisible Boy. The Journey that she sets on soon becomes a far worse journey than she could have expected. Nadia Quick goes out to find this unknown boy, but she comes up with a plan. A plan to bring the heroic acts of the boy to her. So, she goes into a tree and acts like she's falling out of the tree and screaming help just for the boy to come out and he saves her. That is not the end of her journey though, she may have found her hero, but her real journey had just begun. Nadia Quick then realizes that this boy, appearing a little older than her, she has never seen him. So she investigates once again. The two characters do become good friends, but Nadia can only see him at certain times. After a while of being friends, Nadia then figures out Eli doesn’t attend school, is undernourished, and is often physically abused. This is all because of his father. His father was a drug addict that left Eli because he could not pay off the drugs he had taken. So he leaves Eli with the drug dealer AKA his adoptive “Mom”. Eli is tasked with very physically demanding gardening skills to forever pay off his father's debt. Will Nadia Quick help stop this Trafficking Eli has been going through? Will paddle boy become good? There are so many questions to answer all throughout this book, and the way it unfolds is absolutely crazy!
I would one hundred percent recommend this book to anyone. Though it is slow at the start and takes nearly half of the book to get to the climax. The comic book style pages in this book, and Nadia’s determination really help to take a heavy topic of trafficking to a younger audience in an engaging way. The book is extraordinarily well written, and engaging. It is also a very IMPORTANT topic. It is a fantastic book. I would give this book a rating of 4 stars. I say this because Nadia’s parents really never did anything, were not really involved, and just thought her imagination was running wild. I also give this a 4 because of the slow start, but if those two gradings were different, this book is an easy 5.
This book brings forth the idea that modern-day slavery can go undetected. It shows how important it is on noticing clear trafficking incidents. This book shows that even the most unlikely, and unexpected things can be something major. Nadia’s love for superheroes really brings a heavy topic amidst and makes it understandable for a younger audience. The good plot, and engaging relatable characters make this fantastic story, a good believable story.
Emulating her hero, Lois Lane, she tries to find the boy she titles Invisible Boy. The Journey that she sets on soon becomes a far worse journey than she could have expected. Nadia Quick goes out to find this unknown boy, but she comes up with a plan. A plan to bring the heroic acts of the boy to her. So, she goes into a tree and acts like she's falling out of the tree and screaming help just for the boy to come out and he saves her. That is not the end of her journey though, she may have found her hero, but her real journey had just begun. Nadia Quick then realizes that this boy, appearing a little older than her, she has never seen him. So she investigates once again. The two characters do become good friends, but Nadia can only see him at certain times. After a while of being friends, Nadia then figures out Eli doesn’t attend school, is undernourished, and is often physically abused. This is all because of his father. His father was a drug addict that left Eli because he could not pay off the drugs he had taken. So he leaves Eli with the drug dealer AKA his adoptive “Mom”. Eli is tasked with very physically demanding gardening skills to forever pay off his father's debt. Will Nadia Quick help stop this Trafficking Eli has been going through? Will paddle boy become good? There are so many questions to answer all throughout this book, and the way it unfolds is absolutely crazy!
I would one hundred percent recommend this book to anyone. Though it is slow at the start and takes nearly half of the book to get to the climax. The comic book style pages in this book, and Nadia’s determination really help to take a heavy topic of trafficking to a younger audience in an engaging way. The book is extraordinarily well written, and engaging. It is also a very IMPORTANT topic. It is a fantastic book. I would give this book a rating of 4 stars. I say this because Nadia’s parents really never did anything, were not really involved, and just thought her imagination was running wild. I also give this a 4 because of the slow start, but if those two gradings were different, this book is an easy 5.
This book brings forth the idea that modern-day slavery can go undetected. It shows how important it is on noticing clear trafficking incidents. This book shows that even the most unlikely, and unexpected things can be something major. Nadia’s love for superheroes really brings a heavy topic amidst and makes it understandable for a younger audience. The good plot, and engaging relatable characters make this fantastic story, a good believable story.
March 30, 2022
What a surprise, what a turn up in the book. I never anticipated it.
As the adult reader of young fiction, I always have to give a book at least 200 pages before I give up on it, because, it is written for a younger audience so there is lots of description, new vocabulary and youthful anecdotes.
The protagonist is a young girl who characterises herself to be a superhero. She is lonely and has had to move around a lot. Her mum blogs for a living. Good for mum! It's the summer holidays, and the drama begins immediately when her little dog falls into a river/dyke and needs saving. All thanks to her arch enemy Paddle Boy.
Out of nowhere a boy runs in and saves her dog, it's gripping, it's exciting and the protagonist she wants to thank the boy, but he disappears, like magic, gone.
There is a lot more story where she investigates the invisible boy's whereabouts, learns about new neighbours, learns some more about her super villain and of course her wonderful dog, Wonder, is a big part of the story. So if you like dogs, adventure, mystery and a little intrigue, this book is for you. Again, I did not suspect the ending, but loved the last hundred pages, and would recommend this book. It has a beautiful point to the story. You might not like to hear it, but you will certainly learn something important from this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to teens and beyond.
Read for the James Reckitt Reading Awards 2022
As the adult reader of young fiction, I always have to give a book at least 200 pages before I give up on it, because, it is written for a younger audience so there is lots of description, new vocabulary and youthful anecdotes.
The protagonist is a young girl who characterises herself to be a superhero. She is lonely and has had to move around a lot. Her mum blogs for a living. Good for mum! It's the summer holidays, and the drama begins immediately when her little dog falls into a river/dyke and needs saving. All thanks to her arch enemy Paddle Boy.
Out of nowhere a boy runs in and saves her dog, it's gripping, it's exciting and the protagonist she wants to thank the boy, but he disappears, like magic, gone.
There is a lot more story where she investigates the invisible boy's whereabouts, learns about new neighbours, learns some more about her super villain and of course her wonderful dog, Wonder, is a big part of the story. So if you like dogs, adventure, mystery and a little intrigue, this book is for you. Again, I did not suspect the ending, but loved the last hundred pages, and would recommend this book. It has a beautiful point to the story. You might not like to hear it, but you will certainly learn something important from this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to teens and beyond.
Read for the James Reckitt Reading Awards 2022
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews