Author: David Levithan and Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 358, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook, Library
Summary from Goodreads:
Stephen has been
invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his
grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before
Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment
building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she
can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in
Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive
headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to
figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned,
especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger
out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide
how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become
visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and
death. At least for Elizabeth.
So
I think Invisibility deserves a little more credit than it has been
receiving around the blogosphere. I picked this one up with really low
expectations because many of my reader friends wound up disappointed. So
perhaps having no expectations is the secret to enjoying this book
because I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. No, it did not
move me to great lengths, or elicit heaps of emotion. No it is not a
work of art and there is definitely some juvenility to it. BUT I did
find myself liking it for all it's simplicity. There were even a few nail-biting moments towards
the end. So I am rounding up to 3 stars.
To
David Levithan and Andrea Cremer’s credit, they did come up with a neat
idea. Simply put, Stephen has been cursed so that he is Invisible. But
suddenly Elizabeth shows up and she can see him. Soon she realizes no
one else can and in a quest for answers, together they discover this
world of Cursemakers and Spellseekers and how tightly their lives are
wound up in it. The plot was simple but fun. I just wish the book wasn’t so romance-focused. Yes, there is insta-love. And I am still undecided about the ending. I wouldn’t have minded
seeing more of the Cursemakers, whom I found to be an especially
intriguing, if not repulsive, lot (thinking back on the park and final scene). But
we still got a good glimpse at a variety of curses. A bit of action
too. Again, I enjoyed this one.
I think I also read this book at the perfect time. While Kinslayer was ripping my heart to shreds slowly but surely, Invisibility provided an interesting but relatively predictable respite.
This book is probably geared toward a younger audience. It does not pack the punch or exceptional qualities to make it stand out in the sea of YA or fully engage an older audience. But I think it is still a good read. So maybe give this one a try, especially if you were on the fence. I liked it more than I thought I would. Just don't expect a superior book in terms of writing, characters, plot, etc. Pick this one up for some easy, fun reading.
