Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Transparent by Natalie Whipple -- ESSENTIAL

Whipple, Natalie Transparent 368 pgs. HarperCollins, May 21, 2013. (Language: PG-13 (10-15 swears; no 'f'); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13) $9.99

In an alternate America filled with people who have special powers, Fiona has one of the rarest abilities of all: she was born completely invisible. Unfortunately, this has been more of a curse than a blessing, since her father, a power crime syndicate boss, repeatedly uses her to commit crimes on his organization's behalf. But when he orders her to do something unforgivable, she finally takes the opportunity to escape. Her father's reach seems to extend everywhere, however -- even the tiny Arizona town where she and her mom settle. Can this invisible girl hide from her own father forever, or will she be forced to leave the only friends she's ever known and the only freedom she's ever had in order to perform more heinous deeds on her power-hungry dad's behalf?

Transparent is a fun, creative read with a lot of unexpected depths, a few surprising twists, and a sweet romance. Whipple's world is complex and well-imagined, filled with all sorts of unusual superpowers, though I especially loved the way she explored the ups and downs of being an invisible girl. Should appeal to fans of superheroes, romances, and novels with thriller elements.

HS -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by: Caryn

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