I give this book a 3 star rating for middle schoolers. I thought this was a graphic novel, but I was mistaken. I did enjoy the drawings and the story. I think kids who are dealing with grief or have friends experiencing it may connect with this book. Also, anyone who enjoys reading books from different perspectives may enjoy this one, too. Although it was a bit of a downer, I found myself connecting to Kafka's Metamorphosis. Yeah, it's a bit of a stretch, but the main character feels he has little control over becoming invisible. It gets to the point that classmates start commenting on his ghostly appearance. I kept waiting for him to admit that his girlfriend was only in his imagination and that he was turning into a bug like Gregor. Still, it was a good read and sympathetic middle schoolers would enjoy it. I liked the premise of this book about a boy slowly disappearing due to the grief/shock from his dad's death, and much of it was well-done. But the narrator's voice wasn't realistic--it sounded too old and adult-like, particularly the part where he asked the reader to take a break and list certain things. It felt too much like school or therapy or something. I also got super sick of the whole "going invisible" thing. It started out being interesting, but then it just got old. I did like most of the book's characters and can see how it might speak to tweens who have lost someone, but otherwise it's a little too slow and redundant.
What do You think about The Last Invisible Boy (2008)?
I would recommend this book for 5th/6th graders. Finn has to deal with the death of his father.
—Folle
Okay but not the best. Moved very slow. Not sure too many middle schoolers would put up with it.
—rachel
Didn't pull me in or sustain my interest the way I hoped it might.
—trust_no1
