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Visibility
Natalie Irving is used to living in the shadow of her infamous mother’s celebrity—she’s done it all her life. So when she discovers that she has inherited Jaydn’s claim to fame, the talent to turn invisible, she knows she finally has the chance to step into the spotlight. Now that she is one of only two people in the world with such an ability, Natalie has a choice to make: follow in her mother’s footsteps or choose a different path, crafting a unique identity that is hers alone.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 28, 2015
My favorite part of this book was its realism. Supposedly, when people become invisible, light doesn't reach their eyes, so they become blind while they're invisible. This is the only book I've read that deals with that particular caveat of invisibility. Since Natalie can't see while she's invisible, she has to rely on her other senses like hearing in order to get around.
The second realistic part was how Natalie used her powers. She wasn't fighting supernatural creatures or saving the world, she was investigating crimes that could happen in everyday life. While I normally prefer more supernatural stories, I liked the realism here because I felt like it gave the story more weight.
The third part that felt like real life was the different types of relationships. Natalie has complicated relationships with her friend, her bodyguard, and especially her mother. All of them felt incredibly authentic. Aside from the whole invisibility thing, this book could easily take place in reality, and I appreciate the author for creating such a believable story.
The second realistic part was how Natalie used her powers. She wasn't fighting supernatural creatures or saving the world, she was investigating crimes that could happen in everyday life. While I normally prefer more supernatural stories, I liked the realism here because I felt like it gave the story more weight.
The third part that felt like real life was the different types of relationships. Natalie has complicated relationships with her friend, her bodyguard, and especially her mother. All of them felt incredibly authentic. Aside from the whole invisibility thing, this book could easily take place in reality, and I appreciate the author for creating such a believable story.
August 31, 2012
(This review was originally published on helenesworldofbooks.blogspot.com)
We meet Natalie Irving as a shadow of her mother. She's kind of happy with her life, but it could be so much better. It's hard to live in her mother's footsteps. Especially since an accident in her childhood bereft her of her ability. She can't turn invisible like her mother.
During her birthday party, which she didn't want in the first place, she tries to hide from certain people and than the unimaginable happens: she turns invisible. Her mother refuses to work with the police. So when Natalie makes a mistake, the police jumps at it. And they blackmail her into working for them. Natalie doesn't mind that much, because she could use the practice. But after a while she doubts this decision, but than it's already to late.
I liked this book. It isn't a real super hero story, but it's pretty close. How cool would it be to be able to turn invisible?
At the beginning of the book I had no idea how the story would evolve. Natalie didn't have the power to turn invisible and I was curious how she would get it. I liked the fragment. Especially when she plays the trick with those stupid girls.
The ability became more special because she can't see when she's invisible. There has to be sound for her to see anything. A nice twist and a challenge for Natalie. It makes the story more tense.
I would have liked it if Natalie became more like a real superhero. She stayed a bit to timid for my liking. I hoped she would stand up to her mother and in a way she does, but I like a kick-ass heroine! She's a nice person and she grows into her power and to stand by herself. I really liked that about her!
The story is good! I loved that as a reader you see how Natalie grows and that she becomes more independent. In this story she doesn't have a love interest and that was refreshing! In the beginning of the story she wants to search for her father, but in the end she doesn't. It wasn't totally clear to me why she didn't want that anymore. But the story really was about her finding her power and developing it and I liked that!
We meet Natalie Irving as a shadow of her mother. She's kind of happy with her life, but it could be so much better. It's hard to live in her mother's footsteps. Especially since an accident in her childhood bereft her of her ability. She can't turn invisible like her mother.
During her birthday party, which she didn't want in the first place, she tries to hide from certain people and than the unimaginable happens: she turns invisible. Her mother refuses to work with the police. So when Natalie makes a mistake, the police jumps at it. And they blackmail her into working for them. Natalie doesn't mind that much, because she could use the practice. But after a while she doubts this decision, but than it's already to late.
I liked this book. It isn't a real super hero story, but it's pretty close. How cool would it be to be able to turn invisible?
At the beginning of the book I had no idea how the story would evolve. Natalie didn't have the power to turn invisible and I was curious how she would get it. I liked the fragment. Especially when she plays the trick with those stupid girls.
The ability became more special because she can't see when she's invisible. There has to be sound for her to see anything. A nice twist and a challenge for Natalie. It makes the story more tense.
I would have liked it if Natalie became more like a real superhero. She stayed a bit to timid for my liking. I hoped she would stand up to her mother and in a way she does, but I like a kick-ass heroine! She's a nice person and she grows into her power and to stand by herself. I really liked that about her!
The story is good! I loved that as a reader you see how Natalie grows and that she becomes more independent. In this story she doesn't have a love interest and that was refreshing! In the beginning of the story she wants to search for her father, but in the end she doesn't. It wasn't totally clear to me why she didn't want that anymore. But the story really was about her finding her power and developing it and I liked that!
November 24, 2012
Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
Exploring the darker side of having superpowers has been done before, but perhaps not in this particular way -- through the eyes of the 17-year-old daughter of the worlds only invisible woman.
Natalie knows she's a disappointment. She knows that people, including her own father, hoped she'd be special like her mother. But she turned out to be "normal" -- and that's all anyone needs to know about her. Natalie is shy and socially awkward; two more reasons that it's pointless for anyone to get near her. So, no one does.
Since her parents split years ago and her mother, Jadyn, is busy living her lifestyle of the rich and famous. Natalie is left to her own devices. That might sound exciting, but when you've had a bodyguard watching your every move since you were six, and you're never quite sure when your mother might appear out of thin air, options are limited.
Things turn a bit more interesting, though, when Natalie discovers she just might have a few invisibility tricks up her sleeve after all.
Geared toward 13-17 year old girls and based on graphic novels, the writing in this book is tight and action-packed. The whole time I read the book, it was as though I was viewing it on-screen. Even Natalie's internal thoughts buzzed with excitement as she wove her way through a tangled web of fear and uncertainty.
My favorite character is her bodyguard, Peter. I like the way he gives her a glimpse of a normal life and normal interests, while still encouraging her to face her own reality and make choices about it. He's the one stable influence in her world, so he becomes doubly important when that world turns upside down.
This is a quick, exciting read, and it will entertain anyone with interests in action, reality-based fantasy, mystery, comic books, or just plain good reading. Plus, it just screams, "Sequel!"
Exploring the darker side of having superpowers has been done before, but perhaps not in this particular way -- through the eyes of the 17-year-old daughter of the worlds only invisible woman.
Natalie knows she's a disappointment. She knows that people, including her own father, hoped she'd be special like her mother. But she turned out to be "normal" -- and that's all anyone needs to know about her. Natalie is shy and socially awkward; two more reasons that it's pointless for anyone to get near her. So, no one does.
Since her parents split years ago and her mother, Jadyn, is busy living her lifestyle of the rich and famous. Natalie is left to her own devices. That might sound exciting, but when you've had a bodyguard watching your every move since you were six, and you're never quite sure when your mother might appear out of thin air, options are limited.
Things turn a bit more interesting, though, when Natalie discovers she just might have a few invisibility tricks up her sleeve after all.
Geared toward 13-17 year old girls and based on graphic novels, the writing in this book is tight and action-packed. The whole time I read the book, it was as though I was viewing it on-screen. Even Natalie's internal thoughts buzzed with excitement as she wove her way through a tangled web of fear and uncertainty.
My favorite character is her bodyguard, Peter. I like the way he gives her a glimpse of a normal life and normal interests, while still encouraging her to face her own reality and make choices about it. He's the one stable influence in her world, so he becomes doubly important when that world turns upside down.
This is a quick, exciting read, and it will entertain anyone with interests in action, reality-based fantasy, mystery, comic books, or just plain good reading. Plus, it just screams, "Sequel!"
August 14, 2014
Rating: Fun Read
Natalie's life is anything but normal: her mother is the famous invisible woman, and Natalie is the disappointing child who has done nothing special, and never expects to. But then one night she discovers that she may not be so different from her mother and she thought. Suddenly caught up in more mysteries and schemes than she can handle, Natalie must learn both to master her power and herself. Because if she can't be the superhero this time, there may be no tomorrow for those she cares about.
Visibility is a solid story, told in first person present tense (which I didn't even notice for the first 100 pages; go Sara!). Natalie's voice is very real and very believable. She is at once ordinary and extraordinary. She is a seventeen-year-old girl worried about her future and how she fits into the world, but she is also the daughter of a mysterious and aloof invisible mother. Working on multiple levels, Visibility tells the story of both a girl and her family, and a burgeoning new superhero.
Sara's writing is dark and engaging, evoking great imagery and tension. Natalie is a wonderful heroine to follow, and you'll quickly find yourself rooting for her.
The best part of this book is the invisibility. Breaking every idea you've ever had about what it means to be invisible, Sara builds a whole new set of laws and physics for her invisible characters and then follows through on them, never once breaking her own rules. You'll discover that for Natalie being invisible is so much harder than you ever would have imagined.
Natalie's life is anything but normal: her mother is the famous invisible woman, and Natalie is the disappointing child who has done nothing special, and never expects to. But then one night she discovers that she may not be so different from her mother and she thought. Suddenly caught up in more mysteries and schemes than she can handle, Natalie must learn both to master her power and herself. Because if she can't be the superhero this time, there may be no tomorrow for those she cares about.
Visibility is a solid story, told in first person present tense (which I didn't even notice for the first 100 pages; go Sara!). Natalie's voice is very real and very believable. She is at once ordinary and extraordinary. She is a seventeen-year-old girl worried about her future and how she fits into the world, but she is also the daughter of a mysterious and aloof invisible mother. Working on multiple levels, Visibility tells the story of both a girl and her family, and a burgeoning new superhero.
Sara's writing is dark and engaging, evoking great imagery and tension. Natalie is a wonderful heroine to follow, and you'll quickly find yourself rooting for her.
The best part of this book is the invisibility. Breaking every idea you've ever had about what it means to be invisible, Sara builds a whole new set of laws and physics for her invisible characters and then follows through on them, never once breaking her own rules. You'll discover that for Natalie being invisible is so much harder than you ever would have imagined.
June 24, 2008
I have always wondered what it would be like to be a superhero, or even just have an amazing power for one day. In Sarah Neufeld’s unique illustrated novel, Visibility, I got to live out a superhero fantasy.
Neufeld’s main character, Natalie, hooks you from the beginning. Between her mysterious mother and her bodyguard, Natalie’s life, on the surface, seems anything but normal. But as we get to know Natalie, we learn how she constantly feels disappointing and awkward, a feeling common to teenagers. Her awkward social skills and inability to make friends make her even more human. Her normalcy is relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible—until Natalie discovers that she can actually become invisible.
Between Neufeld’s story and D. Meister’s illustrations, I was completely sucked into the story, wondering where Natalie’s superpower would take her next. I loved the fact that Natalie is invisible in the illustrations, only catching her shadow or her feet. In that way, Natalie is just as invisible to the readers as she is to everyone else.
It can be hard these days to find a new superhero, but Neufeld has done it. Natalie is not only inspirational to teenagers, but she’s a refreshing superhero, relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible.
Neufeld’s main character, Natalie, hooks you from the beginning. Between her mysterious mother and her bodyguard, Natalie’s life, on the surface, seems anything but normal. But as we get to know Natalie, we learn how she constantly feels disappointing and awkward, a feeling common to teenagers. Her awkward social skills and inability to make friends make her even more human. Her normalcy is relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible—until Natalie discovers that she can actually become invisible.
Between Neufeld’s story and D. Meister’s illustrations, I was completely sucked into the story, wondering where Natalie’s superpower would take her next. I loved the fact that Natalie is invisible in the illustrations, only catching her shadow or her feet. In that way, Natalie is just as invisible to the readers as she is to everyone else.
It can be hard these days to find a new superhero, but Neufeld has done it. Natalie is not only inspirational to teenagers, but she’s a refreshing superhero, relatable to anyone who ever felt invisible.
September 16, 2009
A powerful twist on several genres at once, with a teen "coming of age" story intertwined with variations on crime fiction, superhero tale and other things.
To me, the most interesting twist was the simple question: What if the first "superhero" in the world took Paris Hilton as a role model, rather than Ma and Pa Kent? Seriously, great powers and great responsibililty don't HAVE to be linked, and if the recipient of the power chooses to use it selfishly, rather than for the perceived common good...
The choices and development of mother and daughter were interesting, as the mother's life choices begin to have consequences.
To me, the most interesting twist was the simple question: What if the first "superhero" in the world took Paris Hilton as a role model, rather than Ma and Pa Kent? Seriously, great powers and great responsibililty don't HAVE to be linked, and if the recipient of the power chooses to use it selfishly, rather than for the perceived common good...
The choices and development of mother and daughter were interesting, as the mother's life choices begin to have consequences.
May 26, 2008
I'm biased, but this is a book that I worked on in my internship at Bowler Hat Comics, so it holds a close place in my heart.
I recomend it those who enjoy superhero style fiction and dealing with new powers and life changing events.
I recomend it those who enjoy superhero style fiction and dealing with new powers and life changing events.
October 21, 2008
I loved the first two-thirds of this book, but the last few chapters seemed to lose focus and steam. Still, I loved the quirky girl at the novel's center. That said, I felt there was a bit too much angst and desire a la Freud.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews