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Now You See It…
Wendy isn't as blind as a bat--there are bats that can see better than she can. Which is why, when her new glasses break, she's all too happy to wear the dorky pair of sunglasses she finds on the lawn. They seem to match her prescription, and that's all that matters if she's going to be able to make it through her school day.
But the glasses correct her vision too much. She begins to see things that no one else can cheerful corpses, frightening crones disguised as teenyboppers, and portals to other worlds--places where people are all too aware of the magical properties of her new shades . . . and will do anything to get them.
But the glasses correct her vision too much. She begins to see things that no one else can cheerful corpses, frightening crones disguised as teenyboppers, and portals to other worlds--places where people are all too aware of the magical properties of her new shades . . . and will do anything to get them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
21 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Vande Velde
51 books995 followersVivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 19, 2018
When Wendy's own glasses get broken, she finds a pair of sunglasses on her front lawn -- sunglasses which amazingly match her own prescription. She hates wearing glasses, period, but desperation leads her to keep using the sunglasses. And what they reveal is ... different. Very different from what the normal eye can see. Her new vision leads Wendy into a wild adventure, with lasting results as to how she sees some people.This is probably more of a 3-star book than a 4-star one, but it has a sense of absurdity similar to the Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series that made me laugh, snort, or guffaw at something on just about every page, so I'm giving it credit for that.
This is a cute, fast-paced, enjoyable book with mostly action but just enough of a subplot about Wendy's grandmother with Alzheimer's disease to give it some emotional depth and a few really touching moments.
The one thing that didn't make sense to me is that Wendy's first experiences with the glasses consist of seeing dead people, which I'm not sure actually seems consistent with the rest of the story. Oh, and Larry the "spreenie" is clearly a Nac Mac Feegle, so this made me want to reread The Wee Free Men.
But overall, if you want to read something fast-moving, unpredictable, and hilarious (and pretty middle-grade), try this book. I really need to read more Vivian Vande Velde. The laughter would do me good.
June 21, 2012
Wendy is practically blind without her glasses, so when her normal pair breaks she gratefully turns to a pair she randomly finds by the side of the road. Weirdly, the glasses are exactly her prescription--and even stranger, she sees ghosts, fairies, and even magical portals through them. After running through one of these portals, she accidentally finds herself embroiled in a quest to save an elvin prince, assisted by a lecherous spreenie, a rambunctious dog, her time-travelling grandmother, and the coolest girl in school (who is actully an ancient hag when seen through the glasses).
Oh Vivian Vande Velde, how could you do this to me? You have always written the most wonderful YA, full of unexpected twists and gender play and trope reversals. And yet this book is so bland and boring! Wendy is a terrible character: cowardly, not particularly bright, not particularly kind or empathic, and whose main concern is looking cute for popular boys. In the end, her main concern is *still* looking cute for boys. She is the most unlikable character ever. She's not even detestable, like Uriah Heep or the Bastard of Bolton. She's just very, very mediocre. There's a kernal of an interesting story here: Wendy gets to meet her grandmother when she was young, before she started suffering from Alzheimer's. And her grandmother is a fantastic person in every way...but making her interact with bland Wendy drove down my enjoyment.
I am definitely not the target age group for this book--think tweens--but still, it was so disappointing!
Oh Vivian Vande Velde, how could you do this to me? You have always written the most wonderful YA, full of unexpected twists and gender play and trope reversals. And yet this book is so bland and boring! Wendy is a terrible character: cowardly, not particularly bright, not particularly kind or empathic, and whose main concern is looking cute for popular boys. In the end, her main concern is *still* looking cute for boys. She is the most unlikable character ever. She's not even detestable, like Uriah Heep or the Bastard of Bolton. She's just very, very mediocre. There's a kernal of an interesting story here: Wendy gets to meet her grandmother when she was young, before she started suffering from Alzheimer's. And her grandmother is a fantastic person in every way...but making her interact with bland Wendy drove down my enjoyment.
I am definitely not the target age group for this book--think tweens--but still, it was so disappointing!
June 6, 2018
bravery because she keeps the glasses alto the make her see thing other people cant see such as portals it other dimension
October 8, 2015
Any book that begins with a Prologue one sentence long is going to be good. Or maybe its just any book with an author whose name is Vivian Vande Velde. At any rate, the cover alone would have sucked me in.
All those things added to the magic of this book, but it was also just generally good. Its fantasy with with a touch of time travel. It could have been longer but perhaps is better for being so short and simple. I'd LOVE a sequel but even where it ends is satisfying.
Wendy, the main character, is annoying but not in the way that drives you away. She's not excited about finding a fantasy world or engaging with it or rescuing a prince. If anything, she wants nothing to do with it, prince-in-distress or not. But she gets dragged further and further in. She's awkward and prejudiced and a teeny bit whiny, but I liked her. I loved her grandmother. I liked most of the characters, except for Larry.
A nice, magical adventure that isn't too much. It also has a sweet, deeper end as Wendy wrestles with parent divorce, parent remarriage, a grandmother with Alzheimer's.
Very readable writing. A lovely story.
All those things added to the magic of this book, but it was also just generally good. Its fantasy with with a touch of time travel. It could have been longer but perhaps is better for being so short and simple. I'd LOVE a sequel but even where it ends is satisfying.
Wendy, the main character, is annoying but not in the way that drives you away. She's not excited about finding a fantasy world or engaging with it or rescuing a prince. If anything, she wants nothing to do with it, prince-in-distress or not. But she gets dragged further and further in. She's awkward and prejudiced and a teeny bit whiny, but I liked her. I loved her grandmother. I liked most of the characters, except for Larry.
A nice, magical adventure that isn't too much. It also has a sweet, deeper end as Wendy wrestles with parent divorce, parent remarriage, a grandmother with Alzheimer's.
Very readable writing. A lovely story.
December 27, 2009
This was one of those books that you pick up and read till you finish it :D
It was an amazing book. When I first saw the book I had my doubts because of the back summary and the creepy cover, but once I started reading it I was sucked into the plot. I loved how Vivian made the whole story play out.
Like the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover".
And I can relate with the main character , Wendy - because I also have glasses.
It was an amazing book. When I first saw the book I had my doubts because of the back summary and the creepy cover, but once I started reading it I was sucked into the plot. I loved how Vivian made the whole story play out.
Like the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover".
And I can relate with the main character , Wendy - because I also have glasses.
June 25, 2025
Very interesting in the beginning, and made me think of how the author even came up with that stuff. Very good read!
February 29, 2008
This book is about a girl name Wendy. At the beginning of the book Wendy found a sunglasses in the front lawn of her house. This sunglasses wasn't any regular sunglasses. It fixed Wendy's persiscription exactly. Then Wendy's regular glasses had broken on the school bus. So then she must wear the sunglasses to let her see. But on her way to school, there was this car accident that blocked the school bus. And weird things started to happen. Wendy saw DEAD people! First, it was that woman who just died from the car accident walking right in front of her and disappeared. And then it was a man just passing by to see the car accident and telling Wendy about how he dead. The sunglasses did not only make Wendy see things clearly, it also let her see both alive and not alive things. Then at school, under Wendy’s lenses, the most popular girl, Tiffanie became a very nasty and old witchlike woman! And Julian, a not good looking boy Wendy didn’t even cared about looked better than he did but with pointy ears! Wendy also sees and hears blue little men in her classroom! Soon, something happened and lead Wendy in to a wood. In there she falls through a magical entrance into another world and that's when her adventures really begin. That other world is called the Kazaran Dahaani. Wendy found out that Julain was the elf prince. And he had been captured. She also met this little blue sprite named Larry. As Wendy tried to go back to the real world, she mistakenly went back to the time when her grandma, Eleni, was only a few years older than her. Finally, Wendy and Eleni went back to Kazaran Dahaani, and together, Larry and them came to the dangerous rescue of Julian and the dragon. During their adventure, Wendy learned so much about her grandma. She finally understand why and how much her grandma(back in now a day)is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
She even understood how she felt! You can say that the most important thing in this story was that Wendy changed her mind about her Grandma after meeting her when she was young.
She even understood how she felt! You can say that the most important thing in this story was that Wendy changed her mind about her Grandma after meeting her when she was young.
September 29, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Velde's books in general please me, but this particular book I felt connected to Wendy moreso then any other. My own grandmother's gradual slide into Alzheimer's began when I was about 13 and I clearly remember the feelings of confusion and frustration. Intellectually I knew it wasn't her fault she couldn't remember our favorite games or stories anymore, but emotionally it became harder and harder to watch her slip from this reality. By the time she passed away ten years later it felt like I had more 'bad' memories then good.
I would give my soul to have the chance that Wendy had--to visit and spend time with my grandmother as a young woman.
Moving past that storyline however, the fantasy element is fun and the not so subtle lesson that appearances aren't everything is driven home well. Not that I blame Wendy for her assumptions--if a wicked witch like crone suddenly replaced the head cheerleader in appearance I'd be understandably shocked and wary. And good looking or not an elf prince as a classmate would be alarming as well (imagine going to school with someone who resembles Legolas all the time!).
Thankfully by the end of the story things are set straight, Wendy learns a valuable lesson and hey a dragon shows up. Can't ask for more then that in a fantasy can you?
I would give my soul to have the chance that Wendy had--to visit and spend time with my grandmother as a young woman.
Moving past that storyline however, the fantasy element is fun and the not so subtle lesson that appearances aren't everything is driven home well. Not that I blame Wendy for her assumptions--if a wicked witch like crone suddenly replaced the head cheerleader in appearance I'd be understandably shocked and wary. And good looking or not an elf prince as a classmate would be alarming as well (imagine going to school with someone who resembles Legolas all the time!).
Thankfully by the end of the story things are set straight, Wendy learns a valuable lesson and hey a dragon shows up. Can't ask for more then that in a fantasy can you?
May 25, 2009
I have read a couple of Velde's books before. They are young adult fantasy mostly and though they aren't complicated and challenging like Tolstoy, but they are satisfying and never fail to bring a smile to my face. I have been so bogged down with school that I haven't had any time to actually FINISH a book, but because this book was so easy I was able to finish it in about 2 hours. This book was interesting and adorable. I love books that contain an idea of a world beyond a world and that is one of the ideas this book had. I really enjoyed it, but I can't wait until I have more time to read a more substancial book.
June 17, 2009
Found this while I was substitute teaching as the school librarian. I'd just seen a TV movie with the same title, so I was a little curious. Not at all the same thing, but I was pleasantly surprised. She has a very conversational style of writing, good plot progression and a pretty good sense of humor. There was a little bickering and characters mocking people for not knowing things they couldn't possibly have known, which was pretty annoying, but perhaps believable for the age group.
January 23, 2011
Crunch. Wendy’s glasses bite the dust and now Wendy is blind as a bat -- until she tries on the mirror sunglasses she found in the yard. Whoa! Is that Tiffanie, the most popular girl in school? She looks like an old witch. And Julian? Wendy thought he was geeky looking but now he’s hot. But wait, who is that little blue guy with wings?
May 13, 2015
I was obsessed with Vivan Vande Velde's books when I was a kid, so when I stumbled across an unfamiliar title in my local used bookstore, I had to buy it. No wonder I liked her novels - most feature goofy plots, crotchety girl protagonists, and funny supernatural sidekicks. This book was no exception.
September 9, 2019
[Written: June 2005] |[Edited: September 09, 2019]
If anything, "Now you see it . . ." is a good-time adventure focused on a girl named Wendy, who doesn't have the best life in the world. Her grandmother suffers from the mental disorder Alzheimer, while she visits every day in hopes that maybe she will remember her, Wendy's life with her family isn't all that it's cracked up to be either.
She has a sister she barely communicates with, and a mother who doesn't seem to notice her troubles (though I cannot remember if the mother chose favorites or not). Life at school isn't wonderful either; Wendy has just lost her glasses and doesn't want to wear goggles as a substitute. Isn't she lucky that she happens to stumble across a pair of sunglasses that are exactly her prescription (though she isn't thrilled about wearing them at first).
Wendy is on her way to school one day, the bus is stopped because of an accident. The entire student body proceeds to school on foot and that's when Wendy notices something she never noticed before; She could two of the deceased that were involved in the accident. Even worse she starts to see the popular school cheerleader as a decrepit looking hag trying pass off as a teenager, the school nerd appears to have pointed ears (like an elf) and Imp like creatures climbing out of a girl's bag hiding her lucky pen.
From there Wendy's so called bad luck only gets worse. "Now you see it . . ." is a book that I really got into from start to finish, thus completing it in 3-days. The character Wendy's adventures are just the kind of thing I look forward to in a book for teens, the characters she meets are quite interesting (especially the sock-eating Spreenie) and have diverse personalities, if not quirks.
I loved the way the author incorporated the subplot concerning the glasses that Wendy found and the strange supernatural powers it possesses. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read out of an unlikely source.
If anything, "Now you see it . . ." is a good-time adventure focused on a girl named Wendy, who doesn't have the best life in the world. Her grandmother suffers from the mental disorder Alzheimer, while she visits every day in hopes that maybe she will remember her, Wendy's life with her family isn't all that it's cracked up to be either.
She has a sister she barely communicates with, and a mother who doesn't seem to notice her troubles (though I cannot remember if the mother chose favorites or not). Life at school isn't wonderful either; Wendy has just lost her glasses and doesn't want to wear goggles as a substitute. Isn't she lucky that she happens to stumble across a pair of sunglasses that are exactly her prescription (though she isn't thrilled about wearing them at first).
Wendy is on her way to school one day, the bus is stopped because of an accident. The entire student body proceeds to school on foot and that's when Wendy notices something she never noticed before; She could two of the deceased that were involved in the accident. Even worse she starts to see the popular school cheerleader as a decrepit looking hag trying pass off as a teenager, the school nerd appears to have pointed ears (like an elf) and Imp like creatures climbing out of a girl's bag hiding her lucky pen.
From there Wendy's so called bad luck only gets worse. "Now you see it . . ." is a book that I really got into from start to finish, thus completing it in 3-days. The character Wendy's adventures are just the kind of thing I look forward to in a book for teens, the characters she meets are quite interesting (especially the sock-eating Spreenie) and have diverse personalities, if not quirks.
I loved the way the author incorporated the subplot concerning the glasses that Wendy found and the strange supernatural powers it possesses. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read out of an unlikely source.
March 11, 2022
As someone that has grown to love my glasses, this was very disappointing.
Minus two stars for zero diversity, and the strange mockery that kind of comes off as racist and a bit sexist. I don't think Wendy is racist or sexist, she just kind of comes off that way when she describes many things.
Wendy starts off hating her name and a lot of other things, and rather than having character growth she is tossed into a world that embellishes her insecurities rather than help her see the good and positivity in the things she dislikes except for when it comes to her Grandmother, other than that Wendy remains the same if not worse.
Tiffany shows up later for reasons I do not understand. If you've seen Ben 10 Tiffany is a combination of Gwen and Kevin and Malfoy from Harry Potter, but even Malfoy improves where Tiffany really does not.
Everything with the Dragon ruins things completely for me, and the only reasons I did not give a single star is because the story is written well, and has an interesting idea. I often found myself saying it may have benefited if Wendy had been the same age as her Grandmother in the 50s, her being so young makes it a bit weird.
I would recommend this for 13-16, no younger because Wendy is not a positive role model nor any of the supporting cast in my eyes. No older than sixteen because Wendy comes of as insulting not the most likeable person which is why I was hoping for a bit more growth.
Minus two stars for zero diversity, and the strange mockery that kind of comes off as racist and a bit sexist. I don't think Wendy is racist or sexist, she just kind of comes off that way when she describes many things.
Wendy starts off hating her name and a lot of other things, and rather than having character growth she is tossed into a world that embellishes her insecurities rather than help her see the good and positivity in the things she dislikes except for when it comes to her Grandmother, other than that Wendy remains the same if not worse.
Tiffany shows up later for reasons I do not understand. If you've seen Ben 10 Tiffany is a combination of Gwen and Kevin and Malfoy from Harry Potter, but even Malfoy improves where Tiffany really does not.
Everything with the Dragon ruins things completely for me, and the only reasons I did not give a single star is because the story is written well, and has an interesting idea. I often found myself saying it may have benefited if Wendy had been the same age as her Grandmother in the 50s, her being so young makes it a bit weird.
I would recommend this for 13-16, no younger because Wendy is not a positive role model nor any of the supporting cast in my eyes. No older than sixteen because Wendy comes of as insulting not the most likeable person which is why I was hoping for a bit more growth.
July 2, 2020
Wendy finds a pair of sunglasses in her front yard that help her see better--but maybe they let her see a little TOO well.
Wendy’s been seeing things she shouldn’t see. Like a dead woman walking away from the scene of her death after being hit by a car. Or a man (walking around, mind you) whose shirt is all bloody and his head is half-caved in.
And even worse, when she can see the dead people, they know it. They approach her; they talk to her. Wendy doesn’t WANT to talk to dead people.
When she gets to school, she realizes that there are two kids in her classes who look really different when she looks at them through her glasses . . . two kids who don’t want their secrets revealed.
(REVIEW: Nice and creepy, but not so creepy that you'll be traumatized in any way. Just a "lite" version of horror. This book has a mystery element to it (where are these glasses from? how do they work? why am I seeing these things? who are those dead kids?) that keeps you interested as you work through the story. Lexile: 880L)
Wendy’s been seeing things she shouldn’t see. Like a dead woman walking away from the scene of her death after being hit by a car. Or a man (walking around, mind you) whose shirt is all bloody and his head is half-caved in.
And even worse, when she can see the dead people, they know it. They approach her; they talk to her. Wendy doesn’t WANT to talk to dead people.
When she gets to school, she realizes that there are two kids in her classes who look really different when she looks at them through her glasses . . . two kids who don’t want their secrets revealed.
(REVIEW: Nice and creepy, but not so creepy that you'll be traumatized in any way. Just a "lite" version of horror. This book has a mystery element to it (where are these glasses from? how do they work? why am I seeing these things? who are those dead kids?) that keeps you interested as you work through the story. Lexile: 880L)
June 13, 2018
Not a terrible story, but I've been rather unsure about whom this book's target audience is for? Is it middle grade, or young adult? It seems like a book for middle grade readers at first glance and often appears that way, but then has some light discussions that would otherwise appear in a young adult novel... also, it has sentences like this:
...and my chest hit the ground so hard I was sure my boobs - such as they are - must now be sticking out of my back.
I think we are out of the middle grade level now. Lol. Still, Now You See It... is not a bad book. I just found it 'okay'.
...and my chest hit the ground so hard I was sure my boobs - such as they are - must now be sticking out of my back.
I think we are out of the middle grade level now. Lol. Still, Now You See It... is not a bad book. I just found it 'okay'.
May 23, 2017
I remember being skeptical about this when I picked it up, since the classmate who recommended it to me had questionable taste in books, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's not absolutely top notch as far as writing and characters go, but it certainly surpasses much YA fiction by a large margin. The world, as far as I know, is completely unique, including inter-dimensional portals, time travel, and a pervy smurf guy (who is a bit silly, I'll admit). And it plays into the whole fairy glamour thing without being too much like other novels about fae. A good book for light reading.
July 4, 2018
Now You See It... starts with a very interesting premise. Wendy, who has worn glasses most of her life and is nearly blind without them, accidentally breaks hers while trying to impress a boy. She finds a pair of sunglasses that fix her eyes but also allow her to see dead people. I was intrigued until Wendy starts seeing pointy earred elves and tiny blue men. At that point, I lost interest. Wendy has a wonderful, sarcastic voice in the book, but it wasn't enough to make me want to complete this disappointing story.
February 19, 2020
A solid 3 stars.~ I always feel like Vivian Vande Velde’s are a bit short and open-ended, but it was great to read from an author I loved as a child and indulge in nostalgia a bit.
The plot is simple and packed with adventure and energy, it’s a great quick read to pick up on busy work days, although I do wish there was so more world building and character development. That’s my only gripe with Velde’s books, they’re so short that it’s a bit hard to get really invested in the actual story.
If you’re looking for a quick read with adventure and a soft magic system, give it a shot!
The plot is simple and packed with adventure and energy, it’s a great quick read to pick up on busy work days, although I do wish there was so more world building and character development. That’s my only gripe with Velde’s books, they’re so short that it’s a bit hard to get really invested in the actual story.
If you’re looking for a quick read with adventure and a soft magic system, give it a shot!
June 25, 2017
I'm a fan of Vivian Vande Velde, so when I saw this one on the 10 cent table at the library, I grabbed it. It's a quick read, and it has its interesting moments, but I expected more. If you have a middle grade reader who enjoys magic and elves and such, they might just enjoy it. But it was not for me.
October 3, 2017
I read this book based on how much I have enjoyed several of this author’s books in the past. Sadly, I was not as impressed with this one. Parts of the book were entertaining and I did like the ending but overall. I had a difficult time catching the plot and feeling connected to the characters. Wendy’s continual self deprecation got old, even though her experience caused a change of attitude.
February 17, 2022
On the outside it looked like a promising read...but then it was not... Although it was a pretty short read, I felt like I missed a lot of important details and felt mislead by the title and cover. I'm disappointed on the way the outside said something interesting and the whole story was about something other than that...
July 7, 2017
Review by T.H.: "It was a book about a girl who found a pair of glasses that let her see another magical world that she didn't know existed, though I really think there should be a second book cuz this book was great! :)"
December 29, 2020
Blind as a bat without her glasses, Wendy picks up sunglasses from her front lawn which fit her prescription and allow her to see ghosts, faeries and witches.
Read for a ‘V’ author in my A- Z challenge, borrowed from my local library,
Read for a ‘V’ author in my A- Z challenge, borrowed from my local library,
September 24, 2021
A fun story with plenty of humor, that pokes fun at tropes often seen in children's fantasy. Wendy is easy to relate to, and you can understand the decisions she makes throughout the story while watching her grow.
February 6, 2018
Still just as good as when I first read it in middle school.
January 17, 2020
Although not what I expected it turned into a real gem. It's a fast read and quite funny.
February 1, 2021
Wanted to read this because the cover and blurb was interesting. There were times that the story got too windy (or Wendy, bad pun don't hurt me) but overall it really was an original story.
December 12, 2021
3 1/2 very original plot
January 19, 2023
This wasn't one of my favourite Vivian Vande Velde novels. It wasn't as humorous or engaging as some of her other books. Wendy was fine, but I never connected to her or the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews