See Through Me

by Kevin Brooks

THE STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, KEVIN BROOKS
When fifteen-year-old Kenzie wakes up in hospital in a darkened room, she’s in the dark about what has happened to her too. The doctors break the devastating news that she has been struck down by a rare genetic condition that means her skin has become transparent, revealing everything inside of her – and Kenzie feels repellent to look at.

But when a medical photo of her is leaked and goes viral, the press attention is massive. How can Kenzie live like this, when she doesn’t want to be seen at all? Can a boy who can’t even see her, be the only one to help her to find the answers… ?

Kevin Brooks was born in Exeter and studied in Birmingham and London. He has worked in a crematorium, a zoo, a garage and a post office, before – happily – giving it all up to write books. Kevin is the author of many acclaimed award-winning young adult novels, including Martyn Pig, Lucas, Kissing The Rain, The Road of the Dead, Black Rabbit Summer and iBoy. He now lives in North Yorkshire. The Bunker Diary won the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2014.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2019

About the author

Kevin Brooks was born in 1959 and grew up in Exeter, Devon, England. He studied Psychology and Philosophy at Birmingham, Aston University in 1980 and Cultural Studies in London in 1983. Kevin Brooks has been in a variety of jobs including: musician, gasoline station attendant, crematorium handyman, civil service clerk, hot dog vendor at the London Zoo, post office clerk, and railway ticket office clerk.

Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.

In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.

As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.

Reviews

[Bookrapt (Est. 1983) · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a perfectly ordinary Sunday evening, Kenzie is suddenly struck down with a mystery ailment. She eventually comes around in some sort of hospital to discover that she is suffering from an unknown genetic condition that has rendered her skin transparent. When she looks in the mirror she sees an eyeless, hairless skull. She eventually returns home to her somewhat distant father and her beloved younger brother, Finch, who suffers from a multiple sclerosis-like genetic condition. Kenzie rarely goes outside and then only if her skin is completely covered but somehow a photo of her goes viral. Her father pressures her to make a media appearance to earn enough money for a new treatment for Finch, whose health is rapidly deteriorating. Kenzie's only respite is spending time with her Nan and her Nan's lodger, Gabriel, who are both blind.

This book begins with a bang and you are immediately drawn into Kenzie's world and the horrific thing that is happening to her. Kenzie is a beautifully realised character and the use of first person means we get to experience the horror of what happens to her along with her other emotions and thoughts. Finch is an incredibly patient, long-suffering invalid who is wise beyond his years while their father remains an enigma - is he a baddie or just a very flawed individual? The shadowy figures that seem to be monitoring Kenzie's every move add an extra element of intrigue. This book was gripping and hard to put down. I'm not sure that I was entirely convinced by the ending but read it and make up your own mind. Recommended for older teens (who don't have sensitive stomachs).

Reviewed by Penny Guy (Bookrapt)

[riv_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, the story was nice and the characters were alright. One thing I did like about this book was the relationship between Kenzie and the boy.

Apart from that though I can't find many things I enjoyed. The medical aspect was vague and not fleshed out. Her relationship with her Dad was really built up but there was no real conclusion... she says there is still a lot of things she doesn't know ad never will know which is a bit frustrating.

I feel like the whole book was really slow and built up to the main action scene in the last 5 pages which ended up being rushed. I wish that there was more of the aftermath... her building up her life again would have been interesting.

There was also a chapter in her and a friends argument that didn't really lead to much...

All in all this book wasn't bad and had a nice story, I did finish the book after all but there were many problems with it and that is why I rated it 2 stars.

[Tina Jameson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this, but somehow expected more. I don’t generally choose to read ‘horror’, but persevered because I genuinely thought this was going to offer a lot more than just trying to shock.

Without giving spoilers, I just felt there were a lot of inconsistencies, and lost opportunities for something much more developed...

But as I said, horror is not my genre...I will be interested to read other reviews as more are written.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an interesting read for about 3/4 of it, was like nothing I’ve ever read and really enjoyed it. Yet the ending felt rushed and incomplete like he didn’t know how to close it, the death of her father and her running away felt off and then the dreaded pregnancy trope, overall the ending was a bit of a let down

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was no plot... Her skin turned transparent and then nothing really happened. For 370 pages.

[19KellettA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea but not very well thought out plot and anti climactic ending

[Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an odd book. When my friend recommended this to me, I wasn't so sure about it but it genuinely was an interesting read in the end.

[Daisy Shaoal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter [11] loves this book and is currently reading it. Got it in school library. Is on pg 42 and finds the word fucking. Not books fault schools. Apart from that its great.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Started off very promising, I was very interested and invested in the story. As pages went on, not a lot actually happened. The relationships were sweet, and so was the ending.

[Sophia McHardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK

[Bruno Leys · Rating 3 out of 5]

As such a good read. I enjoy Brooks' direct, no nonsense writing style. I had credibility issues with the narrative of this book, so I never really got 100% into the story.

[Jodie Andrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

this might’ve been more enjoyable if kenzie had even an ounce of personality and if it was at least 100 pages shorter it’s just long for no reason stop over explaining every single thought you sound like a year 11 trying to meet an essay word minimum i’d rate it 1.5 if it would let me