Fade

by Robert Cormier

IT IS THE summer of 1938 when young Paul Moreaux discovers he can “fade.” First bewildered, then thrilled with the power of invisibility, Paul experiments. But his “gift” soon shows him shocking secrets and drives him toward a chilling act.

“Imagine what might happen if Holden Caufield stepped into H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man, and you’ll have an idea how good Fade is. . . . I was absolutely riveted.”—Stephen King

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Banned Books

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925–November 2, 2000) was an American author, columnist and reporter, known for his deeply pessimistic, downbeat literature. His most popular works include I Am the Cheese, After the First Death, We All Fall Down and The Chocolate War, all of which have won awards. The Chocolate War was challenged in multiple libraries. His books often are concerned with themes such as abuse, mental illness, violence, revenge, betrayal and conspiracy. In most of his novels, the protagonists do not win.

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who wasn't IN LOVE with Cormier's book The Chocolate War as many others, I was simply blown away by FADE. A perfect example of magical realism - the real world here is painstakingly detailed, rendered so beautifully and realistically that when the magic is sprinkled in it, too, seems completely and utterly real. Plus, this is the type of book with writing that was so beautiful, a narrative voice so striking that I would find myself going back and reading passages over and over again, even aloud, just for the sheer beauty of the language. Amazing.

[Asghar Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird, but so so good.

Makes you doubt, but not before making you believe in it, in all of it. One of the best books I ever read back in the April of 2006. San Jose was great. Now Norway.

Because you know, who hasn't wished to be invisible at some point in their lives? Even though, invisible is how most people feel because of Others.

I would like to get away from everyone else. I'd fade away but I won't disappear.

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Correspondingly, not sure if this book is a work of genius... or a really awkward literary sandwich consisting of a slow moving coming-of-age first half and a ridiculous super-fast, quiveringly violent second half smooshed together with post-modern central filling where the author pauses to dissect and analyse the meaning of the first half of the novel (I'm so serious my face has gone stiff)

I loved The Chocolate War, Beyond the Chocolate War and I am the Cheese and Robert Cormier to bits generally, but I will grade this novel according to what I got out of it... which wasn't really the concept of what it means to be an invisible outlier of society, ethical dilemmas one might face if one had the ability to “fade” or the perpetuating cycles of violence if this "power" could be passed on…

It was more a sense of… WTF is happening (It musn't be a good sign that while reading "Ozzie's" section I exclaimed, "Now this is just ridiculous!" out aloud to myself).

2 stars. I’ll see you on the other side of After the First Death.

[Jason Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended this to me a while back and (surprise surprise), I put it off as is one to do with a large stack of books. Finally I acquired Fade from the local book store and after just finishing it, I am happy to say that it was an interestingly fun, at time perverse, read.

The character of Paul Moreaux is a complicated one; young and very imaginative, Paul writes about his life growing up in Frenchtown. His thoughts and feelings submerse the reader into a 'faded' vision of what Paul is actually feeling. There are moments through the first half of this story where the subject matter can become unpleasant for some, so beware, if you're conservative about some things you may want to overlook these parts.
But like any good novel, it is these parts that make the story what it is.

I cannot say that this novel was Cormier's best work, although I cannot say it wasn't his worst, considering it was my first of his. I've been told his other, more famous one called The Chocolate War is a much sought after story, but that is still to been seen.

I gave this what can be mistaken as four stars, but I think after a bit more reflection I would confidently say this was a three-point-five overall.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing nothing about it, somehow I ended up with this book to report on for a high school English class. Needless to say, I didn't report on all of it, as there are some pretty adult themes. I found the concept (boy that can turn invisible but must deal with the consequences of his gift) interesting and would like to reread this one sometime with a more mature perspective.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we were just talking about the first half, this would be a five-star rating. Everything from the main character's childhood is absolutely riveting - the descriptions of his town, his family, the introduction of his gift/curse, and all of its unexpected consequences. There were numerous instances where I was caught completely off guard and my jaw literally dropped.

Cormier's style is so infectious. Dense, but somehow still breezy. He really puts you in Paul's shoes. This is a story that delivers quite a few emotional gut punches. You truly start to feel the weight of the sadness and frustration bearing down on this kid.

If only the second half had been as incredible as the first. Don't get me wrong, it's still good. It's only because the first half is so engaging and enthralling that the remainder of the story seems slightly underwhelming. I just wasn't as invested in grown-up Paul's dilemma.

I would still recommend this book in a heartbeat, though. I've probably re-read it four or five times since first discovering it. It will definitely stick with you.

[Camille Siddartha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when I was 14 and read it again a year ago...This book needs to be read for those who like the idea of this and the suspense of what he finds out when he is in the fade...The evil he finds and how he has to deal with his nephew in the end...

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul can Fade.

One second, he's there, the next he isn't. Just like that.

At first, he's thrilled: we've all wished we had the ability to vanish from sight, spy on our friends and family (if you say you don't, your a liar). He now has the opprotunity to observe his Aunt Rosanna, attractive and proud of it. He can watch the people in his town behind closed doors, discover who they really are without risking being caught. Every teenage boy's dream, right?

But then, as time goes on and more and more dark secrets are revealed, Paul begins to wish he never had the Fade.

This novel is definetly not for the easily offended. There are some touchy subject matter such as incest, depictions of minor sexuality, murder, mental illness, and child abuse. While accesable, it is pretty disturbing at times. Okay, really disturbing at times.

This story has a total of three narrators; Paul, a young up and coming publisher (and distant cousin of Paul's) who discovers Paul's (who had become a writer) final manuscript before his death---which proves to be the rest of the novel thus far. As she reads it, she begins to wonder. Is this really an autobiography? Did all this happen?

The third narrator, I feel, will definetly spoil it for anyone who has not read it yet, so I'm not going to mention him. But, trust me, his narrative is probably the most unsettling of the three.

I think the highlight of Fade is master storyteller Robert Cormier's ability to take these dreary--often horrific--subjects and themes and make them incredably easy to read. Things like incest and adultary is described in a way that kids can understand. I first read Fade when I was eight, and I remember thinking, "wow, this is wack" while, only days earlier, I had read a book about the exact same subject matter, and having no idea what they were talking about. Cormier's ability to connect with a younger audience is astounding, and his charactors and prose just add to his status as one of the best YA authors of all time.

It's impossible to describe much of Fade because everything about is twisted together in a way that makes near everything a spoiler. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it; Fade will leave you breathless with it's surreal, eery tone and it's strong, layered characters.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Fade by Robert Cormier knowing nothing about it except that a boy discovers he has the power of invisibility. I was thoroughly unprepared for the dark depiction of human depravity. Being unseen, Paul witnesses what people do behind closed doors, in the dark, when they think no one is watching--sexual depravity and cruelty. Murder too is handled in a horrific fashion. Paul's ability to fade is more of a curse than a superpower. And the curse gets more awful as the novel progresses. What did I like about it? It surprised me multiple times (and I won't spoil it for anyone.) Also it was extremely well written with solid literary prose. There's even a postmodern "story within the story" device that works quite well. The story as a whole held me mesmerized. Even though I was horrified by several scenes, I kept wanting to know how it was going to turn out.

[Jiselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fade by Robert Cormier is a fantasy fiction where the fade is passed from uncle to nephew. A fade is where basically you fade out of sight, but it does take some time to master.

My favorite part of the book would have to be when Paul fades for the first time (purposely) "The cold begins when the fade begins and remains all the time when you are in the fade. The cold comes from inside, spreading under the surface of the flesh, like a layer of ice between skin and bone." I like this part because I can really imagine what it feels like to fade, and the pain that is inflicted.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about things that aren't real. Also to anyone who likes to read about how life was before they were born (depending on when you were born) but this story did take place before the 2000s.

[Lili Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an excellent book, up there at "I am the Cheese" level. Cormier did it again, folks.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a book’s cover likens it to a hybrid between Catcher in the Rye and H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man, it sets high expectations. In the first third of Fade, I felt like a more apt comparison would have been Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers (part of his semi-biographical Brighton Beach trilogy) or Woody Allen’s Radio Days bred with Wells’ infamous Dr. Griffin. Indeed, the Wells’ influence is undeniable. Indeed, if one leaves out the famous “meat” scene from Portnoy’s Complaint, Fade bears resemblance to that novel as well—with a French Canadian and supernatural twist, of course. The pen name of the narrator is Moreaux (perhaps, a French-Canadian variant on the scientist on Wells’ famous “island?”) and there is a certain aspect of Wells’ Griffin that escalates throughout the novel. That aspect left me feeling a little hopeless and helpless, but it fit the story and I wouldn’t get rid of it—it’s vital.

As should be obvious, Fade is a coming of age story in which one or more of the characters have the ability to “fade,” to disappear. I believe that is why the novel is listed as Young Adult (YA) fiction, but I don’t believe it is only appealing to a YA audience. Not only is the writing colorful and natural, but the events have a fascinating historical nature, as well. Imagine a Depression Era town in New England with one main factory. Imagine the conflicts between union organizers, scabs, owners and gangsters. You understand the set-up. Then, add a mysterious uncle and a beautiful aunt to the picture.

In fact, add in all the implied lust and incestuous desire from the intellectual properties to which I alluded in the first paragraph and you’ve got a good idea of some of the emotional aspects of the story. Then, add in elements of mystery (the kinds of mysteries in all families like “Why doesn’t anyone talk about Aunt So-and-So?” and “Why is Uncle So-and-So so strange?” as well as supernatural mystery beyond the ordinary such as “Can this person really do this impossible thing and why?”) and an unexpected framing device that appears in mid-novel (as opposed to the beginning and end in the full sense of “framing”). This is the potent recipe for a powerful book.

Fade simultaneously “preaches” that one can become what one wants to be but that there are significant sacrifices necessary to do so. The narrative exploits the idea that power exacts a tremendous cost with regard to emotional well-being and healthy relationships; it also suggests that power (even the power that leads to knowledge) can devastate our presuppositions. Frankly, I would highly recommend this book for young adults and wish more adults had discovered it when it was being more widely distributed.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Paul Moreaux, a thirteen year old boy living in Frenchtown, has an exciting summer in 1938. His Aunt Rosanna returns for a visit, his Uncle Adelard shows up, unannounced as always. These two were always the topic of interest in their family, never staying long and afterwards Rosanna would lose all touch with the family and he would never see her graceful figure or smell her enticing perfume again. During such a difficult time, Paul struggles with the events of bullying, financial hardships in his family, the depression, strikes, teenage hormones, feeling accepting, attending a new school, rejection of his work, and that’s only the beginning. He learns that although his life is never really what he wants it to be—as he seeks adventure, traveling, and getting away from Frenchtown—it isn’t boring and after this summer it will never be the same again. His uncle comes for him specifically. He came to see him, to help him, to give him the aid and guidance that he’ll need because he’s the next one. He’s the next fader. Paul, at first, revels in this new power, this new ability but soon finds it’s more than he thought. Things aren’t what they appeared and now he knows it. He sees things he never wanted to see, learns things he never wanted to learn or know about but there they are. He can’t deny them. He can’t go back. He doesn’t have the power to change things, just the power to watch, to not be, to fade.
This book is definitely something that will start a conversation and keep people talking after they put it down. I can see why people can be ‘riveted’ to Cormier’s work but for me it was more of finishing the ride and hoping that it somehow got better, that somehow there was something positive to be taken from the book. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I enjoyed the book a whole lot. I definitely think it has a content warning for morality in the categories of masturbation, incest, hints of sexual abuse, violence, murder, etc. It is not of light subject matter and it leaves the readers head spinning at the end of whether the story within the story is real, the story is real, or if either of the stories told have an ending. (Like I said, it’s dizzying and keeps your head spinning.) Cormier definitely keeps you going, guessing, and hoping. If you want a mind-boggling and twisted read, go for this one.

[Stacy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read but intriguing. I read some of his earlier work in school and stumbled on this one while looking for something else. Some of it was disturbing but kept me hooked to the end.

[Zephren Milentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I enjoy this book very much. The feeling I have after finishing this book reminds me of the feeling I had when I finished reading the Ender’s Game quartet. I enjoy this type of fiction very much. This is now one of my favorite books. I have not researched whether or not this is a series, but I want it to be one.

Plot Summary:
Paul lives in Monument, Massachusetts. It is a small french town, and most residents are not wealthy. His family’s greatest mystery involves a photograph in which his uncle is strangely missing from. Paul is very fascinated by this photograph. During one of his uncle’s visits, he reveals to Paul that he has the power to go invisible. Not only does his uncle have this power, but Paul himself has it too. With his newfound power he explores, and he sees things he should not see. Paul’s little brother dies and Paul swears to never use his power again. At this point in the story, it is revealed that this is the first half of a manuscript that Paul wrote. Susan Roget, a distant cousin of Paul, finds this manuscript after he is dead. She is in some sort of internship with Meredith Martin, who was some kind of associate of Paul’s. After Susan works her brain to the limit trying to decipher if the manuscript is fiction or not, Meredith reveals that there are two parts to the manuscript. The second part is all after the death of Paul’s little brother. Most of the manuscript is about his adult life. He remembers that his uncle had revealed to him a long time ago that the next fader will be revealed to him just as it was revealed to his uncle. Paul has no luck trying to find this fader until his sister Rose comes to his apartment and tells him of a child she birthed a long time ago. This is when the spotlight transitions to Ozzie who is the second fader. Ozzie is a young boy who suffered a terrible childhood, and this makes him unstable. Once he realizes he can fade, he wreaks havoc on his town, Ramsey. Paul manages to track him down, however once Ozzie is strangling him to death, Paul has to stab him in the chest. Susan finishes analyzing the manuscripts and she concludes that the whole thing is fiction. She cannot come to the conclusion of invisibility being possible. Right when her thoughts are settled, she notices a story in the newspaper about mysterious deaths. The evidence provided makes no sense, and the only possible perpetrator has to be invisible. Susan is torn about whether or not this is a huge coincidence.
Characterization:
This book is told from Paul’s perspective. Paul Moreaux is a 13 year old boy who discovers he has the ability to fade. He then goes places he shouldn’t be, and he sees things that could seriously harm a boy his age. After being traumatized too much, he decides to stop using the fade. Many years later when tracking down the next fader he has to break this promise. He is described as average looking. Throughout the book he is tortured by the fade until he dies of natural causes at 42 years old.
Adelard Moreaux is the middle aged man who is also Paul’s uncle. He grew very distant from Paul’s family until he returns to notify Paul of the fade. He travels many places when he is away from Monument. The fade eventually weakens and kills him just as it kills Paul.

Setting:
Fade takes place in Monument, Massachusetts during the early 1900s. The setting is important to the story because Paul and his family live in a working class area. The time period is also important because most modern advancements were not invented yet.

Recommendation:
I recommend this book to mature young adults. This book has a lot of sexual content inside of it, so an immature mind may not be able to handle it. This book is fine for both males and females, as both will be able to relate to it.

[Emma Dagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book Fade by Robert Cormier that was about a 13 year old boy, Paul, who discovers he can turn invisible. This is known as a "fader" and his uncle mentions that every one person in the generation can do this. As Paul goes through his life it shows he would much rather observe then be in a situation and when reading sometimes makes you think is it all real. Throughout the book. Paul realizes the benefits and downfalls of his gift and ends up regretting some of his decisions.

[MATT ABHOLD · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fade” by Robert Cormier was a tremendously written book about a small town boy who discovered he has a superpower. Paul had a gift that only certain people in his family had attained. When he wanted to, and sometimes when he doesn't, he becomes invisible.

Paul Moreaux, a thirteen year old boy from Frenchtown, Massachusetts, was just like any other. Paul went to school, did his chores, played games with friends, and loved his family. But Paul was different in the aspect that he had a power. I would say a gift, but it doesn’t end up good for him. The fade gave Paul the ability to become invisible, but people could still feel his presence. Whenever he stayed in the fade, another state of mind took over. It pushed him to do bad things like steal or play tricks on people.

Paul first finds out about the fade when he and his friends went to the lake one night. They had heard about a KKK meeting that some of the town folk were going to scare off. One of the guards of the meeting had caught a glimpse of Paul and his friends. This makes the guard chase them, and Paul trips. He had a pretty good lead on him, so the guard didn’t know exactly where Paul was. But when the guard was staring right at him from a few yards away, Paul knew something had to be going on. He didn’t know it then, but it was the first time he faded. The guard couldn’t see him, but he could sense him. Paul waited for the guard to walk away and then made his way home.

By this time, Paul had been visited by his Aunt Rosanna and Uncle Adelard, both of whom weren’t living in Frenchtown. Paul thought he was in love with his Aunt, but it was more than a family love. Paul loved when Adelard had came to town because he always had stories to tell. Adelard was different though. He had the power of the fade, too. Adelard had sensed that Paul had it, so he explained to him the consequences of using the fade.

One thing that Adelard had warned Paul about was the fade could take over. It controlled the user and it would be hard to fight it. Paul had many bouts with his alter ego, and sometimes couldn’t overcome the feelings. Paul was not a very outgoing boy, and the fade differed for everyone. Paul felt more of the need to spy and less to hurt people, even though ended up committing a murder in a fit of madness.

The next generation of fader was Paul's nephew, Ozzie. Ozzie was his sister's child that she could not raise. She had given Ozzie up for adoption in Maine. Ozzie’s adoptive mother was a very nice lady, but his father was much worse. He would beat Ozzie, so much that his nose was permanently red. After his mother had died, Ozzie went to live with a group of nuns. This is where he found out about the fade. So, he did what he thought was right and he got revenge. Ozzie had faded, went into town, and killed his adoptive father. He didn’t feel regret from it. He would mess with shops in town, break things, beat up a homeless man, and steal as much as he wanted without being caught.

Paul could sense that Ozzie had the gift without knowing who he was. Paul traveled from Massachusetts to Maine to find Ozzie, and when he arrived, he wasn’t welcomed with open arms. Ozzie had kept his secret safe, except with one person. Mr. Pinder was a drunk who Ozzie felt he could connect with. Ozzie had told Mr. Pinder his secret, and thats about when Paul arrived in town. Paul had asked passing people on the streets about a boy, and could tell the town had been damaged. Mr. Pinder was the one person who would talk to him, and with a little bit of whiskey, had the old man talking. He told Paul about Ozzie, and where to find him.

When Paul showed up at the covenant, Ozzie was waiting. He was going to kill Paul for trying to intervene in his lifestyle. While all Paul wanted to do was help, Ozzie couldn’t see it. Ozzie attacked Paul while using the fade, and Paul had to do the one thing that could stop Ozzie; he killed him.

Paul ended up dying before the end of the book, and all that is left of him was his manuscript. Paul explained what the fade wass in the manuscript that he sent to an old friend of his from New York, who also hired Pauls great niece.

Paul was a character that is hard to hate. He was compassionate, caring, and when he figured out he has this power, he doesn’t use it for bad things. The reason he got violent in the book was because someone had wronged him enough to make him go down that path.

Ozzie was someone who I liked at first, but ended up as a villain. I felt sorry for him because his real mother had left him in Maine and his adoptive mother had left him with an abusive father. He took revenge as soon as he could. After that, he didn’t stop doing reckless things. He hadn’t grown up with a family who loved him, so readers could sympathise, but to continue to do harmful things was what made him a bad guy. He tried to kill Paul because Paul wanted to help him.

This story took place mainly in fictional Frenchtown, Massachusetts, but it also traveled to Maine. The parts about Paul were set in early 1900’s, while the part about Mary was around 1950.

I recommend this book to people over the age of 15 because of some of the sexual references and the general understanding of the book.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...I finished this in one sitting. This jaw dropping, gripping tale makes you question reality and fantasy. A must read...if you can handle it. :)

[thepicturewriter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I can do Fade justice. Joseph Cornier wowed the audience with his so very life like and non fictional write in this book. I experienced the state of forgetting my reality and embracing the reality in the book; that is how awesome the book is. It's a great find that I am glad I read. You shouldn't miss it for the world. Come into the world of Henry and experience fading with him

[Clare Snow]

Yesterday I found out about this book and my library didn't have it. Today I found it at the library discard shop

[Rob Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another brilliant piece of work by Cormier.

[April Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found this book in my teachers library, the cover caught my eye but I was a little scared I wouldn't like it. After reading Fade, I can honestly say it was different and very entertaining! Loved It! The character of Paul Moreaux is a complicated one; young and very imaginative, Paul writes about his life growing up in Frenchtown. His thoughts and feelings submerse the reader into a 'faded' vision of what Paul is actually feeling. There are moments through the first half of this story where the subject matter can become unpleasant for some, so beware, if you're conservative about some things you may want to overlook these parts. which I have to admit these parts did challenge me to finish the book or not but i pushed through and glad I did! The 13 year old boy, Paul, who discovers he can turn invisible. This is known as a "fader" and his uncle mentions that every one person in the generation can do this. As Paul goes through his life it shows he would much rather observe then be in a situation and when reading sometimes makes you think is it all real. Throughout the book. Paul realizes the benefits and downfalls of his gift and ends up regretting some of his decisions. Overall I give this book a 4 rating because it didnt appeal to me at first until i kept reading and then I became more into the book.

[Janell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy woah... I definitely need to take some time to process before I actually write a review but coming from someone who did NOT like Cormier’s “Tenderness” at all..

I am blown away!
This was such a cool read.

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

این بابا رودرواسی نداره. کتاباش رو اغلب جزو ممنوعه‌های نوجوان دسته‌بندی می‌کنن. که البته مسخره است. جنایت و بزه بین نوجوان‌ها وجود داره، جامعه پاستوریزه نیست و نوشتن حقایق کار خیلی درستیه.

[Logan Erdmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It starts off with a young man, Paul, who realizes he has the power to become invisible. He calls it being able to fade. Paul at first is empowered by being able to spy on the ones around him. He startled and actually horrified by what he finds out. Paul uses the power and kills a very powerful and crooked man of the community. The power also begins to drag on him as he gets older and you can see that it is actually killing him.

The main characters are Paul Moreaux, the Moreaux family, and Ozzie Slater. Paul starts off as a 13 year old boy and by the end of the book is dead but having his manuscript read. Paul inherits his ability from his Uncle Alderad. Paul’s aunt has a kid and the ability is passed to the child Ozzie. Ozzie uses his ability to do bad things and Paul goes to try to help him.

The setting is in the fictional town of Monument, Massachusetts in 1938 where Paul grows up. The second setting is in New York in 1988 when Paul is having a manuscript read by Susan.

I think that there are multiple themes of this book. One is that sometimes you are better off not knowing some information about people and letting them have their privacy. In the book, Paul finds out his 13 year old classmate is a personal prostitute for his boss at the store. Another theme is that there is a great deal of responsibility when receiving a power of such magnitude. Ozzie goes against this theme and uses his power for vandalism and murder.

I would recommend this book to high school students that like fictional writing and a book with multiple twists.

[Cory Dorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Fade" by Robert Cormier was very interesting, because it changes narrator with each paragraph. I had to keep track or I would get mixed up with the different characters. The book Fade first starts off with Paul. At first Paul feels very powerful with his ability to spy on people around him. After having this power to fade for awhile it begins to wear on him. He is my favorite in this book. Especially at the end when he fights his nephew, Ozzie. Ozzie tries to kill him and they both end up killing each other. I loved the ending to the story.

Paul is the first narrator and he is very important in this book. He stops his evil cousin, Ozzie by destroying his powers of invisibility. Ozzie is Paul's cousin and he uses his powers to fade in evil ways by destroying people. Ozzie has two sides, the good Ozzie and then the evil Ozzie which he becomes when he fades. Susan is Paul's aunt and she doesn't know that she is a fader because she has no one to tell her.

Fade takes place in multiple places and times. It first starts in the summer of 1938. This is when Paul discovers he can fade. It then proceeds as the characters grow older. The book is set in a fictional town in New England. The story ends in New York City during the late 1980's.

I would recommend this book to 14-18 year old kids. The reason I say this is because people younger than 14 would have a hard time following the many different changes in the story. It also has vulgar language and sexual content in the book, so I think that older kids should read this when they are more mature.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a teenager I’d find myself being ignored to such a degree I’d have to practically grab people by the lapels and scream in their face just to have them recognize me. Fade is about people who are systematically ignored to the point of invisibility, case in point the misfit members of a large French Canadien family. These family members are the outcasts of the family and one of them, Paul Moreaux’s Uncle Adelard has the ability to render himself invisible. This talent is passed from uncle to nephew with each generation, and one day Adelard appears from out of thin air to inform Paul he has the ability to turn invisible.

As Paul gets older he begins searching for the next niece or nephew who has the ability to turn themselves invisible. The next gifted one is an adopted, unwanted psychopathic teenager who uses his gift for murder, vandalism and sheer destruction. Paul has to get to his nephew before he wreaks further havoc.

Fade is possibly the largest of all Robert Cormier’s works weighing in at over 300 pages. There’s a segment introducing a largely irrelevant character in the middle that does virtually nothing to enhance the story - you’ll know it when you read it - so I think the book could have benefited from some editing. But overall, Fade is yet another disturbing work that probes into the twisted confusion that teenage boys must endure before they finally settle into manhood.

[Chris - Quarter Press Editor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do love Cormier. He's become one of my favorite authors and, honestly, is one of the main reasons I started writing YA in the first place. He was a pioneer from the start and continued throughout his career, pushing boundaries further and further.

FADE continues in that vein, becoming a hybrid YA/adult-ish novel that created that "crossover" appeal long before the term was ever viable.

In truth, this one is probably closer to a 4.5, as there were only a few things that kept me from having my mind completely blown by this novel. I loved his addition of fantastical elements, as it's not his norm and it's something I'm very much into. I love the fearlessness with which he writes about what most would consider taboo and even decry against this book being recommended to the YA crowd. And, as always, I simply love his voices, poetic and deeply affecting.

There are only a handful of authors I'd give up a lung in order to write like, and Cormier is one of them.

I know I haven't said much about this book in particular, but that's because I don't really want to. It's a fantastic book that's worth your time, and that's all you need to know. Outside of that, I'd be ruining Cormier's wonderful surprises.

(As a quick aside, I'd also heard that Richard Kelly, director of Donnie Darko, had wanted to make this into a film. I really hope he does. Might bring him redemption and give us a fantastic film in the process.)

[Jeffrey G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very honestly, this feels incomplete and badly in need of a serious rewrite. What is here is pretty good. It's certainly not dull. The best part is the first "Paul" section. Cormier's extraordinary action sequences are very exciting and well-written. Makes you realize how little action occurs in most books. This is almost 100% action. The following "Susan" section is a miscalculation, I think. It is all talk and, upon reflection, it is totally unnecessary to the story. The "Ozzy" section is really good, but it pales next to the same sort of introduction that Paul got. Ozzy's story is not as captivating as Paul's. The turn the story takes here with the fade is also a mistake. It makes it less about the moral choices of the character and more about a conflict between the character and the fade voice or character. I didn't love the way the book went from here. The confrontation between Paul and Ozzy seems like it needs to be completely reimagined. It feels lazy and phoned in. The ending with Susan is incredibly unsatisfying. I feel like the book should have ended with the Ozzy storyline being completed, but that it should have been handled differently.

Cormier is a good writer and it was certainly easy to read this novel. If the rest of the book cannot live up to the first third, that is a far better problem than the whole thing being trash.

[Rose Haertl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Moreaux is a young boy living in the small town of Monument, right outside of Boston. He discovers that he can use a special ability called, "The Fade" which allows him to become invisible. This ability has been passed down from generation to generation, and Paul was the special "chosen" one to handle this prize. First a little scared, then thrilled with the possibilities of invisibility, Paul experiments with his "gift". This ability shows him things that he should not see. His power soon overloads him, shows him shocking secrets,and drives him toward some chilling and horrible acts for which there is no forgiveness, no forgetting, and no turning back. Paul discovers how cruel, evil, and disgusting the world can be, and the ability to fade becomes a nightmare.

I recommend this book for young male adults who are mature for some sexual content based in the story, and interested in magic of some sorts during the Great Depression.

I liked this book because I feel it had a great plot leading up to smaller events that Paul discovered. However it can be a little confusing at times in certain situations before Paul discovers the "fade". As well as it does has some sick, perverted twist in there that almost nobody would have thought of, dealing with incest and pedophilia.