Invisible

 Invisible

Gonzalez, C. D. (2022). Invisible: A Graphic Novel. Ill. Gabriela Epstein. Scholastic. 

ISBN 9781338194548

Can five overlooked kids make one big difference?

There’s George: the brain

Sara: the loner

Dayara: the tough kid

Nico: the rich kid

And Miguel: the athlete

And they’re stuck together when they’re forced to complete their school’s community service hours. Although they’re sure they have nothing in common with one another, some people see them as all the same . . . just five Spanish-speaking kids.

Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help . . . or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school.

(Amazon Book Reviews)

Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein created a graphic novel that challenges cultural stereotypes and race divides. It chronicles the plight of a group of misfit teens. This unlikely group of friends, each with their own private struggle, comes together to help a mother and daughter in need. The dialogue, written mostly in Spanish with English translation, highlights Latino characters coming from diverse cultures, who often get lumped together under a single generalized label. The challenges of bi-lingual students are a common theme throughout. The expressive and colorful illustrations carry the story as you learn to understand each character’s backstory. The novel is set in the principal's office as the characters retell the story of their fateful friendship. You hope, as you read, that  these misunderstood kids are not in trouble, and it keeps you guessing until the very end. The adult characters, (the lunch lady, principal, counselor), are ironically written as stereotypical authority figures. It’s an enjoyable read, with a thoughtful moral to the story.

Book Reviews:

A welcome addition to any graphic novel collection, Invisible skillfully explores the negative impact of stereotyping while also offering an entertaining and spirited reading experience.

(Melilli, A. (2022). Invisible. School Library Journal, 68(8), 87.)

Alternating flashbacks among the five students, Gonzalez (Concealed) clearly shows how each kid—all characterized distinctly and with complexity—is more than others' assumptions. Epstein's expressive contemporary style brings the characters' singular experiences to the forefront in a story that largely focuses on its child protagonists finding community over change among its biased adults.

(Invisible. (2022). Publishers Weekly, 269(27), 66.)

Connections:

• This graphic novel is a compelling introduction to language bias. This could be used for an SEL lesson, or a class discussion on stereotypes.

• These kids take matters into their own hands to help someone in need. The book could be used to inspire community service projects across the school.

Awards:

Texas Bluebonnet, 2023-2024

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5360.