Something Invisible

by Siobhan Parkinson

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With a new baby sister and a stepfather, the life of eleven-year-old Jake is full of change, but nothing prepares him for his relationship with an enigmatic girl, her large family, and the tragedy that strikes them all.

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6 reviews
This was a remarkable and compulsive book with a surprise twist at the end which I really wasn't expecting. It was clearly written as a "book to get boys reading" with a male narrator who develops and grows up through the story and I would recommend it as that. I would also say that as someone vastly outside that target audience - an adult woman - I still found it very enjoyable, well written and a worth seeking out.
I will be looking to see what else the writer has published!
Jake is a bit of a dreamer. He gobbles encyclopaedias, plans to be a fish painter when he grows up and he doesn’t notice his mother is pregnant. Jake seems to be quite solitary until he meets Stella and her large and slightly unusual family. This is a gentle story of friendship and growing up with a surprising and sad twist in its tail. This book would be best for pre-teens that enjoy slower paced stories that make you think.
½
A compassionate story of friendship between young and old, boy and girl.An exceptional story looking at bereavement and guilt, that is compassionate and beautifully written.
Jake was happy with his Mum & Step-Dad until a new baby sister arrives. Then he makes a new friend, a girl called Stella who is from a very large, very strange family. Two things then happen while Jake is with Stella’s family that test him – first he thinks one of her siblings is drowning off a pier & two- one of her siblings runs to see him and is killed by the mother running over her with her car. A lovely sad & happy simple story about families.p.65-73.Stella & Jake go fishing off the pier with the young ones & one falls in so Jake rescues it.
Jake's life changes abruptly the minute his new sister Daisy and his soon to be friend Stella enter his life. Discovering what life is like when it is filled with little children, Jake starts to adjust only to have tragedy strike and make him question everything
Wonderful story! Absolutely wonderful.

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Author Information

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54+ Works 968 Members
Siobhan Parkinson grew up in Galway and Donegal, but she's lived most of her adult life in Dublin, where she lives today. She studied English literature and German at Trinity College Dublin and holds a doctorate in English literature. She has written many books for young readers and is the 1997 winner of the prestigious Bisto Book of the Year show more Award for her book Sisters ... No Way! Two of her other books were Bisto Merit Award winners. In addition to her own writing, Ms. Parkinson has held various writing residencies show less

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Common Knowledge

Original title
Something invisible
Original publication date
2006
Important places
Ireland
Dedication
To Oisín, my beloved nephew and godson, a smashing reader and a super critic
First words
Nobody ever blamed Jake for what happened.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Oh ... nothing. Come on, then. Let's go!'
Original language*
Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Kids, Fiction and Literature, Tween, Children's Books
DDC/MDS
823.914Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-19991945-1999
LCC
PZ7 .P23935 .SLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresJuvenile belles lettres
BISAC

Statistics

Members
73
Popularity
432,814
Reviews
6
Rating
½ (3.73)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
4
ASINs
1