Invisible
Hautman, P.
(2005). Invisible. New York: Simon
& Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Invisible is the story of Doug Hanson, a young
teenager with some obvious social problems. He is bullied at school only seems
to only have one friend, the most popular boy in school, Andy. Doug spends all
of his free time building a model city, Madham, out of match sticks including a
large suspension bridge that will hold an electric train. But all is not as it
seems. As the story unfolds, Doug is having more and more problems at school
and at home. He is not taking his medicine, skipping therapy visits and caught
spying in a young girl’s window. The interactions with his best friend, Andy,
also seem to be “off”. By the end of the novel, Doug reveals what has really
happened to Andy and how much his mental state has been effected by the events at
the Tuttle Place that happened three years ago. The total mental break Doug
suffers is tragic.
Invisible by Pete Hautman is modern realistic
fiction novel showcasing a young man with an undiagnosed mental illness. The
story is told from Doug’s point of view, letting the reader see his alternate
reality and how he justifies some of his actions. Doug has difficulty relating
with his peers and his parents. Doug seems isolated by his parents who
obviously have their own social/emotional problems. They try to seek help for
their son, but don’t take the time to interact with him or really spend any
time with him. He likewise is unable to process the tragic death of a friend
and believes he is still alive. I would recommend using the book to teach
empathy and understanding for those suffering with some form of mental illness.
Book Recommendation:
Challenger Deep by
Neal Shusterman because it also deals with the issues of teen mental illness.
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