By Chayse H., South River High School
Andre Jackson, a Black teen, is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, causing him to spend 6 months in a juvenile detention center. Following his return home, the COVID-19 pandemic breaks out. Andre is forced to learn to live amongst his community, but from a distance.
News of schools shutting down, six feet apart, and the murder of George Floyd troubles Andre, especially in his quest for justice for his imprisonment. When Andre learns that his friend and neighbor Eric Whittaker goes missing; someone who entangled him in the situation of the crime. His only hope lies in finding Eric to find the truth about his arrest – but as a teen who is nearly invisible to the surrounding world.
I would rate Invisible Son five stars. I thought that Andre, Eric, and Sierra were all well-developed characters with unique personalities that carried the story. I also enjoyed the real-world applications as this story is set in the COVID-19 pandemic timeline. Many of the recent events of the pandemic that I experienced were highlighted in this story which made it interesting for me. Overall, I would recommend this novel to teenagers who seek to support activism and those who are interested in mystery/crime books.
Click here to check out Invisible Son by Kim Johnson