The Invisible by Tom Percival
This is the story of Isobel, a little girl who made a big difference. Isobel lived with her parents in a house - a very cold house, because her parents couldn't afford to put the heating on:
| The Invisible by Tom Percival | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A delightful, uplifting book about a little girl who made a difference. Highly recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: February 2021 |
| Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1471191305 | |
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Ice curled across the inside of the window and crept up the corner of the bedpost.
The family didn't go to the cinema or on holidays but they had each other and they were happy. Then the day came when they couldn't afford the rent for the house and they had to move to the far side of the city. This part of the city was cold, sad and lonely and Isobel felt invisible. She was fading away:
She drifted silently down the streets as pale and thin as the wind.
But then Isobel discovered that there were a lot of other invisible people. There was an old lady planting flowers in empty paint pots. The man who slept on the park bench fed the birds. The refugee boy was helping to mend someone's bike. So Isobel decided that she could help too: she looked after stray animals. She helped to fix things and gradually, other people joined in too. The city which had seemed 'cold, sad and lonely' began to be a little more colourful and the people stopped being invisible. And that was how Isobel made a difference.
Oh, but it's a lovely book. You feel for Isobel but you never feel sorry for her because she's not that sort of girl. She doesn't feel sorry for herself and she has no envy. She's warm-hearted and positive whatever the situation and she has the ability to bring people together. We could all do with being more like Isobel.
At the beginning of the book, we see Isobel and her parents. It's snowing but there are flashes of colour -a sweater, a blanket, the fire - the bright sparks in their lives. They have what they need but no more. You never get a sense that they're unhappy. But when they move the colour palette goes much darker: you can feel the cold coming off the page and Isobel's harder to see. She's almost a wraith. But gradually, as the positivity comes back we see flashes of colour - the red of a bicycle frame, the joyous abundance of the flowers until we see the glorious vibrancy of the community coming together and supporting each other.
There are lots of points to discuss with your young reader and the message that difficulties can be overcome, that material belongings are not that important is delivered with a very light touch. I loved it.
It's a tender, uplifting book which will be enjoyed by children of three years and upwards. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
We think you'll also enjoy 10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh and Home by Alex T Smith.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Invisible by Tom Percival at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Invisible by Tom Percival at Amazon.com.
Check prices, read reviews or buy from Waterstones. Waterstones currently charges from £2.75 for orders under £20, over which delivery is free. You may also click and collect from a Waterstones bookshop at no charge.
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