Transparent
by Natalie Whipple
Series: Transparent #1
Published: May 21, 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult
Format: Paperback (350 pages)
Source: Library
Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is. An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults. After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.
Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.
The first thing I noticed about Transparent was that it had a nice voice to it. I loved the main character Fiona’s honesty and dry humor about how she was born. Fiona had me smiling a lot with the things she said like when she said she read her math book because she was “that bored.” I found Fiona incredibly likable. Her invisibility defines her whole life and she struggles with the fact that she could potentially be the perfect criminal, that no one will ever call her pretty, and that sometimes she isn’t even treated like a person with feelings since people can’t see them expressed on her face. I loved watching her grow when she had to face the choice of pretending to be whatever she imagined instead of who she really is.
I had a hard time at first understanding the world that Transparent is set in. My questions did get explained later on, but I felt a little lost at the beginning especially about the “syndicates” (which are essentially mafias) and how the dynamics of that worked. There was a very subtle dystopian feeling since the world is essentially run by mafias, but I wouldn’t put it in that genre.
I really enjoyed all the other characters and their interesting super powers. I think my favorite was the creative and useless power of emitting odors. I want that one. The secondary characters have beautiful back stories as well. My favorite was the character with the super strength and the disadvantages that came with it. And Miles was such a likable older brother/father figure who was adorably protective of Fiona. One of my favorite moments of the book was when Fiona discovered that her parents are people with a past and she suddenly gets why they do what they do.
I loved the cool twists in this story. I went back to skim read all the signs I obviously missed. There were big hints but you have to remove your labels and judgement and you can’t believe everything you’re told. Those are the very best plot twists in my opinion.
I haven’t read a romance that I’ve enjoyed this much in a very long time. I loved the connection that slowly grew between them. They slowly fall in love as they get to know each other. The tension between them was so interesting without feeling like there was unnecessary drama.
Overall, Transparent had a nice conflict and a cool plot twist with a wonderful cast of characters and an adorable romance.
Content Rating: Medium, for some language.
About Natalie Whipple
Natalie Whipple, sadly, does not have any cool mutations like her characters. Unless you count the ability to watch anime and Korean dramas for hours on end. Or her uncanny knack for sushi consumption.
She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
This book sounds really interesting. I am a big fan of regular people having superpowers. Great review.
I need to read this!! I won a copy of it at the Authorlink event she was at in Provo and I just haven’t read it yet; due mostly to the fact that I have an obsession with libraries and I constantly check out library books even though I own books I haven’t read yet. Glad to hear it was a good read! Thanks for the review :)
This is one of my favs this year! I loved how fun and spunky it was, but I also loved the serious parts. I agreed with everything you said except I didn’t have a hard time with the world created.
I know I know I’m kind of dense. But I just did not get the whole “syndicate baby” thing while she was at school. Is it a good thing? A bad thing? And it took me longer than I want to admit to figure out what syndicate even meant.
Your review definitely makes me want to read this book. Adorable romance and cool plot twist? I’m there!
Okay, I know I would like Fiona! I always love reading dry humour in books. Not to mention memorable romances! I think I read in some other reviews that people weren’t impressed with the lack of world building either, but I am definitely intrigued enough to look past that. Thanks for the review, Jessica – great job!