From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up–The protagonist in Things Not Seen (Philomel, 2002) becomes a helpful friend to 17-year-old Gwen, who has been living with her grandfather in Manhattan while attending music school and preparing for intense auditions for college. Then, just after her grandfather and his brother have a fight about money, her grandfather disappears, leaving a confusing and cryptic note. Robert, also a musician, and Gwen pair up to solve the mystery when an uncomfortable reminder of his past shows up. The plot is quick, and readers will identify with Gwen's feelings of being torn between responsibility to herself and to her future, and her need to find her grandfather. Gwen's story is a good mix of mystery, friendship, and fantasy, with a touch of creepiness that will make the most sense to those who have read Things Not Seen.–Sherry Quinones, Frederick County Public Libraries, MD
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From Booklist
Gr. 8-11. Since leaving West Virginia for New York City two years ago, Gwen has been living with her grandfather and studying violin at the Manhattan School of Music. Now a senior, she finds tensions rising as the conservatory auditions that will determine her future as a violinist approach. When Grampa disappears after leaving a reassuring, though cryptic, message on the answering machine, shy Gwen is unsettled but determined to carry on with her routine. Several days later, the manner of his reappearance is a shock, but by that time Gwen has an ally: Robert, a trumpet student who wants to help and seems uniquely qualified to do so. Robert will be better known to readers of Clements' Things Not Seen (2002) as Bobby, who woke up invisible one morning and struggled to become visible again. Gwen's story, which takes place two years later, is already disquieting when an unpredictable and dangerous character enters the story, drawn by Robert's experience with invisibility. That subplot recedes in importance, though, beside the realistic depiction of a young woman who is thrown off kilter by emotional turmoil and not just regains her balance but also gains a new level of confidence. This offers a riveting story line, engaging characters, and intriguing insights into the development of musical artistry. Carolyn Phelan
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