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Module 6 Fiction, Fantasy, YA: Invisible - Written by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

 

Module 6 – Book Review 4 

Review of Christina Diaz Gonzalez’s Invisible 

*This review was written for a course through Sam Houston State University. 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Gonzalez, Christina Diaz (2022). INVISIBLE. Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. ISBN: 978-1-66881-887-9 

2. PLOT SUMMARY 

Five Latino middle school students unexpectedly are forced to come together for community service in the graphic novel, "Invisible" by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. The students, George, Sara, Dayara, Nico, and Miguel, who are forced to work together initially believe they have nothing in common. They think they and are simply overlooked by their peers and adults and defined by stereotypes as just "five Spanish-speaking kids." As they continue to work together in their service project, they meet a girl and her mother living in a van, people in genuine need of help. This encounter prompts each of them to confront their own personal challenges and secrets.   

Through this experience, each student begins to recognize their individual strengths and the importance of solidarity; this leads them to discover that they can make a significant impact together. Gonzalez blends English and Spanish to reflect each student’s cultural identity while reinforcing themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and the courage to stand out rather than remain invisible. The story truly embraces diversity and focuses on finding out "who you really are." 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS  

It has been called a modern-day version of the 1980's classic movie, "The Breakfast Club." In Christina Diaz Gonzalez's "Invisible," there is a diverse cast of characters—George, Sara, Dayara, Nico, and Miguel. Each of the characters manages to embody a different aspect of the middle school experience. Readers can easily relate to the characters as they face their insecurities and see how they fit into the set social standard of not only their school but also their neighborhood and society in general. 

The plot focuses on the characters and their experience with the community service project. It could be argued that it represents both a literal and figurative journey for each of the characters on their path to self-discovery. 

As the story progresses and the characters go deeper into the project, they confront the stereotypes and personal challenges they have always known; however, they now face them while working together for a greater purpose. This changes their views and helps them see from a different vantage point. The audience can see how the struggles and dreams of each character are reflected in the environment created by the author. 

There are well-defined themes of friendship and identity, and the characters demonstrate the importance of working together and not just overcoming but shattering the barriers set by society. Gonzalez's writing style offers a clear point of view that works to capture each character's voice and even manages to work in Spanish phrases with the goal of enriching the cultural context. The author shows the emotional landscape of adolescence and still addresses the issues of visibility and representation which connects to the title, "Invisible." 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 

Booklist starred (July 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 21))  

Gonzalez and Epstein’s illuminating and engaging graphic novel begins in the principal’s office, where five Latino kids—George, Nico, Miguel, Dayara, and Sara—have been summoned. Over the course of the book, the circumstance that lands them in the office becomes clear: while assigned to community service duty in the cafeteria, which mostly involves being scolded by the lunch lady and picking up the yard outside, the group meets a little girl and her mom who are living in their van. With a sweet twist at the end, multifaceted characters, and moments of genuine comedy, this is pitch-perfect for anyone who loves Raina Telgemeier or Varian Johnson. 

 Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2022)  

Gonzalez and Epstein's compelling graphic novel opens with five students from Conrad Middle School sitting in the principal's office. The story ably explores the concept of diversity within the Latin community, including national origin, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, debunking the harmful myth that the Latin diaspora is monolithic.  In the end, the real reason the kids have been summoned is a surprise to them all -- and a heartwarming model of selflessness and community building. 

Publishers Weekly (June 27, 2022)  

Though he doesn’t speak much Spanish, George finds himself assigned as translator for a disparate group of kids-tough-seeming Dayara, who is Cuban; Dominican jock Miguel; rich kid Nico, who’s Venezuelan; and loner Sara, who’s Mexican. When the group meets an unhoused family, though, they come together to provide assistance in their own way. Epstein’s expressive contemporary style brings the characters’ singular experiences to the forefront in a story that largely focuses on its child protagonists finding community over change among its biased adults.  

School Library Journal starred (August 1, 2022)  

When George, who is Puerto Rican, is assigned community service hours working in his middle school cafeteria with "other students like you," he expects to be with the gifted kids, but instead, he finds out that the only thing he has in common with the volunteer group is that they are all Latinx students being unfairly stereotyped by their educators. However, what makes this modern Breakfast Club story truly unique is the use of Spanish and English text to expose readers to the complexities of multi-language literacy. 

5. CONNECTIONS  

  • Related Books - Other books about the themes of identity, friendship, and stereotypes 

  • Craft, Jerry. NEW KID. ISBN 978-0062691194 

  • Lewis, John and Andrew Aydin. THE FIRST RULE OF PUNK. ISBN 978-0425290422 

  • Enrichment Activities -     

  • Identity and Stereotype Discussion – Have students think about and discuss how the characters in INVISIBLE break those stereotypes. 

  • Graphic Novel Creation – Have students create a short graphic story (about 4 to 8 pages) about a time when teamwork or unexpected friendships helped them.


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