Blog 4: The Last Invisible Boy

I am reading a new book called "The Last Invisible Boy" by Evan Kuhlman. The main character in the book is the "invisible boy" Finn Garret. Living with him is his mom, Enid, his younger brother Derek and his cat Henry. So far in the book, Finn has talked about his household, his life, how he has been ever since his dad has died, and how he has become the Invisible Boy. Finn has not yet stated exactly how his father had died but it is easy to tell he has because in the book Finn states "Life would be easier if dad were still here. He loved his wife and his two kids with all of his heart." Based on that statement I was able to predict and tell that his father past. Finn is called the invisible boy because he says that ever since his father had past his skin has become even more pale than ever, and his what used to be shiny black hair is becoming more white and clear. He related these changes to a big eraser falling straight from the sky and onto his body, erasing everything he has. That is what he also compares his life to. Finn has been picked on at school for these changes as well. That is why to start this new school year which has started two weeks ago in the book, he is still yet to go because his mom is giving him time to recover from this big tragedy. As for Derek, he had no problem going back to school and has actually been doing well, at least that is what Finn says. Finn also says that school was part of his "dad is still here world" since dad would always help them with their homework, drop them off a school and even teach them lessons about what a good education could do for them. But since he is gone, Finn is taking a few weeks away from the bullies and memories. And that is what has been happening so far in the book "The Last Invisible Boy."

After reading a few chapters I was able to tell the first conflict in the book. The conflict that the whole Garret family is facing right now is that the dad in the family is gone. He was a big part to the family and loved every single one of them. He would help Finn and Derek with problems at school and even teach them lessons for their soccer lives. He would help their mom around the house and would always make sure she was ok and rested after she came home from work. These are clear examples that the dad was a good man and a great father and husband. But unfortunately for the garret family, he has past. In the book Finn even states "He was a good man and a good father. He worked very hard at a job he didn't like much, managing a sporting goods store called World Champs Sports." This statement clearly proved that Mr. Garret was a good man and even though he did not like his job that much, he knew the money was important for his family. So that is why him being gone is a huge conflict. Finn now feels like he is invisible without him, Edin, the mother, has been even more depressed than ever, and Derek is trying to hide his feelings at school so he doesn't get made fun of. They feel like with their father there, he would be able to solve all of these problems. But the sad part is that he is no longer there, and that is the conflict.