How to be Invisible by Tim Lott

Strato Nyman, a young boy from an eccentric English family, has no friends, he’s being bullied and his parents seem to be on the brink of splitting up. In this strange and very readable story, Strato uses science to explain the universe and his place in it, treating us to explanations of dark matter, particle physics and something he calls the ‘Mystery of the Magic Atom’. When he finds a mysterious book in a second-hand bookshop with instructions on how to become invisible, Strato decides to follow his bully and his parents, leading him to some unexpected discoveries about the people in his life.

With a smart, likeable protagonist, slightly reminiscent of the boy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, this book is an odd juxtaposition of science and mysticism that doesn’t fully make sense, but provides some interesting diversions along the way. Recommended for curious readers aged 11 and up.


Angela Crocombe