The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko

The story of 17-year-old Ivan Isaenko's tragic existence is revealed through an abandoned notebook. He was born with severe disabilities as a result of the Chernobyl disaster and uses a wheelchair. Abandoned by his parents at birth, Ivan has lived his entire life at the dismal Mazyr Hospital for Gravely Ill Children in Belarus, where meals consist of watered-down cabbage soup. Human contact is limited to the nursing staff and other "mutant" patients in the hospital. Despite his limited physical abilities and small world, Ivan is extremely bright and imaginative. He spends his days observing those around him, reading, and spying on the hospital staff. The protagonist's inner voice and crafty dealings with the hospital personnel bring levity to the narrative—particularly when he pretends to slip into a comalike sleep so that he can better eavesdrop. Ivan longs for a connection to a mother he never knew. He falls in love with a clever leukemia patient named Polina, a bittersweet experience, and his inevitable heartache will resonate with readers. Many teens will appreciate the humor and the realistic interactions between Ivan and Polina. Unlike many of the characters in YA novels, who appear confident and wise beyond their years, these adolescents are awkward and self-conscious until they develop a comfortable rapport.