What Not To Do If You Turn Invisible

Gr 5–8—Ethel Leatherheard is a 12-year-old girl going through the roller-coaster ride known as puberty. Having been cursed with severe acne for most of her life and having to endure unrelenting bullying from her peers, Ethel is desperate for any solution she can find to make her skin clear and her life easier. Like many people today, Ethel looks on the Internet to find quick and easy cures. On an impulse, she buys a mysterious tea that promises to make her acne problem go away in an instant. With the combination of the tea and the power of a tanning bed, Ethel is indeed cured of many of her problems; yet one additional issue crops up: she is now totally invisible. At first, being invisible is great. Ethel is able to do what she pleases without fear of reprisal and she enjoys her life. But the "miracle cure" becomes more permanent, and Ethel is no longer able to be visible. This sends her into a panic as she, along with some friendly faces, strives to cure her invisibility and get her life back to normal. Equal parts hilarious and touching, Welford's story will appeal to tweens who are in the process of watching their bodies change. Ethel is a relatable character for whom readers will cheer.