Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of "Invisible Son" by Kim Johnson. This is my first read by this author and I found the story to be complex and thought-provoking. It was current to the times and characters were mostly-relatable. I struggled at time to stay invested in the story, but it was mostly captivating. I was hopeful for the resolution. I wonder how young adults will receive this story.

It Got Deep

This was such an interesting read. It takes place in 2020 right as Covid hit the US. Seeing how the virus impacted everything around Andre was relatable. Yet his story of having to face those challenges on house arrest made for quite a different perspective. It felt like the world was working against him in so many ways. With Andre being such a decent, lovable kid, I just wanted to see him win. His complicated dynamic with Sierra was both captivating and frustrating at the same time. The mystery of where Eric disappeared to when things hit the fan absolutely made the book for me. When the mystery was solved, I was shocked. That twist was heavy. The book also touched on the social uprisings related to George Floyd. Andre’s heroic antics didn’t seem realistic, but the intensity was perfectly illustrated. I absolutely loved the way music was such an integral part of the story. That made me happy.

I think this has been one of the best fictional accounts of those tense, scary times during the first half of 2020. I gave it four stars. I would highly recommend reading this upon its release. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Kim Johnson for this advanced copy to review. #InvisibleSon #NetGalley.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Let’s start with the cover. It’s gorgeous! And even though I shouldn’t, I do judge books by their cover. When I first saw the cover, I read something about a wrongly accused Black teen and decided the cover and the blurb were fantastic and immediately wanted to read Andre’s story. The moment I opened my ereader my eyes fell on the names of the chapters and those names made me giddy with pleasure. I love chapter names called after song titles, in this case great eighties and nineties songs, so I eagerly started reading.
 
Kim Johnson gave Andre a tight and passionate voice. From the first page on, I felt Andre’s struggles. Wearing an ankle monitor, out in the world again but not really free, searching for his friend Eric, all those things made Andre an admirable MC who stood up to his believes while dealing with being a Black boy and its consequences daily. The ending of the story broke me in pieces and made tears well up on my eyes. The impact of this book is comparable to books like Dear Martin, The Hate They Give Us, and The Cost of Knowing.
 
HOWEVER
 
I hate to say this, but I liked the story less because of the setting in 2020 during COVID. I’m just happy that the feeling of being enclosed is over. I fully understand why Kim Johnson set this story during this period, it added an even more suffocated and tense feeling to the novel, but I’ve found out that I just don’t want to read anything about it yet.
 
So, if this book just had been about Andre’s struggles as a wrongly accused Black teen, I probably would have rated it a full five stars. Now I sadly rounded my 3.5 star rating rating down. But this is entirely on me, and if you don’t mind reading about COVID, I highly recommend picking up this powerful YA novel!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy of Invisible Son in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller by Kim Johnson is all about social justice, relationships, and what life is like for many teen black/brown boys. The last 18 years of my teaching career I worked with high school students and saw first hand the inequality between white students versus any other race in the schools. Sadly there were even some educators who treated students differently.

Our narrator, Andre, has been accused of a crime he did not commit, but keeps his mouth shut and goes to juvenile jail because that is the safest thing for him to do in his little community within Portland, Oregon. When he does get out he wants nothing more than to clear his name, reconnect with his friends, especially Sierra, and to figure why he was set up. Why is Sierra's brother Eric missing? Why did Sierra's adoptive father hire a lawyer for Andre?

Sierra's father is running for office.... how does that play into the story? There are protests for the murder of George Floyd going on in Portland. You will notice the erasure of black history in this novel, along with the racial bias of the justice system, the negative impact of COVID on communities of color,

Andre is ready to get back to school so he can graduate on time, but COVID just throws another obstacle into Andre's path forward. Andre wants to investigate and does as much as humanly possible as he has an ankle monitor tracking his movements day and night. Andre starts snooping and slowly uncovers several interesting facts about the Whitakers (Sierra and Eric's adoptive parents). Andre eventually confides in Sierra and her adoptive siblings.

This book is an emotional roller coaster and extremely insightful for those who have no clue what black/brown teens have to worry about 24/7 and what life is like for them.

The book was ok for me, the writing was good and lots of details. The author did a great job with this book and I’d look forward to reading more from this author

I wanted to love this book, unfortunately this just wasn't for me.
My sincerest apologies to the author, however that does not mean a different book will not be a perfect choice.

This is My America was one of my top books from 2020, so I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Invisible Son, and I jumped at my chance to get my hands on an ARC.

Invisible Son is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of racial identity, societal prejudices, and the process of reclaiming one's life after a wrongful conviction. The story masterfully intertwines the turbulent events of 2020, including the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the horrific death of George Floyd, and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests that engulfed Portland, Oregon.

Johnson's skillful portrayal of Andre Jackson, the protagonist, is one of the standout aspects of the book. Told in the first person, the reader is given an intimate window into Andre's thoughts and feelings as he navigates the difficult circumstances of his life. Johnson effectively conveys Andre's determination to reclaim his identity and seek the truth behind his wrongful arrest. His journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, as he grapples with feelings of isolation and a deep sense of injustice.

One of the central themes of Invisible Son is the concept of power dynamics in society. Through Andre's experiences, the novel explores how a few individuals hold the power to shape the lives of those who are marginalized and disenfranchised. The story also delves into the subject of gentrification, as Andre returns to a rapidly changing Portland neighborhood and tries to make sense of the transformations around him.

While the novel tackles heavy subject matter, it also includes a captivating mystery surrounding the disappearance of Sierra's brother, Eric. This subplot keeps the reader engaged and adds a layer of intrigue to the story. As Andre attempts to find Eric, he uncovers truths about his own arrest, and the “picture-perfect” family next door.

The one area where Invisible Son falls slightly short is the development of some of its minor characters. While Andre's character is richly detailed, some of the secondary characters lack similar depth and complexity. However, this does not detract significantly from the overall impact of the novel, as the focus is primarily on Andre and his journey. (To be fair, there is quite a large cast of secondary characters, and the most important ones are nicely developed.)

Despite this minor complaint, Invisible Son is a captivating and moving novel that offers a profound exploration of social issues, personal identity, and the power dynamics in society. Johnson's evocative writing, along with the compelling mystery and Andre's emotional journey, make this book a must-read. I highly recommend Invisible Son to anyone interested in a thought-provoking, character-driven story that tackles the difficult subject matter with nuance and empathy.

I loved this book! Maybe even more than This Is My America. This was the first book I've read that takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that really hit home too.

Johnson did a good job writing about conditions during the pandemic from multiple viewpoints and on multiple issues the pandemic impacted. Andres returns home after being wrongfully incarcerated right as CoVid 19 appears. And, his quest to find out who framed him brings up all kinds of secrets. The most compelling chapter was 26, when Andres experiences a situation that highlights the danger of being a young male of color. This book is full of moments ripe for discussion. This is a book well worth reading.

Kim Johnson did it AGAIN. This book was so heartfelt and I connected with the emotions portrayed right away. Just like in This is America by Kim Johnson, I COULD NOT put this book down. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Wished I could rate this book more than the 5 stars allowed! This book was deep! Highly recommended read!

I am not going to lie. This book was hard to read. It brought back so many 2020 feelings. But I really appreciate the author making a point of saying he wanted to capture this moment in time. It was such a hard time. And even harder for Black men. Andre’s story could have easily gone a different way. It’s just a reminder to continue advocating for everyone and stand against hatred in every form whether it’s the BLM or transgender rights.

Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
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Andre is stuck doing community monitoring after a brief (didn’t feel brief) stay in juvie. The problem is, he is innocent. And now he is going to confront his friend, Eric, and get him to help him out of this mess. But when Andre gets home Eric is missing. His family says he ran away. Then a pandemic hits, because it is March 2020.
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This book deserves the five stars that I gave it. I will admit it hits HARD, lots to digest, all the seriousness, but it was such a fantastic tale that basically could be a real person from that not so long ago time period.
Andre was a great POV and I felt all the truths he was dishing out to us readers. I will need to get my hands on a physical cooy at some point for highlighting and annotating purposes, there was a lot of things I would like to go back and remember.
This was a powerful read, and I would recommend to everyone.
Trigger for those who aren’t ready to read books set in the pandemic.
(But seriously this was really, really good.)
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved Kim Johnson's debut novel but this one is somehow even better. It's a mystery set in the early days of COVID (so be aware if that's an issue for you) and that serves to make the stakes feel incredibly high.

I love Andre and his family (primarily his grandparents, but also his parents) and his best friend Boogie. It's a fantastic support system and serves as a great contrast to his friend (quasi-girlfriend?)'s family.

It's hard to do this without spoilers but just read this book. Highly recommended.

An innocent black boy in the right place with the wrong people. We meet Andre Jackson after his release from Juvenile Detention, convicted of a crime he didn’t commit because he refused to snitch on his friends that did the dirty work. Now - one of those friends is missing since the day Dre was convicted. As he tries to find out what happened to his friend, wonders if he has anything else to worry about getting blamed for, and worries about the relationship with his long time crush (that missing friends' sister) - suddenly the pandemic is in full force across the country and nothing will ever be the same.

Kim Johnson knows how to write real people, going through real things, in the midst of real important events. She does not shy away from difficult subject matter, from the reality of life for people of color and the world they navigate so differently.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the digital copy, this is my honest review.

Invisible Son is a powerful novel about Andre and his experience coming home from a juvenile justice facility, after being framed for a crime he did not commit. Johnson tackles a lot in this novel: the juvenile justice system, the pandemic, systemic racism, the Black Live Matter protests, conspiracy theories, adoptive families, abuse, grief... It may seem like too much for one novel, but Johnson pulls it off. Set against the backdrop of the unrest from March to August 2020, Andre has to solve the very personal mystery of what happened to Eric, the friend who lived next door. The plot is complicated and readers who were too young or out of touch to be aware of all that happened in the spring/summer of 2020 might struggle to keep track of the heavy topics presented. On the flip side, readers who remember those bewildering days will recognize how authentically Johnson has captured the uncertainty of the time. The plot and unfolding mystery pick up speed as the novel progresses. There are a couple of instances of strong language (though it is far from gratuitous) and violence, and the story is an emotional one. Readers who persevere through the heavy twists and turns will be rewarded with a hopeful note, one that is still sorely needed. Recommended for high school and up.

Another must read book by Kim Johnson.
Andre (Dre) has recently left juvie and on probation with an ankle monitor (even though he is innocent)right around the time the pandemic is just starting out. He is looking for a way to reclaim his identity and now looking for his friend who he didn't realize was missing the whole time he was gone. While searching for a way to clear his name and for his missing friend, things are starting not to add up at all. Will he ever find the answers he is looking for?

The pandemic was horrible for so many reasons and as a teacher during that time it was clear how awful it was for teachers and students. Living in NYC, with people in such close quarters, was even more difficult, some of us dealt with isolation and others with the inability to find space or alone time. For Andre, our Main character in this book, he is dealing with just being released from Julie for a crime he didn’t commit, and just getting his freedom only to find that restricted by the pandemic. On top for that he is dealing with trying to prove himself to those he loves, the loss of his best friend and the closeness of the love of his life. He navigates this all and the murder of George Floyd as he tried to find his voice and his place in this world. I LOVED this book and was moved to tears more than once. The author depiction of the pandemic and the illness of COVID was so real it was painful to read na re-experience. I missed several of my subway stops on the way to Work because I was so engrossed the book, I even went over the water into Brooklyn and don’t notice!!

A teen rejoins society, hoping to solve a mystery and reclaim his true identity is engrossed in an unraveling tale that brings him face to face with a chilling reality he must address.

This was a great YA read. I was hooked to Dre’s story and was emotionally tied up in the plot. However, I think there were too many social pieces used to piece together his story. I think focusing on one or two would have been more powerful.