If You Could See the Sun
by Ann Liang
Inkyard Press, 2022. 341 pages.
Review written November 29, 2022, from my own copy, sent by the publisher for the Cybils Awards
Starred Review
This book begins when Alice Sun’s parents tell her they can only afford one more semester of the elite international school she attends in Beijing, where she vies for top scores with her nemesis Henry Li. She is the only scholarship student at the school, but half of tuition simply isn’t enough.
Then when attending classes, worried about having to leave, Alice feels completely unseen — and turns invisible. For a short period of time, she can’t see her reflection and no one can see her.
At first she turns to people for help, but no one can do anything, not even her beloved aunt. But something Henry Li says makes her wonder if she can monetize her power. So he makes an app — and people can anonymously ask the “Beijing Ghost” to do things for them in secret.
Well, it starts by working out beautifully, but the requests get more and more shady. But if Alice can earn enough money, she can pay the tuition herself and stay at her school. But how far is she willing to go? And what happens if she gets caught?
I like the way this debut author takes one paranormal situation — spontaneously turning invisible — and builds a story about it. The phenomenon is never explained, though it seems to happen when Alice feels most overlooked. The book also shines light on inequities of wealth and power. And of course there’s a nice romance.
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