THE TRANSLUCENT BOY AND THE GIRL WHO SAW HIM

This YA SF adventure sees two misfit teens discover some important truths while on an otherworldly mission.

One day, Petunia Whitley received a mysterious package in the mail. It contained a bottle of Peach Blossom Bouquet perfume with a note attached saying, “Use of this product during pregnancy may result in the birth of translucent children.” Petunia was pregnant and used the perfume. Now, her son, Odo, is 15 years old. Because he’s translucent, he goes through school unnoticed by virtually everyone—except Sephie Crumb. Like Odo, she doesn’t fit in. Yet unlike Odo, she’s able to hide her special talent, an ability to see people’s brain activity. When Odo decides he wants a bike, he gets a job with Serendipity Salvage. The company gives him a special ring and $500. At home, his mother asks him to take a mistakenly delivered parcel to Wikerus Praevian on Expergo Street. On the way, he’s joined by Sephie, and together they approach a “creepy old Victorian mansion.” They meet Wikerus, who’s from the world of Fortisia. He teaches the teens the basics of “dimensional shifting,” which takes them to the bucolic world of Pacalia. So begins their whirlwind journey of self-discovery, facing off against pirates, magicians, and the hive-minded Atroxians. Hoffman channels the Doctor Who franchise in this sweetly madcap escapade. While avoiding teen tropes such as love triangles, the plot rewards attentive readers with clever details, like the toy “six-wheeled sailing truck” from Odo’s childhood that’s modeled after a vessel he and Sephie will eventually ride in. The author also teaches his audience lessons, everything from Latin phrases (“aperi oculos tuos et vide”; “open your eyes and see”) to biology (“The amygdala is the part of your brain responsible for fear”). Dramatically revealed secrets regarding Sephie and other characters add spice to the story. Many of the otherworldly capers feel like packing paper surrounding the treasure of philosophical lines like “Most creatures are controlled by their fears, not by reality.” One beautiful moment has Odo realize that “the universe is a magic show and we’re all trying to figure out how the tricks are done.” Hoffman’s overall message that weird things are precious is well emphasized.

A big heart beats within this conceptually chaotic romp.