Fade

Rating:
Summary: Can one face the fade and not succumb to evil?
Review: Robert Cormier is a compelling author. he never takes the easy road- each story forces the reader to face the inner self. In Fade we confront the idea of what we would do if we could become invisible. Adding the editor with her doubts, balances out the preposterousness of the idea... yet Cormier in telling the story of Paul tells the story of the dark side in each of us. I read this in two days because I wanted to know if Paul could save his successor from the terror her felt when he first learned he could vanish. I would offer this book to any teen I felt was trying to make choices and is wondering about what direction his/or her life will take. Cormier is unflinchingly realistic and knows the cruelty in the world- and his books reflect that but also bring hope.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Robert Cormier's unique knack for capturing the turmoil of adolescence (and to a lesser extent adulthood) with a haunting sense of melancholy is displayed perfectly in this beautiful novel.

The book focuses on Paul, a boy who discovers he can "fade," or become invisible; a gift inherited from his uncle and passed on to Paul's future nephew. Paul sees it as a useful feature, but the things he sees while in the Fade shock and disturb him, alienating his from his friends, causing him to view the world in a different way. The bits narrated by Sally, the interlude by Paul's cousin, and the Olly section at the end are all well done and spice up the plot, but it's Paul's narration that I find most fascinating.

The author hasn't written a fantasy novel, he uses the fade to expand the idea of coming to terms with change and the pain suffered because of this supernatural ability. Just as Cormier exaggerated the search for identity in I Am The Cheese, he seems to use the fade as a metaphor for growing up. The initial delight, the confusion and disgust towards the things that corrupt innocent eyes, the weary character that emerges... all seem to link to the author's recurring theme of adolescence.

As usual, the characters conjured up are memorable and unique, and I love the way Paul's cousin casts them in different lights and adds a new dimension, challenging us to choose who we believe.
Aside from Paul, Olly is probably the boy that I remember most vividly; Paul's nephew who inherited the fade. Unwanted, he goes through life lonely and rejected, loved only by the nun that takes pity on him. When he discovers his ability to Fade, he sees it as a great tool and a secret only he knows, but soon becomes paranoid that people know about "his secret" and plan to conspire against him. His conscience wrestles with the voice inside his head, encouraging him to kill the few people who take an interest in his sorry life.

Haunting, gorgeous... All in all, a perfect book. Well worth your time and money.

Rating:
Summary: a teen review
Review: This book evokes very powerfull emotions that can appeal to different reader preferences. I preferebly enjoyed the descriptions of the feelings of intimacy that the protagonist experienced. He, who first experiences the fade talent is a sensible innocent kid who uses the fade in an innocent profound matter. The second character who experiences the fade becomes a serial killler therefore resulting this book in dealing with murder, hate and oter negative states. Honestly this was my personal favorite book mainly because of the language that the author chooses to use and of the different views that he chooses to portray. It is a little bit imaginative but at the same time conveying a sense of reality of the use of a talent like the "fade". I recomend it to any teen reader but be prepared to experience numerous contrary emotions..some disturbing, some gratifying.

Rating:
Summary: Fade in our hearts
Review: This book is great! It totally reveals the different aspects people view on certain subjects. How this book was written also enhances the addictive plot in this book.
The book was bisected into two different time periods, flashing back and forth, starting off with Paul the main character's autobiographical letter. In this writing, Paul described the ability of fade and how his long-gone uncle came and explained to him about when this ability originated and offered some past experience of his. Acquiring this ability, Paul eventually found himself dismal and lost later. After thirty years later, his far cousin Susan and her grandfather - Paul's cousin - gave their opinion on the ability of fading.
We, in our daily lives, would sometimes wonder if we acquired such and such supernatural powers, and what we would do with such and such powers. The truth is, when we actually get these powers, the vicious minds of ours would emerge and the world would fall into chaos. The book Fade pointed this out clearly. Susan and her grandfather's views on the power of fading are also reflected in this world. To believe or not believe, I think the characters in us would interfere this issue. Just like Susan's grandfather, being a detective had surely shaped him into a more logical person. This book Fade stated many situations and thoughts encountered either spiritually physically in our lives and personally I think it's a must for every reader.
The author Robert Cormier has also written some well received books such as the Chocolate War, which both my friends and I found pretty interesting, and if some of you have read it, you would not be disappointed with this fascinating book of his - Fade.

Rating:
Summary: Fade in our hearts
Review: This book is great! It totally reveals the different aspects people view on certain subjects. We, in our daily lives, would sometimes wonder if we acquired such and such supernatural powers, and what we would do with such and such powers. The truth is, when we actually get these powers, the vicious minds of ours would emerge and the world would fall into chaos. The book Fade pointed this out clearly. Susan and her grandfather's views on the power of fading are also reflected in this world. To believe or not believe, I think every character each of us would interfere this issue. Just like Susan's grandfather, being a detective had surely shaped him into a more logical person. This book Fade stated many situations and thoughts encountered either spiritually physically in our lives and personally I think it¡¦s a must for every readers.