Wonders of the Invisible WorldThe captivating Stonewall Honor-winning novel of love, family, and ghosts of the past Aidan Lockwood lives in a sleepy farming town, day after unremarkable day. But when Jarrod, his former best friend, suddenly moves back home, Aidan begins to see clearly for the first time—not only to feelings that go beyond mere friendship, but to a world that is haunted by the stories of his past. Visions from this invisible world come to him unbidden: a great-grandfather on the field of battle; his own father, stumbling upon an unspeakable tragedy; and a mysterious young boy, whose whispered words may be at the heart of the curse that holds Aidan’s family in its grip. Now, Aidan must find his way between the past and the present to protect those he loves, and to keep the invisible world at bay. Stonewall Honor Winner ★ “The unpredictability of curses, magic, and love are inexorably entwined in this gracefully written story.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred “The complexity of the pairing of real and the unreal . . . is striking, and rather haunting.” —Tor.com “A wonder itself—a coming-of-age, coming-out, and crossing-into-the-mystic novel all rolled into one.” —Tom McNeal, National Book Award finalist for Far Far Away “Brilliant storytelling that unearths new intersections of love and magic.” —Scott Westerfeld, bestselling author of Uglies and Zeroes “If you don’t want a book with magic, mystery, lying parents, ancient curses, and true, true love (plus wonderful writing), then I’m not sure I care to know you. But if you do, then Wonders of the Invisible World is the book you’ve been waiting for.” —Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club |
Contents
My Life in Paper | |
The Angel the White Stag and Other Spirits | |
Second Chances | |
The Trail of My Fathers Blood | |
In Plain Sight | |
Acknowledgments | |
Common terms and phrases
Aidan Lockwood already answer apples began blinked Blue Bomb boy’s breath called Carolyn curse dad’s dark didn’t know Dobry Dobry’s door dream Eva Jablonski everything face father father’s feel felt fingers front hadn’t hair hand happened he’d I’ve inside Jarrod asked Jarrod Doyle kids knew laughed Lily Dale lips Lisbeth Living Death Tree looked Marrow’s Ravine Marsdale memories migraines mom’s Mosquito Lake mother mother’s mouth never night nodded Old Black Suit orchard Plumie pocket watch porch pulled remember road seemed Seth she’d She’s shook my head shoulder smile somehow someone stand staring started stood stopped story Sugar Creek sure talking tell Temperance There’s they’d things thought told took trying voice waiting watch we’d weird What’s whispered white stag window woman won’t woods world’s shadow you’re