Vanishing Act

by Laura Martin

Overview

Fans of the Percy Jackson series and John David Anderson will love this sequel to the acclaimed novel Float, in which inconveniently invisible Hank must find a way to save Camp Outlier from a saboteur—and win the camp-wide challenge.

Hank, Emerson, and their friends have returned to Camp Outlier for another summer of fun and shenanigans. Hank won’t let his RISK (Recurring Incident of the Strange Kind) factor of inconvenient invisibility stop him from having the best summer ever, even when it starts mysteriously turning people and objects around him invisible too. But between his invisibility and an internet celebrity joining their cabin, camp clown Hank is struggling to maintain his spotlight.

Hank knows that if he can win the camp-wide challenge for his team, all eyes will be back on him (or, at least, on where everyone thinks the invisible kid is standing). But as the finish line approaches, it becomes clear that someone is trying to sabotage Camp Outlier—and Hank’s pursuit of camp-wide glory puts him in serious danger.

Laura Martin’s books are the perfect blend of humor and heart, starring deeply relatable characters and highlighting classic middle grade themes in engaging, creative ways. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063136762
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Series:	Float , #2
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Laura Martin is a mom by day and a middle grade author by night, although in her heart she will always be a seventh-grade language arts teacher. She lives in the Indianapolis area with her family. You can connect with her on Instagram @LauraMartinBooks or at lauramartinbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

Simply superb. Martin’s novel feels exactly like summer camp should; the antics of the boys and the friendships they develop will make readers wish they were roasting marshmallows in the woods with their best friends.”

ALA Booklist

Praise for Float: “A fun, funny, and fast-paced summer camp romp full of pranks, plot-twists and goofy superpowers. Emerson’s adventures (and misadventures) teach us that the greatest power of all comes from the friends who push us to overcome our perceived limitations and make the most of every moment.”—John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day and Posted

John David Anderson

2022-04-27
A 13-year-old boy with an unpredictable power returns to camp for another summer of misadventures in this follow-up to Float (2018).

“Inconsistently invisible” Hank can’t wait for another summer at pricey Camp Outlier, the one place where he and other RISK kids stigmatized for their uncontrollable abilities, or Recurring Instances of the Strange Kind, can find a sense of belonging. However, his excitement turns to worry when his time-traveling friend appears in the airport bathroom with a tearful warning that Hank is going to die. To make matters worse, a YouTube heartthrob joins their cabin, stealing the center of attention from Hank and making him feel more invisible than ever. On top of that, someone is attempting to sabotage their camp. At this camp of misfits, the cast of characters is predominantly White, with race largely indicated through clumsy, stereotypical descriptors (“gingerbread-colored skin,” “almond-shaped eyes”). Hank flirts constantly with girl campers, referring to them as “ladies” and commenting on their attractiveness regardless of their interest in him, behavior in keeping with the book’s overall presentation of gender relations: “I’d had my sights set on her at the beginning of camp the summer before, but after I’d realized that Emerson did too, I’d done the gentlemanly thing and stepped back. Besides, Kristy was an intriguing challenge, and I liked intriguing challenges.” Not unlike Hank’s flirtation, the story’s lesson about technology addiction lacks subtlety and nuance.

A sequel filled with boys-will-be-boys sensibilities. (author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews