On a perfectly ordinary Sunday evening, Kenzie is suddenly struck down with a mystery ailment. She eventually comes around in some sort of hospital to discover that she is suffering from an unknown genetic condition that has rendered her skin transparent. When she looks in the mirror she sees an eyeless, hairless skull. She eventually returns home to her somewhat distant father and her beloved younger brother, Finch, who also suffers from a multiple sclerosis-like genetic condition. Kenzie rarely goes outside and then only if her skin is completely covered but somehow a photo of her goes viral. Her father pressures her to make a media appearance to earn enough money for a new treatment for Finch, whose health is rapidly deteriorating. Kenzie's only respite is spending time with her Nan and her Nan's lodger, Gabriel. who are both blind.
This book begins with a bang and you are immediately drawn into Kenzie's world and the horrific thing that is happening to her. Kenzie is a beautifully realised character and the use of first person means we get to experience the horror of what happens to her along with her other emotions and thoughts. Finch is a incredibly patient, long-suffering invalid who is wise beyond his years while their father remains an enigma - is he a baddie or just a very flawed individual? The shadowy figures that seem to be monitoring Kenzie's every move add an extra element of intrigue. This book was gripping and hard to put down. I'm not sure that I was entirely convinced by the ending but read it and make up your own mind. Recommended for older teens (who don't have sensitive stomachs). ( )