A review by bickie
Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible by Suzanne Kamata

4.0

This book has a familiar storyline: socially invisible 8th grader battles well-meaning parent and mean kids at school and has a best friend who is just as quirky as she is; things change when she travels and meets a cute boy who, outside of the social constraints of middle school, pays attention to her, and she has some life-changing insight. In another incarnation, this could be a heavy-handed lesson in cross-cultural and disability acceptance. However, the details of the story and its honest voice make it feel fresh and authentic. Aiko longs to know her Japanese father, and her Caucasian, American mother is frequently assumed to have adopted her. Aiko struggles with a "claw" and a "bum leg" from Cerebral Palsy but it is not a cause for self-pity; it's just the way she is. The reader learns small bits of various cultures: Japanese, Parisian, Michigan middle school, Hispanic, manga, Art. Along the way, we see Aiko learn about herself and see her be strong and courageous but in mostly small, believable ways. Gadget Girl is a fun, easy read with a lot of stealth depth.