Publishers Weekly
08/22/2022
A Chinese American scholarship student with an inexplicable ability to turn invisible uses her newfound power to monetize her peers’ secrets in Liang’s imaginative debut. Unlike her affluent classmates, 17-year-old Alice Sun has only her hard-earned “established streak of success” going for her. After receiving news that her parents can’t afford the tuition for her next semester at the prestigious Beijing-based Airington International Boarding School, she’s faced with transferring to a local Beijing academy or moving in with her auntie to attend school in Maine. But when she suddenly finds herself able to turn invisible, she uses this gift for leverage. With help from her academic rival Henry Li, they anonymously create the Beijing Ghost, a phone app that allows students to request Alice uncover secrets and scandals for a fee. As the tasks escalate to a criminal level, however, the cost becomes greater than Alice anticipated. Liang paints a clear picture of what it’s like to struggle for certain advantages that are seemingly handed to others, skillfully exploring themes of classism and privilege via a sympathetic protagonist who feels—sometimes literally—invisible. Ages 13–up. Agent: Katherine Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Academic rivals portrayed to perfection… An all-time top favorite." —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends
"Utterly unique, thought-provoking, and wonderfully written, If You Could See the Sun was a thrilling ride that hooked me from start to finish. Ann Liang is a fantastic new voice in YA!" —Gloria Chao, author of American Panda and Rent a Boyfriend
"Absolutely breathtaking. If You Could See the Sun is a clever, compassionate examination of class, privilege, and the American Dream, with characters you can't help but root for. Liang is a rising star in YA fiction." —Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief
"Liang’s debut is dark academia at its finest with a supernatural twist. You can’t help but root for Alice when secrets and blackmail rise to the surface at Airington." —Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune
AN INDIE NEXT PICK
A YALSA BEST FICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SELECTION
A BUZZFEED BEST YA BOOK OF THE YEAR
A POPSUGAR BEST YA BOOK OF THE YEAR
"An intriguing genre-crossing debut." —Kirkus Reviews
"Liang paints a clear picture of what it’s like to struggle for certain advantages that are seemingly handed to others, skillfully exploring themes of classism and privilege via a sympathetic protagonist who feels—sometimes literally—invisible." —Publishers Weekly
"Smart, funny, and poignant, this book is a tremendously fun read... This debut will satisfy any reader looking for a fun caper with a dash of magic." —Booklist
"A very entertaining and fun commentary on deep social issues, this book is set to be a classic." —NPR
School Library Journal
01/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—Alice Sun has worked harder than any other student at her international boarding school in Beijing. Her peers may be the elite of the elite, but for Alice to keep her partial scholarship, not to mention compete with irritatingly perfect Henry Li, she has become the "Study Machine." When her struggling parents announce they can no longer afford tuition, the pressure makes Alice go invisible. Literally. Can she use this new talent to hire herself out to her peers as an invisible detective, avenger, possible criminal? How far is she willing to go to pay for a future her rich peers were born with? This story dives headfirst into exploring the spectrum between what is right, and what is fair. When do the ends stop justifying the means? Add to it an enemies-to-lovers subplot and a setting rich with Chinese culture, and you have a perfect, character-driven page turner. However, while the stakes are heart-poundingly high, the miniscule repercussions when Alice's actions inevitably come to light damages the greater narrative. The romance, while enjoyably tense, also suffers from a somewhat flat love interest. VERDICT Readers who have felt they never quite fit in, be it socially, culturally, or economically, will see their struggles reflected in Alice. However, they will also find an ending that doesn't fully hit the mark.—Elisha Sheffer
Kirkus Reviews
2022-08-17
Will an unexpected power become a gift or a curse?
Alice Sun is the recipient of an academic scholarship from Airington International Boarding School in vibrant Beijing and an overall high achiever with serious perfectionist issues. One day, as she stresses about family funds and the possibility of dropping out of this elite institution, she discovers she has the curious ability to become invisible. Who does she turn to for help? Rich, charismatic, and aggravatingly handsome Henry Li, her academic rival and the only person she knows well enough to take her seriously. They both quickly move past the freak-out stage, looking instead to the opportunities this power might bring. As they set up a business, charging classmates for ferreting out secrets, things quickly escalate from discovering who is cheating on whom to requests that have them questioning their moral grounds. Contemporary cultural references may quickly date the novel, but it is certainly reflective of its time. The story, in which events sometimes take a comedic turn, focuses less on Alice’s supernatural ability and more on her building relationships, including a growing romance with Henry, and the truths behind the facades people put up. Most featured characters are assumed ethnically Chinese, though this international school caters to many elite East Asians.
An intriguing genre-crossing debut. (Fiction. 12-18)
