Things That Are

Things That Are follows 17-year-old Alicia Van Dorn, a blind teenager whose life changes when her boyfriend Bobby returns from New York with an invisible man following him. The story connects to the previous books in the series, Things Not Seen and Things Hoped For. The plot centers on Alicia and Bobby's efforts to help William, the invisible man who is being pursued by the FBI. Alicia must navigate this complex situation while dealing with her own internal dialogues and personal challenges. The book features a cast of characters including Alicia's professor parents, Bobby's scientist father and professor mother, and William Townshend - each playing a role in the unfolding events in Chicago. As the third book in the series, Things That Are explores themes of perception, identity, and human connection, examining how people relate to one another beyond physical appearance.

Readers say this final book in the Things trilogy offers a satisfying conclusion while maintaining the magical realism and thoughtful themes of the earlier books. Fans appreciate that the story respects young readers' intelligence and explores complex ideas about perception and reality. Multiple reviewers note that Alison's character growth feels authentic. Parents mention the book provides good discussion opportunities about different perspectives. Some readers found the pacing slower than previous books and noted less action. A few mentioned the philosophical elements sometimes overshadowed the plot. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (52 reviews) Sample reader comments: "Makes you think about how we see the world" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much internal monologue, not enough happening" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect blend of fantasy and realism for middle grade readers" - School Library Journal reader review

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🔸 Andrew Clements worked as a teacher for seven years before becoming a full-time writer, which helped him authentically capture the voices of young characters. 🔸 "Things That Are" is part of a trilogy that includes "Things Not Seen" and "Things Hoped For," exploring the scientific possibility of invisibility. 🔸 The Chicago setting was carefully chosen to reflect the author's own experiences living in the metropolitan area, adding authentic details to the story's backdrop. 🔸 The concept of the "brain fairy" in the story was inspired by the internal dialogues many blind individuals develop to help process their surroundings. 🔸 In crafting Alicia's character, Clements consulted with organizations for the visually impaired to ensure an accurate portrayal of a blind teenager's daily experiences.