Summary of Fade, by Robert Cormier

Delve into Robert Cormier's 'Fade' where invisibility meets teenage turmoil, revealing dark secrets and moral dilemmas in high school life.

Imagine a high school where the drama doesn't just come from awkward gym classes and cafeteria food but from the ability to fade in and out of existence. Welcome to Robert Cormier's Fade, where the supernatural meets teenage angst in a PSAT study break you never knew you needed. Yes, that's right! Forget about your typical coming-of-age stories - we've got vanishing teenagers instead.

So, here's the scoop: Our hero, Paul, discovers he has the not-so-ordinary ability to become invisible. Talk about the ultimate teen power! Forget about invisibility cloaks that Harry Potter has; Paul can slip into the unseen world at will. But hey, with great power comes great responsibility-or in this case, great teenage drama.

Paul's ability isn't all rainbows and butterflies. As he navigates the social wilderness of high school, he finds that with each use of his fading power, he might just be stepping into a moral gray area darker than a Sunday morning hangover. Paul isn't just trying to avoid gym class; he's getting involved in some very sticky situations, including witnessing some not-so-pleasant happenings that force him into an ethical corner. Spoiler alert: he doesn't always make the best choices and things get real messy, real quick.

Throughout the narrative, we see Paul juggling his newfound powers alongside his desire for acceptance and popularity-classic teen stuff, right? Yet, the things that he overhears while fading into the background reveal secrets that, let's be honest, he really should have let be. From potential assaults to bullying, Paul's ability gives him insight into the darker currents of teenage life. Being invisible might seem like a dream at first, but it leads him to confront unsettling truths about himself and his peers.

Now, let's sprinkle some excitement (or horror, depending on your perspective) into the mix. As Paul encounters the shadows of his classmates-both literally and metaphorically-he begins to see the fuzzy lines between right and wrong, friendship and betrayal, and ultimately the consequences of his voyeuristic tendencies. Speaking of voyeurism, it's like being the nosy neighbor but with the superpower that everyone wishes they had at least once on a Friday night.

To add a pinch of tension, the line between the user and the used starts to blur. Paul does start to get a little too comfortable with his power, and what was once a temporary escape from the real world transforms into a dangerous game. The question remains: when does invisibility turn into cowardice?

Fade is a wild ride through the highs and lows of adolescence, laced with a splash of horror that makes readers question if they truly want to see the world-and themselves-without filters. Between moral dilemmas and personal stakes, Cormier challenges us to reflect on our own visibility in the world. And as the pages turn, one thing is certain: the real challenge isn't just the fading; it's facing the realities we'd rather ignore.

So, if you're ready for a book that combines the teenage experience with a supernatural twist and more moral ambiguity than a reality show, Fade might just be your next read. But remember: once you start, you may never want to face what you find in the shadows!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.