January 22nd, 2013 from EgmontUSA
There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.
That’s why they make the perfect assassins.
The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.
Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.
I love the synopsis of this story! Part science fiction, mystery, and adventure. The fact we are talking about people who basically go undetected throughout their lives and kill others, who doesn't love that?! I thoroughly enjoyed the opening chapters of this book. We meet Claire who is repeatedly ignored or not heard. Nobody, not even her parents, care where she is or what she does. She is less than a fly on the wall, less than the wallpaper itself. You can't help but feel sorry for a girl whose own parents have a sign on the back door reminding them of their daughter's existence because they have left her behind so many times. When she meets Nix, a boy sent to kill her, she finally gets herself a life.
I loved the concept behind the Institute and their controlling, intrusive, and possessive ways. I wish we would have learned a little more about the place - the world. I wanted to hear more about how Nix grew up in a place that literally stole his childhood. As Nix and Claire stay on the run (Nix didn't kill Claire after all), they develop fast and furious feelings for each other. While I worried that this was completely unrealistic - a girl falling for her would be killer within hours - I had to think about Nix and Claire being nobodies there whole life. This is the first time they been able to carry on a conversation, look someone in the eye.... While I wished there was more caution on Claire's part I think young readers will over look this.
Fun sci-fi with alternative perspectives, mega character building, and an appearance by creepy twins we meet again. Ages 14+
Add to Goodreads
You can find Barnes at her website
