The main deviation of the novel from his other works is his introduction of a fantasy element to the story. The novel opens in the 1930s with Paul Roget, an adolescent suffering perhaps twice the normal angst of his age because he is both a) poor and b) French Canadian living in a New England town. Early on in the story, however, sensitive Paul learns he is very different from the typical adolescent. He can fade, that is, become invisible, a trait that has been passed down through his family from uncle to nephew as far back as can be traced.

       Paul begins to suspect the actual greatness of his ‘gift' early on. The Fade allows him to see things that he'd rather not know about, and when he finally abuses his power to its fullest extent, the narrative more or less ends.

       And continues with Susan, a college student living in more or less the modern day. The reader at once discovers that Susan has been reading the same narrative as the reader, being a distant cousin of Paul's and a friend of his editor, to whom this test has been passed. (Paul, consequently, has grown up and died at 42 as a very famous, if not introverted, writer.)

       The main question of the novel then presents itself when Susan asks it: Is the fade real?

       The novel grows increasingly complex with the addition of Ozzy, yet another confused adolescent, and finally ends with Susan again.

       The ending is to be expected of a Cormier novel. Although the reader of course hopes for a definite conclusion to the novel, where all questions are answered and no strings are left attached, any true fan of Cormier would know that that is unlikely. And somehow, the ending provided by Cormier is satisfactory, even, in some respects, conclusive. (This, of course, is another tribute to Cormier's literary genius.)

Release Date: Reissue edition (October 1991)

Book Length: 304 pages

Genre: Young Adult