cover image The Weird Disappearance of Jordan Hall

The Weird Disappearance of Jordan Hall

Judie Angell. Orchard Books (NY), $0 (121pp) ISBN 978-0-531-05727-8

The romance between Emma and Jordan should have been smooth sailing. They like each other a lot, have admitted it to each other, and work in the same placeEmma's parents' magic store. Then a black cat leaps into a box from the estate of a long-dead magician. Jordan goes in after itand disappears. He's there, but he's invisible, and the way to gain visibility seems to have gone to the grave with the magician. Trouble ensues, both at school and for the romance; Emma tries to become invisible herself so they can be together. The magic shop is a great background for a story, but readers will figure out that the cat has something to do with Jordan's ""problem'' before the characters do, and Emma's attempt to disappear is the act of a simpering female. Becoming invisible is a popular fantasy, but these peopleand this booknever really take off with the idea. A Richard Jackson Book. Ages 11-13. (September)