Gr 2-4-This fast-paced contemporary story grabs readers' attention much like a prime-time sitcom. Together, Chip, an invisible boy; Justin, who is hearing impaired and a lip reader; and Charlene, a bold, dramatic leader, solve mysteries under the banner of Invisible Inc. This series entry concerns the disappearance of Charlene's prize-winning short story that she is supposed to read at Parents' Night. The trio follows a trail of suspects and clues before apprehending the culprit. The colorful cartoon illustrations are visually appealing and help readers follow the story. However, unless youngsters are familiar with the previous books, they may experience difficulty keeping the various characters straight. Beginning readers looking for engaging contemporary stories might turn to titles in Bill Cosby's "Little Bill" series (Scholastic), which unfold at a slower pace and feature bright, dynamic illustrations.-Pam Hopper Webb, Sandpoint Community Christian School, ID

When Charlene's story is chosen to be read at parents' night, she's ecstatic. Finally, she'll get her parents to focus on her instead of on her older brother. Unfortunately, when her turn comes to read, her story has disappeared. It's a perfect case for Invisible, Inc., the investigative trio comprising Charlene; Justin, whose deafness has caused him to become an outstanding lip reader; and Chip, who happens to be invisible. The mystery is very slight, but the interactions between the characters have solid appeal, and the meaty text, with plenty of quotes and descriptive passages, gives children a good opportunity to practice their reading skills. The high-quality illustrations in this Hello Reader! book are a wonderful bonus. (Reviewed July 1998)