Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City is a novel by American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Andrea Elliot. Initially published in 2013 as a five-part article for The New York Times, Elliot expanded it into a book. It was later published in 2021 by Random House.
The novel explores the coming-of-age of a girl born in a poverty-stricken and racist America. Dasani Coates lives at homeless shelters in Brooklyn. Despite her devastating background, she dreams of so much bigger things. Born in the 21st century, Dasani is brought up in an ever-changing city that is driving them out by force.
Elliot explores Dasani's heritage and family, going as far as the slave era. This large scope is meant to showcase the systemic oppression that Dasani was destined to go through before she was even born.
Invisible Child is a truly heartbreaking tale that dares to upend the status quo and give a voice and power to those that lack it most. Dasani's resilience ends up being what keeps her on toes long enough to make it out of poverty. This novel truly addresses issues that plague modern America in a way that is straightforward and gut-wrenching.
