Things Not Seen Theme of Love

Love conquers all… well, except for unexplained invisibility brought on by faulty electronics, that is. In Things Not Seen, there's plenty of time for warm and fuzzy feelings even when all the characters are running around frantically, trying to make sense of their lives. Bobby and his parents love him since they're willing to serve hard jail time to keep him safe, and Bobby and Alicia have a good thing going with all their subtle flirting and long conversations on instant messenger. In short, all kinds of love are in the air in this book.

Questions About Love

  1. Why does Bobby feel the need to tell Alicia that he loves her poem in person?
  2. Why does Bobby risk his own safety to go visit his parents in the hospital?
  3. Whose displays of love are you most surprised by? Why?
  4. What's the deal with Alicia's mom stalking her all the time?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

Bobby thinks that he's all on his own when he becomes invisible, but it becomes clear that his parents are right there with him and willing to suffer the same consequences that he does, if not more.

Even though Alicia cannot say aloud that she loves Bobby, she expresses her feelings toward him in the poem that she sends him via email at the end of the novel.