Sight Unseen

13 year-old Finn has a rare eye disease that will likely cause blindness, and as his vision wanes he maintains a countdown of the seconds until “lights out.” During summer vacation, Finn struggles to continue outdoor activities, and during a canoe trip he discovers a magical island where his eyes work perfectly and time stands still, and Finn must decide whether to stay on the island or go back to real life and face the consequences. This engaging novel for grades 5-7 would be useful for novel study or a lit circle, and encourage discussion of personal awareness and identity, risky behaviour, personal safety, and living with disabilities.