Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City

Andrea Elliott

October 5, 2021

Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliott is a heartbreaking depiction of the perilous journey one young girl undertakes in a challenging, inner-city environment. Beginning with 11-year-old Dasani's eviction from her Brooklyn home, readers are ushered into a world where impoverishment and adversity is an everyday occurrence.Through five years of relentless reporting, much of the story focuses on Dasani's struggles to overcome and survive in a Brooklyn neighborhood which lives by its own rules. The details pulled from countless hours of conversations and conversations with those closest to Dasani paint an intense story of survival, resourcefulness, and courage as she navigates her way through a challenging life.The book follows Dasani as she deals with poverty, homelessness and the daily struggle of finding security and providing for her siblings. Readers get a glimpse at the everyday moments of her life, from family dinners to the difficulties she experiences getting back and forth to school.Invisible Child provides an important overview of what it's like to live in poverty in America and develops empathy in readers towards those who may not have everywhere the same access to resources as many of us do. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the page-turning drama of diseases, robberies and rival gangs, but Elliott succeeds in shining a light on the survivors, courage and strength that prevails even in the face of all these obstacles.Overall, Invisible Child is an eye-opening account of what often goes unnoticed in our society and an undeniable tribute to the resiliency of our children. A must read for anyone who wants to be better informed about the struggles of living in poverty in America.