Published: June 05, 2011
Words: 57,668 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780983562115

Short description

A girl who turns invisible, the boy she is falling for, and the scientist who wants them both out of the gene pool. Young adult urban fantasy, ages 12 and up.

Extended description

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love.
Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments.
The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

Tags

urban fantasy, young adult, invisibility secret, romance fantasy scifi

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Reviews

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Review by: Romancing the Book on Dec. 03, 2011 :
Reviewed by Valerie at Romancing the Book

Teens not sure of what’s going on? Check. Genetic mutations? Check. Historical mystery to thicken the plot? Check. This book started slow but once it picked up I was hooked!

Samantha has “rippled” a couple of times but has no clue what it means or if she’s losing her mind. Who can just turn invisible? No one she knows so she must be going crazy. Then, she ripples while out on the water and a boy name Will sees and knows what’s happening to her...

As Will and his sister try to explain to Sam what they know about her condition, they continue receiving mystery letters offering safety but what really floored me was Sam reading journal entries by a doctor from the World War II era. The journal entries are morbid and sinister and involve experiments with children being forced to choose between kindness and survival. Not only that, Sam finds out that the “accident” that killed her mother and best friend wasn’t one after all and that SHE was the intended target. It also seems that everyone with the rippler gene is disappearing, but why?

An enjoyable first read for a series. I’d like to know a little more about how Will and Sam were drawn together in the first place so I’ll be waiting for book two!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Romancing the Book on Dec. 03, 2011 :
Reviewed by Valerie at Romancing the Book

Teens not sure of what’s going on? Check. Genetic mutations? Check. Historical mystery to thicken the plot? Check. This book started slow but once it picked up I was hooked!

Samantha has “rippled” a couple of times but has no clue what it means or if she’s losing her mind. Who can just turn invisible? No one she knows so she must be going crazy. Then, she ripples while out on the water and a boy name Will sees and knows what’s happening to her...

As Will and his sister try to explain to Sam what they know about her condition, they continue receiving mystery letters offering safety but what really floored me was Sam reading journal entries by a doctor from the World War II era. The journal entries are morbid and sinister and involve experiments with children being forced to choose between kindness and survival. Not only that, Sam finds out that the “accident” that killed her mother and best friend wasn’t one after all and that SHE was the intended target. It also seems that everyone with the rippler gene is disappearing, but why?

An enjoyable first read for a series. I’d like to know a little more about how Will and Sam were drawn together in the first place so I’ll be waiting for book two!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Julie Witt on Nov. 11, 2011 :
First things first: I loved this book! It deals with a new concept - rippling, which I found very interesting.

From Goodreads: "Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene."

Sam finds herself disappearing at times when she is totally happy, and it freaks her out! She doesn't know why it happens, but she does know that if anyone finds out, she could find herself in a hospital being tested, or worse. One day she is rafting with her cross country team from school, and she disappears in front of everyone. Luckily they think she fell in the water, and while they are looking for her, her friend and team-mate, Will, helps her, and that's how she finds out that she "ripples", a term that Will's sister, Mickie, has given to her ability. Will helps her to gain control of her rippling, and they become closer, but it turns out that her life is in danger, and there is a lot more going on than either one of them knows.

This book grabs ahold of you from the very first paragraph, and takes you on a ride filled with action and romance; good people and very, very bad people; suspense and thrills! It is a very quick read and when you finish, you are left dying to read the next book in the series! The pace of the book is very good, and the romance between Will and Sam is allowed to proceed in a very natural way, without feeling rushed. It has a good mystery in it, too, which leaves you wanting more when you reach the end. Ms. Swanson definitely knows what she is doing!

In summary, I loved this book and I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, romance, paranormal, and mystery alike. I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on book #2 when it comes out! :D
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Julie Witt on Nov. 11, 2011 :
First things first: I loved this book! It deals with a new concept - rippling, which I found very interesting.

From Goodreads: "Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene."

Sam finds herself disappearing at times when she is totally happy, and it freaks her out! She doesn't know why it happens, but she does know that if anyone finds out, she could find herself in a hospital being tested, or worse. One day she is rafting with her cross country team from school, and she disappears in front of everyone. Luckily they think she fell in the water, and while they are looking for her, her friend and team-mate, Will, helps her, and that's how she finds out that she "ripples", a term that Will's sister, Mickie, has given to her ability. Will helps her to gain control of her rippling, and they become closer, but it turns out that her life is in danger, and there is a lot more going on than either one of them knows.

This book grabs ahold of you from the very first paragraph, and takes you on a ride filled with action and romance; good people and very, very bad people; suspense and thrills! It is a very quick read and when you finish, you are left dying to read the next book in the series! The pace of the book is very good, and the romance between Will and Sam is allowed to proceed in a very natural way, without feeling rushed. It has a good mystery in it, too, which leaves you wanting more when you reach the end. Ms. Swanson definitely knows what she is doing!

In summary, I loved this book and I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, romance, paranormal, and mystery alike. I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on book #2 when it comes out! :D
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Amanda R. on Oct. 26, 2011 :
This book had me hooked from the start! The concept is a great idea and I didn't want the book to end. Their was romance and suspence which equals a great combination.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Megan Celtic_Girl on Oct. 19, 2011 :
'Rippler' was such an incredible story! I was able to read this book very quickly. This is the first fantasy novel that I have ever read and I didn't realize until I read this book, how entertaining fantasy novels can be. I will definitely be reading more of them in the future.

Sam Ruiz just learned that she is a Rippler, a person who can become invisible, and she learns that someone wants her, and all others like her, dead. This made the story very suspenseful, but the story also had it's light-hearted moments.

At first, I found the excerpts from Girard L'Inferne's journal a bit confusing, but towards the end of the book, they began to make sense.

'Rippler' was a wonderful book, I completely enjoyed it. The ending didn't cover all the things that were brought up in the story. So I can't wait to read the next book, because I just have to know what happens next. Even though this book is written for a young adult audience, I think that adults would find it enjoyable as well - I know I did. I especially recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy novels.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done***
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Emily Rachelle Russell on Oct. 12, 2011 :
Just when Samantha Ruiz finally starts making friends and feeling happy again, an alarming problem arises: she becomes invisible at random intervals. After such an occurrence during a kayaking adventure, a teammate reveals that this is caused by a very rare gene. She and her teammate, Will, begin an adventure of research and secrets in an attempt to help Sam take control of her Rippler's Syndrome while Will and his older sister try to find answers to the scientific mysteries and strange murders surrounding research of this gene.

For a self-published book, this was amazing. Actually, for any publication method, this book was amazing. The cover and description themselves drew me in, and everything kept going up from there. The characters were easy to relate to and realistic; the back stories were believable and true to the character's present situations. The plot was original and very well-backed-up, although the ending was somewhat a cliffhanger. The scientific aspect was amazingly created. This is one teen book with the perfect blend of romance and adventure - the perfect mix of originality and truth.




From what I understand, this is the author's debut novel. I must say that if she knows how to market her work, the stunning quality of her work will do the rest of the work. I expect to see her climb the ladder of teen fiction popularity soon. My only complaint was the use of curse words. In several areas, the author hinted at cursing without actually writing the words - this shows taste and reality at the same time. However, as the book progressed, the hinting shifted to use of the actual words, and this just turns me away. Why ruin a great story with bad language? Simply because it's in the real world doesn't mean it has to be on the page.




I give this book four stars, and am absolutely dying to read book two.




I received this book for free through LibraryThing in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Scooby2 on Oct. 04, 2011 :
This story will pull you in and leave you wanting more. The plot is great and keeps going, there is romance, adventure, mystery and history. I read this story in one setting. It is for young adults, but adults can enjoy it as well. The teen dialogue is great and isn't teeny. I am definitely going to be getting the second one
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: marand on Sep. 28, 2011 :
I could not put this book down and enjoyed every page of it. Samantha has a freak gene and by chance she ripples but is not really sure what its called, till she meets a boy, Will who also can ripple. They explore the powers of rippling and the friendship and romance that develops between the two. I hope you are busy with another book Cidney - I cant wait to read it!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Quin With a Purpose on Sep. 26, 2011 :
E-Book Format

Sensational! Beautifully charged with emotions of love; of family and country, the loyalty to friends, family and self, survival, family, loyalty, and religion as well as a scoop of non-vanilla science.

I like the feeling of how a child must come to terms with her identity, her friendships, and her sense of inner peace. She learns the mundane about pizza making, finds a waterfall hiking trail, and learns the dynamics of a non-nuclear family. While the normal steps of a high school setting leave us wondering how much mischief and mayhem a teen can find, we soon learn that a girl of 15 has a lot to think about, deal with and certainly when one must learn to exist in the visual world, while protecting her rippling (not a spoiler) the story becomes catching, and makes you turn the page for more, much more. Sam, has much with which to concern herself: friends – Who are they? Family – what doesn’t she know about them. Science – her high school research and some personal interests, Sports – running for pleasure, running for fun and running to make quality time with a boy? Lastly, culture, the smattering of German, French and American scientific culture, history and underbelly might surprise you.
I recommend you have the second book ready upon finishing the first, for the last page of the first book, is really the only reason I stopped reading the storyline where I did. The second book…can’t wait to get through the reading list I am behind on, so that I can get into Book II. Chameleon.
Careful, you’ll lose sleep is you pick up this book, you won’t be putting it down until you are done.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Meg Staggs on Sep. 24, 2011 :
"Rippler"-An Exciting Young Adult Novel...
I am NOT a young adult, but I still enjoyed this book immensely. It started out with a "bang" (in the water where the main character suddenly experiences her first conscious "Ripple"). There is mystery, romance, adventure, and lots of action, which keeps the main characters, Samantha (Sam) and Will, quite busy.
The author draws you in and makes it easy to suspend disbelief enough to really have a fun time. If you have ever wanted to be like a fly on the wall, seeing but not being seen, this one is for you!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: GMTA PUBLISHING on Sep. 23, 2011 :
"RIPPLER" BY CIDNEY SWANSON

What would you do if you had the ability to turn invisible? Not only could you turn invisible but you could become almost ghost-like, walk through walls, through people, take things without anyone knowing, practically cease to exist for long periods of time and not even feel the need for food? Sam can, and she doesn't know why. Her only hope lies in a boy named Will, two years her senior and his sister Micheky that's obsessed with what they've decided to call "Rippler's Syndrome".

The thing is, Sam isn't the only one, Will is a Rippler two and there have been others before them, others that have died. Now it is up to them to find out why and find out who is behind this seemingly genetic disease that so many are being killed over.
I have to say this book was a refreshing difference from your normal YA paranormal fantasy and I loved it. The characters were new and exciting and the story itself was remarkably written. Cidney Swanson should definitely continue writing and bring us more in this series. A wonderful book!

Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community


Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=childrens&thread=649#ixzz1YpBnybv8
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: jordan chapman on Sep. 16, 2011 :
Rippler was an awesome way to start this series. I loved Samantha and Will and the pace was just right. Wonderful way to storm the young adult book market! Buy this book!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Heather Robbins on Sep. 13, 2011 :
5x5 Excellent start!!
What a great start to the series! I was really interested in this cool ability that Sam possesses and it's a little scary. The characters are all well rounded and very likable. The story line is great, different and new. I am anxious to see what is in store for everyone as the series moves on. There is fun, adventure and yeah some romance *sigh* so you should definitely get it and read!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Suzanne on Sep. 11, 2011 :
I was fortunate enough to win this book through a library thing member giveaway, so thank you library thing and Cidney Swanson for the opportunity to read this book! As always, I do not allow the fact that I won a book to form my opinion of it. That being said, onto my review!

I actually ended up enjoying this book a lot, which came as a surprise to me because I didn't really care for the first thirty pages or so. The book moved into action very quickly, for me, a bit too quickly. It felt a bit rushed to me, and I was worried the author would have her leading characters tangled in a love story without giving me the time to appreciate the characters as individuals first. Fortunately, this was not the case, and the pacing of the whole story smoothed out nicely. It still remained a fast paced story, but the rushing sensation evaporated.

Sam and Will are both interesting characters, and the paranormal concept behind the story was unique and nicely thought out. I particularly enjoyed the insertion of journal entries regarding the experiments of long ago. I thought it was a cool way of giving us background information, and also of informing the reader of the nature of the adversaries.

I would definitely say this story is worth a chance if you like paranormal adventures. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it, and I will be looking for book two!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: sistahanime on Sep. 09, 2011 :
I will try to review without spoilers.

This book started at a fast pace and kept it going fully through. I now have yet another new favorite author because she is one of the few people to do a Young Adult book very well.

When I read the description, I thought it would have a science fiction feel, but i was completely wrong, in a good way. She managed to make the characters condition seem like an actual medical condition and she obviously did research to make the feel of the book realistic. Goal accomplished.

This book kept me invested the entire time and the little romance that was in there was just enough because there are other sections in the plot that made up for it. The plot itself was smooth and any little side trips that was taken was important for later in the story. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read book 2.

I give this book a 4.5 and I suggest this to readers who like Young Adult and even to those who don't. It's well worth while read.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Hannah Hummel on Sep. 09, 2011 :
It is definitely worth reading through that second chapter. Rippler is a thoughtful, entertaining young adult novel with strong and appealing characters who interact in realistic ways. I think that Cidney Swanson has a strong future as an author. My only complaint is that the second Ripple book is yet to be released. I want to know what happens next!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Ruth Albarran on Sep. 09, 2011 :
The book starts at an amazing pace with one of the main characters disappearing and showing some of the effects of a condition that makes her invisible. A friend helps her through out her journey of finding out what her condition is, how she can control it, and what this will do to her. Her friend protects her and saves her secret. She later finds out that her friend has the same condition and they go into this journey of discovering themselves and researching for more information about it and who is after them as a result of this condition since everyone wants to use it for their own benefits or experiments.

Throughout this journey Sam fall in love with Will but is afraid that he doesn't feel the same way about her and she kind of keeps her feeling to herself afraid that she might lose Will's friendship as a result of him not feeling the same way about her. Through the story the reader identifies that Sam's mother might not have died as a result of a car accident but that it might have been murder. Sam also discovers that her mother might have had the same condition as her and that she could have been a Rippler. Sam also has to deal with someone looking after her who is trying to kill her or use her as an experiment.

This is an amazing story that keeps you reading and wanting to know more, full of riddles and unanswered questions. i think the story was refreshing and a bit different from what you currently get on YA novels. I'm definitely looking forward to book 2 and see what happens next to Sam and Will and if they get to discover who is doing experimentations on children who have the same rippler gene as Will and Sam. I do think the story was longer than it needed to be but all in all, it was an awesome story line
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lesley Nase on Sep. 09, 2011 : (no rating)
From Rippler’s first line, “The screaming was the first clue that I’d turned invisible again.” this coming of age YA book has you captivated. Cidney Swanson masterfully tells the tale of two teenagers that share one thing in common, they both can become invisible. Will has known he was a rippler from a young age. On the other hand, Sam never knew that being invisible had a name. Cidney’s use of dialogue moves the story along as Sam figures outs the how and whys of rippler along with the uncertainties of being a teenage girl. Rippler will leave you wanting more of what’s to come in Book Two.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Angie Creech on Sep. 08, 2011 :
Sam has been through a lot in her life, she lost her mom and best friend in a horrible hit and run accident. After that she kind of faded into the background. Now years later she has made some friends and is taking part in life again. Now that she is happy she also discovers that she is able to turn invisible. Will, her new friend, notices her disappear. Now Sam, Will and his sister must try to find out the truth about why this happens. This was a good book and I am interested in reading the next book in the series.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Tennille Griffith on Sep. 08, 2011 :
WOW i could not put this book (or ebook really) down. it was fantastic and fast paced all the way through.....I definatly recommend it and I only have 1 question....When is the next book coming out???? And i DO NOT want to wait!!!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: tjsjohanna on Sep. 07, 2011 : (no rating)
I love the premise of this book - that a genetic mutation can cause one to literally disappear. Sam's discovery of her unique gift is both exciting and dangerous. Luckily for Sam she has a guide - someone who also has this gift AND is handsome and attractive. There's a bit of a mystery and some hints at the nefarious use of eugenics all wrapped up in this ability Sam has. The ending definitely leaves the reader wanting more!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Bonnie Misaalefua on Sep. 07, 2011 :
FANTASTIC! A fast paced fun read!I read the first page and was hooked! It took my mother coming into my room in the middle of the night TWICE to make me put it down! Only to wake up at six the next morning to finish it.Loved it! Can not wait for the next book! A MUST READ!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: tierratheseeress on Sep. 06, 2011 :
Excellent book! I could barely put it down. I kept saying to myself, just one more chapter. I primarily read fantasy and loved the magical elements as much as the romance and the mystery. I thought the book was overall well-paced. As a reader, I was slowly immersed in the world of the protagonist Sam. I enjoyed learning about rippling alongside Sam. Compared to some books I've read I thought Rippler had a slightly slower pace as far as getting to the action; however, I think it suited the book. I loved that information about the past wasn't just given up at the beginning. The more you read, the more you learned about what happened to Sam's mother. I am so excited for the next book to come out.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Beth M on Sep. 05, 2011 : (no rating)
Aaagh! It doesn't end! I need the sequel! NOW! I loved this book! She had me by the end of the first paragraph. I even had to get up in the middle of the night to finish it, because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Definitely high on my YA "you gotta read it" list.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: MrsFlicker on Aug. 26, 2011 :
RIPPLER is, simply put, a good read. The plot is quick-paced and suspenseful. Swanson spins a tale involving friendship, love, family, and invisibility in such a way as to keep readers wanting more. This novel is impossible to put down once it’s begun, and leaves the reader seeking more. RIPPLER is worth reading, and its sequels are worth waiting for
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: saritad on Aug. 25, 2011 :
From the moment I picked up this book, I was hooked. It had all the elements of a great YA paranormal novel and none of the things that have been done to death. (By the time I finished the book and no sparkly vampires or topless werewolves had made an appearance, I was even more impressed.) Cidney Swanson puts a new twist on the genre by introducing Sam, a young girl who has an unfortunate habit of literally disappearing into thin air. This novel combines mystery, danger, young romance and a new look at paranormal abilities. I cannot wait for the next book!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Alic on Aug. 23, 2011 : (no rating)
This is the first e-book I've read and I think it has raised the bar on what I expect. From page one, the story grabbed my interest and held it through to the end. The author has a wonderful way of describing scenery and environment that makes you feel as though you are right in the middle of a small dusty California desert town. The characters are likewise sufficiently fleshed out so as to engage the reader in their story. I especially liked the plot twists and the inventiveness of the storyline--a very interesting take on eugenics and behaviorism under the guise of young romance. It's different--something I don't think I've seen before--in a world where stories have lately been all about vampires. The writing itself was fresh and fast-paced. I liked how each chapter managed to be something of a cliffhanger to keep you reading more. This book may be for young adults but its subject matter is relevant to anyone. Definitely 4 stars!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Margaret (Literary Chanteuse) on Aug. 21, 2011 :
I was really hooked from page to page as I went on this teens adventurous journey not only of her discovery of a power to make herself invisible but of love, grief and strength. A great young adult book!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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