“Why does it always feel like Wikerus knows exactly what’s happening, but won’t tell us?”
“Because he knows exactly what’s happening, and won’t tell us.”
“I’m going to vaporize you, Odo Whitley.”

There is more information in this little exchange taken from Tom Hoffman’s newest addition to amazement, The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time than one might suspect, but you need to read Mr. Hoffman’s series of books for young readers in order to appreciate all the humor and joy. This is the remarkable follow-up to The Translucent Boy (and the girl who saw him) which marked the beginning of so many world-hopping, time-traveling, alien-encountering, ghostly-visiting, mind-boggling adventures of Odo Whitley, a mostly see-through boy, and his best friend Sephie Crumb, a …. No. I don’t think I’ll tell you.

In this particular adventure, Tom Hoffman tells about a cat who ran out of time. Sorry. But he does. And in the world according to Mr. Hoffman, such an event is simply and always the Universe’s way of getting his heroes’ attention in order to accomplish mighty and important tasks. The boy is ultra-wary but courageous. The girl is super-smart and brave. Together, they are as funny as hell. (Such language does not appear in Hoffman’s books. Your kids are safe.) And if you think I’m being evasive about the plot, I am. One does not want to give away the origin of the cat’s new name, why young Silas is seeing ghosts, how Odo and Sephie do all the supernatural (err…scientific) things they do, and most especially not why Wikerus always knows what’s happening but won’t tell. Anyway, I’m out of time.

The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time by Tom Hoffman is the second book in the Translucent Boy series. Odo and Sephie are facing another normal week of going about their routine and this week it is his turn to pick the movie. Then they receive a visitor out of time whose reason for being in the present leads them to Silas Ward. Silas has a problem. The ghostly presence of a Lady in Black keeps appearing to him and, upon investigating, he discovers that she is connected to a Ward family mystery. Odo and Sephie team up with Silas to dive into a rich mystery, search for a missing inventor, and uncover the secrets about a mysterious box.

Tom Hoffman continues the journeys of Odo and Sephie with a new adventure as they make a new friend and tackle a time-bending mystery. The world is an exciting place full of possibilities and where a translucent boy isn't so strange. Blending science fiction adventure, coming of age struggles, and a ghostly presence, Hoffman delivers a fun adventure from beginning to end. Through the teamwork between the three kids, Silas opens up his life to making new friends which changes from the start of the story where Silas is fairly alone, being bullied and dealing with ghosts. While Hoffman incorporates several sleuthing elements, these are blended in with a science fiction flair and time traveling antics, including a cat who goes through time. Hoffman weaves an assortment of characters throughout for the three kids to interact with and who help them find answers.

The story also includes several Sherlock Holmes' mentions with the kids reading one of the novels at school to Watson the cat. Sherlock's sleuthing skills have a clear influence on the characters as they move forward. The kids are three ordinary kids but each of them has something extraordinary about them which makes them different. They then use their differences to help others and take on a stance as superheroes, which gives the story a bit of a playful tone and makes the story fun for any age. The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time is an adventure set in a world beyond imagination with charming characters, a delightful mystery, plenty of ghosts, and time traveling fun.

Odo and Sephie, two kids with superpowers who live in a world where magic is science, team up to solve a ghostly mystery and help their new friend. Silas can see ghosts, and he has been haunted by a creepy lady in black for as long as he can remember. Every night she appears, carrying a box and dragging a shovel into the dark basement. Who is she and what is she doing there? Did the strange, translucent cat that appeared out of nowhere once belong to her? Silas isn’t sure he wants to know. But Odo and Sephie are determined to figure out the truth of what happened, and put Silas’s fears to rest, once and for all. Their investigation turns up dark family secrets and catapults them into an otherworldly adventure.

The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time is a fun and engaging kids’ mystery. Tom Hoffman deftly blends fantasy and science fiction to create a unique world filled with quirky characters. The people and settings in Hoffman’s book are very well-written and incredibly creative. He takes ordinary concepts such as ghosts and interdimensional travel and puts his own original twist on them. Odo and Sephie are adorable, and their friendship is realistic and amusing. The Translucent Boy is part of a series but can absolutely be read as a stand-alone novel. With its strong anti-bullying stance and focus on warm friendships, this book will be a hit with adventurous young readers and parents alike.

The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time is a delightful work of fantasy fiction penned for young adults by author Tom Hoffman. In this second installment of The Translucent Boy and his adventures, we follow on from the formation of the unlikely yet perfect friendship between the frosted glass boy, Odo Whitley, and the equally odd Sephie Crumb. As they go about their normal business of helping their classmates with school struggles, Odo and Sephie meet a furry traveler from another dimension altogether, sparking a new and exciting journey across space and time.

It’s hard to top the elegant humor and charming plot lines of The Translucent Boy and the Girl Who Saw Him, but author Tom Hoffman has managed to recreate such style in a brand new exciting plot for his second installment of Odo’s adventures. As the characters develop further from quirky oddballs to emotive young people, so the story deepens and adds some darker shadows to the colorful characters at play. The new people and pets we meet have Hoffman’s stylistic charm when they are described and are full of enigmatic dialogue and humorous mannerisms that ooze charm from each page. As the plot builds and new fantastic possibilities and powers are given to Odo and Sephie, the story expands with unpredictable twists and a satisfying conclusion that will still leave series fans hungry for more. Overall, The Translucent Boy and the Cat Who Ran Out of Time is equally as whimsical and fantastic as its predecessor.