By Mie Eidstad
How far would you go to prove that you deserve your place in the world? In Ann Liang’s ‘If You Could See The Sun’, Alice Sun is willing to risk almost everything. While the book may appear to be just some fantasy about a girl who can turn invisible, it is actually a powerful story about ambition, privilege and the crushing pressure young people place on themselves to succeed.
Alice is a scholarship student at one of Beijing’s most prestigious international schools. Surrounded by wealthy classmates who seem destined for success, she constantly feels the need to prove that she belongs. Her grades are not just numbers on a report card; they are evidence that she deserves the opportunities she has been given. As a result, Alice pushes herself relentlessly, believing that failure is not an option.
This constant burden is captured perfectly when she says, “Because even though I’m smart, I’m not that smart. I don’t say this in a self-pitying way either; I’ve long acknowledged and accepted my limitations and done my best to compensate for them with sheer willpower and hard work”. Alice believes that hard work is the only thing standing between her and failure. This mindset is admirable but also damaging. She becomes trapped in a cycle where her worth depends entirely on achievement.
The wealth gap at the school only increases this pressure. Most of Alice’s classmates have family money, connections and security. If they fail a test, their futures remain intact. Alice does not have the same luxury. When her family can no longer afford the partial tuition, she feels as though her entire future is slipping away. Her desperation leads her to use her invisibility to earn money. This shows how inequality can force people into impossible situations.
What makes this novel particularly moving is that Alice’s greatest struggle is not financial – it is emotional. She has become so focused on surviving and succeeding that she has forgotten how to dream. This is why one of the most powerful moments in the novel occurs when one of her teachers says “You’re still a kid, you know. You’re too young to be this hardened by the world. You should be free to dream. To hope”.
Throughout the book, Alice’s relationship with classmate Henry Li plays an important role in her development. At first she sees him as everything she is not: wealthy, confident and naturally successful. However, as they work together, she begins to realize that appearances can be misleading. Their relationship helps Alice realize that her worth extends beyond academic success.
What makes ‘If You Could See The Sun’ stand out is how realistic Alice feels despite the fantasy elements. Many readers can relate to the fear of not being good enough or the feeling that everyone else is somehow ahead. Alice’s invisibility becomes a symbol of how overlooked and isolated she often feels. By mixing fantasy with real life struggles, Ann Liang creates a story that is both entertaining and emotionally impactful.
