Reading list: Nobviosa, The World Of The Forbidden Obvious
Nobviosa is a fantasyland reserved for creative thinkers, where obvious observations are forbidden. Young teenager Jet qualifies entry because of his original observations of the seemingly humdrum goings-on at a major airport, where he and his mother are waiting to leave on vacation. As soon as he breaks the SBTO (See Beyond the Obvious) code, reality recedes, the airport becomes empty, and Jet finds himself alone until his mentors appear: Everymation, the moving destination board that keeps track of everyone’s thoughts and actions, and his sidekick, the ticket-shaped Tik. Jet soon learns that the key to dodge being expelled from Nobviosa is to follow the SBTO code at all times, which proves to be an exhausting feat when he is confronted by a sequence of challenges. His first trial takes him to a desert oasis where he meets Omar, a highly gifted student, who when threatened by a bully, makes the cowardly and obvious decision to back out of an annual riddle contest. Jet steps in to help, and when their joint efforts lead them to first place, Omar is left feeling both motivated and encouraged. Back at the airport, it is up to Jet to control the turmoil caused by the fierce winds that blow Tik and Everymation hither and yon. By seeing past the surface of the problem, our hero manages to restore order. His next assignment in Nobviosa takes him to a South Pacific island, where a poverty-stricken young native, Kasso, is stuck working for an arrogant documentary crew that conveys unrealistic views of the island, its inhabitants, and culture. Teaming up with Kasso, Jet helps him carry film equipment, but encourages his talented friend to present the documentary himself instead of settling for such a tedious and menial job. After the film director illicitly records sacred tribal ceremonies, an erupting volcano seriously injures members of his crew. As Jet and Kasso help carry them down to the village, they know they will be met by angry tribesmen with weapons, but thinking quickly, Kasso saves the day when he gives the camera to the chief as an apology for intruding the private lives of his people. However, the chief returns the camera, on the condition that Kasso heads the documentary team from then on. The world of Nobviosa continues with its demands when Jet is called upon to assist Aya, a dressmaker in the land of the Phoenicians. Again, cheaters and bullies complicate a competition, and it takes all of Jet’s strength to urge his friend to persevere and aim for victory. By now, fed with knowledge, confidence, and a good deal of experience, Jet feels reborn, but Nobviosa expects him to move on from teamwork to prove he has leadership skills, and his final mission centers around a butterfly farm. Will he succeed? While many books for young adults tackle creative thinking through team challenges, social action, application, puzzles, and learning activities, few are based on fantasy like Nobviosa, The World Of The Forbidden Obvious by Francoise Eid Salameh. Young adults who enjoy identifying with the protagonist will find it very difficult to put this book down.