Explores themes of resiliency of children, forgiveness, and redemption.

Rita Schiano's recent novel, "Painting The Invisible Man" is more than a fictional exploration of her life and the gangland-style murder of her father. The book explores themes of the resiliency of children, forgiveness, and redemption.

That is the universal appeal of "Painting The Invisible Man." While the story offers an insider's view of growing up not-quite-like-Gotti, it moves the reader to explore one's own family secrets.

The main character, Anna Matteo, during her childhood uses various (and comical) means of protecting herself, without really understanding the reasoning behind her methods. "Children do things and act out in ways in order to feel safe, and most often without any cognitive understanding of why they are doing the things they do," said the author.