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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
( 3.5 ) I wasn't quite sure what to expect going into this. The blurb kind of made it sound like there was going to be a little bit of a thriller / mystical element to this book, but it seemed to be a little watered down. Hence the reason I've created a shelf called 'middle grade' as it seems to fit that category a little better than young adult. Having said that, it was a really cute story!
What I Liked
What Could Have Been Better
What I Liked
1. The way the blindness is handled. It's mentioned in the book, sure, but not in a way that would make a younger child think that anything was truly troubling about her situation, which is great! As is mentioned in the book, so much of blind people in literature are seen as people who are too weak to do anything for themselves, or they go completely the opposite direction and make them superheroes (Daredevil). There isn't a big panic about her being blind, but rather we just see her being brave. We see her fly seven hours to get to America with only herself and her little brother, but rather than thinking she's brave for doing this because she's blind, we think she's brave for doing this because she's SIXTEEN and uh, may have committed fraud.
2. That we really got to take a look into Laureth's mind, and see what an everyday was like for her. She brought up the idea that it truly doesn't matter that much to her that she's 'missing out' on something. She's never been able to see different colours so why should she obsess over something that isn't going to happen? We can't see molecules (unless we use the super strong microscope that they just made), but only a portion of us actually invest our time into it. I would be completely fine if I never saw a life - it probably wouldn't make a difference to me. ps. please let me know if this view is kind of narrow minded
3. Benjamin was such a sweetheart. He was so good at helping his sister around, and knowing what to do. He was just the cutest, but at the same time he was so smart? It wasn't like he was a 20 year old in a 7 years olds body, he was definitely 7; rather he was an intelligent 7 year old but with all of the whining that comes with them. I love how he talked to his stuffed raven as well! That was so adorable, especially when Laureth was trying to get him to do something.
What Could Have Been Better
1. Occasionally the journal extracts seemed a little bit . . . unnecessary. I have a feeling that if I had skipped a few, I would still be able to understand the entire story. While it's true, there was ONE passage that was extremely relevant to the book, apart from that I couldn't find too much use for them.
Laureth Peak is a blind sixteen year old teenage girl. She lives in London with her mom, dad and younger brother Benjamin. When her dad'd notebook goes missing, Laureth knows something's wrong when her dad doesn't answer his phone. When she told her mom what she thinks happened, her mom just brushed it off. Laureth takes her brother with her when she goes to New York to collect her dad's notebook. That then raises more questions about where he is. Will Laureth and Benjamin be able to find their dad?
Four out of five. While this is an amazing book, it isn't a book that I couldn't put down. I was able to without forcing myself to. I put it down willingly. The plot is great, it just could've gone better. By adding some entries in the book, it just made it confusing. The beginning of the book and beginning of the middle wasn't great. Like it was good, but then as the book went on, it got better, just a really slow and confusing beginning.
Four out of five. While this is an amazing book, it isn't a book that I couldn't put down. I was able to without forcing myself to. I put it down willingly. The plot is great, it just could've gone better. By adding some entries in the book, it just made it confusing. The beginning of the book and beginning of the middle wasn't great. Like it was good, but then as the book went on, it got better, just a really slow and confusing beginning.
Marcus Sedgwick, best known for his haunting, dark stories, takes a turn towards something a little more contemporary with She Is Not Invisible. This is a different book than you would expect from Sedgwick, but although it lacks the sinister edge of something like Midwinterblood, he still brings a very bright, literary streak to this one, with just a hint of something magical.
While the book took some suspension of disbelief, it was a very enjoyable read, and I loved Laureth and Benjamin. Their relationship is very sweet, and they both look after each other in the best of ways. They have to work together to try to unravel the mystery of where their father went, and it takes a lot of teamwork and help in unexpected places. Both of them felt very true to their ages, which was refreshing. Laureth makes some dumb, impulsive decisions that you would expect of a teenager, and Benjamin is a very convincing seven year old, just precocious enough without being unrealistic.
I loved the fact that Laureth was blind, and was never treated as "other" or "less than" just because of her disability. I felt like Sedgwick wrote about her blindness in a very real, respectful way, showing the difficulties she faced and the way that she dealt with the way other people treat her, but also showing how she's conquered these things to become her own person, not defined by her blindness.
I did feel like the last few chapters were just a rush to wrap everything up, however, and I had hoped for maybe a little more complex of a solution than we actually got. Compared to the rest of the book, I felt like the ending was just a little too easy, so it was a bit of a let down. I do feel like maybe this book is one where there's more to it than meets the eye, though, especially given its thematic focus on coincidences. I'd be interested to read it again and see if there's a little more depth in some places than I first thought.
If you've been wary of checking out Sedgwick's work previously because you think it may be too dark, this would be a good one to start with, as despite the mystery, it's not nearly as dark as his other works.
(As an aside, I really loved the UK cover for this one. It's just simple artwork, but I like it way more than this. Whenever I was over in London last year, I spent a good bit of time in bookstores, and I couldn't help but notice how much I prefer the UK covers to the ones we often get here in the US, and this one is no exception.)
While the book took some suspension of disbelief, it was a very enjoyable read, and I loved Laureth and Benjamin. Their relationship is very sweet, and they both look after each other in the best of ways. They have to work together to try to unravel the mystery of where their father went, and it takes a lot of teamwork and help in unexpected places. Both of them felt very true to their ages, which was refreshing. Laureth makes some dumb, impulsive decisions that you would expect of a teenager, and Benjamin is a very convincing seven year old, just precocious enough without being unrealistic.
I loved the fact that Laureth was blind, and was never treated as "other" or "less than" just because of her disability. I felt like Sedgwick wrote about her blindness in a very real, respectful way, showing the difficulties she faced and the way that she dealt with the way other people treat her, but also showing how she's conquered these things to become her own person, not defined by her blindness.
I did feel like the last few chapters were just a rush to wrap everything up, however, and I had hoped for maybe a little more complex of a solution than we actually got. Compared to the rest of the book, I felt like the ending was just a little too easy, so it was a bit of a let down. I do feel like maybe this book is one where there's more to it than meets the eye, though, especially given its thematic focus on coincidences. I'd be interested to read it again and see if there's a little more depth in some places than I first thought.
If you've been wary of checking out Sedgwick's work previously because you think it may be too dark, this would be a good one to start with, as despite the mystery, it's not nearly as dark as his other works.
(As an aside, I really loved the UK cover for this one. It's just simple artwork, but I like it way more than this. Whenever I was over in London last year, I spent a good bit of time in bookstores, and I couldn't help but notice how much I prefer the UK covers to the ones we often get here in the US, and this one is no exception.)
Breezed through this in a day and it was a pretty good read. Elements of Scarlett Thomas seem to be present in both plot points and cover design. The ending felt simplistic but then I wonder if that was the point - things usually have a much simpler explanation than we may expect. The characters of Laureth and Benjamin were well written and made me want to read more of the authors other works and also to visit New York again.
".. and you don't have to understand everything about something to love it, do you? In fact, sometimes that can make you love something more."
My second book from Marcus Sedgwick and I'm totally impressed. I don't know exactly why but all I can say is I totally dig this book that I didn't mind that some scenarios were kinda unrealistic and not believable. I am swept away by the greatness of this book. It's free-flowing, nervous-inducing and heart-warming novel that I immensely devoured. I also didn't experience any boredom while reading this. Seriously.
I thought this is the first time I read a book which has a blind as a main character (who is Laureth). The story is good yet with a blind main character, the story got better. Not because Laureth is blind but because her character as a blind was plausible and portrayed very well by the author. It was revealing and convincing for me. And there were thoughts and insights chanelling by the author through Laureth's character about blindness that are admiring and moving at the same time.
Besides, even some thought it was trying hard to be deeply philosophical, I found the lectures and explanations (which is a main part of the story) about coincidences, patterns of the universe and math interesting and helpful, not just storywise but readerwise also since I've got to learn something I don't know.
It was really good, okay. Thought-provoking, clever and diverse, She is Not Invisible imparts an important message about blindness, life, obsession, chances and some things we make us think, that eventually we need to think about.
This book was weird. If I go crazy would you be kind enough to point out this book for my family?
I think I understand blind people a bit better now and it was really cool to read a book with a blind protagonist.
Not much to say about this, but it was amazing!
I think I understand blind people a bit better now and it was really cool to read a book with a blind protagonist.
Not much to say about this, but it was amazing!
I was actually hoping to hate this book, or at least be so bored of it that I wouldn’t get past 50 pages but somehow I managed to hit around 100 pages before I realised that it was late and that the book hasn’t bored me to death. I randomly picked this book out of the mass amount of Young Adult books in my local library mostly for the pretty cover and the interesting title. I admit that. So after having the book for about two weeks and my return date being right around the corner I decided to at least give this book a try.
I was so suprised. I mean the writing and the main characters just. Wow. I wasn’t expecting the main character to be blind, and I wasn’t expecting the writing to portray that in such a way. I guess I would have expected the author to make it very clear from the very beginning about the lack of eyesight that Laurenth has but there were only hints I guess is the right word. It took me a while to notice that the author has not actually described what people look like, the colours that were there or anything like it. I guess I was just blind to that (ha… sorry) The amazing thing about this book is how thoughtfully it has been written. All the other senses are heighted and written; like what Laurenth was feeling or hearing at times.
The story follows a 16 year old blind girl and her little brother on a quest to find their father who seems to be missing. Having travelled from England to New York to follow clues that might not actually be there and having to deal with not being able to take care of everything herself the journey is really unpredictable. There was so much that could have gone wrong and nearly did go wrong and I just still can’t get over the writing.
This book was so cleverly written that I’m still in somewhat shock afterwards. By the last page I was mesmerised by the story and how much it meant to me. I wasn’t expecting it to leave any deep feelings or make me sit in my room for a while and think about what I’ve just read.
Marcus is such an underrated writer; I wish that more people would realise how amazing his work is and that his words are remarkable.
I was so suprised. I mean the writing and the main characters just. Wow. I wasn’t expecting the main character to be blind, and I wasn’t expecting the writing to portray that in such a way. I guess I would have expected the author to make it very clear from the very beginning about the lack of eyesight that Laurenth has but there were only hints I guess is the right word. It took me a while to notice that the author has not actually described what people look like, the colours that were there or anything like it. I guess I was just blind to that (ha… sorry) The amazing thing about this book is how thoughtfully it has been written. All the other senses are heighted and written; like what Laurenth was feeling or hearing at times.
The story follows a 16 year old blind girl and her little brother on a quest to find their father who seems to be missing. Having travelled from England to New York to follow clues that might not actually be there and having to deal with not being able to take care of everything herself the journey is really unpredictable. There was so much that could have gone wrong and nearly did go wrong and I just still can’t get over the writing.
This book was so cleverly written that I’m still in somewhat shock afterwards. By the last page I was mesmerised by the story and how much it meant to me. I wasn’t expecting it to leave any deep feelings or make me sit in my room for a while and think about what I’ve just read.
Marcus is such an underrated writer; I wish that more people would realise how amazing his work is and that his words are remarkable.
One final time I told myself I wasn't abducting my little brother.
This book has it all - a blind protagonist, science, math, weird unique things like the fact that Laureth's name was inspired by a shampoo bottle, an epic sibling duo, a stuffed raven, a lesson in kindness toward people of colour, a mystery, and Marcus Sedgwick's crazy amazing writing.
However, it fell flat for me. We're led on through the whole book to believe that the end is going to be some dark, clever, horrifying revealing of secrets closely guarded - and then dropped with little more than a pat on the head. Anti-climatic. I feel like I traipsed into Sedgwick's mind expecting something amazing (like we got with [b:The Ghosts of Heaven|21469108|The Ghosts of Heaven|Marcus Sedgwick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1409674391s/21469108.jpg|40787024]) and found only a rambling idea for a story - not a real story at all.
Also, what is up with these people reviewing it and classifying it as horror? This is the farthest thing from horror.
This book has it all - a blind protagonist, science, math, weird unique things like the fact that Laureth's name was inspired by a shampoo bottle, an epic sibling duo, a stuffed raven, a lesson in kindness toward people of colour, a mystery, and Marcus Sedgwick's crazy amazing writing.
However, it fell flat for me. We're led on through the whole book to believe that the end is going to be some dark, clever, horrifying revealing of secrets closely guarded - and then dropped with little more than a pat on the head. Anti-climatic. I feel like I traipsed into Sedgwick's mind expecting something amazing (like we got with [b:The Ghosts of Heaven|21469108|The Ghosts of Heaven|Marcus Sedgwick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1409674391s/21469108.jpg|40787024]) and found only a rambling idea for a story - not a real story at all.
Also, what is up with these people reviewing it and classifying it as horror? This is the farthest thing from horror.
adventurous
mysterious