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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I have been so utterly enthralled by everything Marcus Sedgwick has written before - [b: The Ghosts of Heaven|21469108|The Ghosts of Heaven|Marcus Sedgwick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409674391l/21469108._SY75_.jpg|40787024] and [b: Midwinterblood|10836471|Midwinterblood|Marcus Sedgwick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1319727124l/10836471._SY75_.jpg|15750616] most notably - that this felt a bit disappointing because I know that Sedgwick can do so much better than this.
Laureth has a special gift for recognizing patterns and coincidences, so when her father disappears, she knows something's off. To find him, she will have to follow a path of clues and puzzles. The only problem? Laurel is blind. She must use her four senses and the assistance of her little brother if she ever expects to see her father again.
Laureth is a well-written protagonist. There are so many blind characters in fiction and so many of them are stereotyped or portrayed with the upmost inaccuracy; but Laureth felt especially real to me. She spends a lot of time discussing and thinking about how people treat those with disabilities differently, and I found those conversations extremely insightful.
One of the things that bothered me about this novel was how much suspension of disbelief was required to really enjoy it. There are so many moments in the story that felt almost a bit fake (most notably that Laureth's brother has a "curse" where he occasionally breaks all electronics when he touches them). I wish those moments were a bit more grounded and realistic.
I am Not Invisible is an entertaining book about coincidence and chance, but, unfortunately, it just simply doesn't have the magic of Sedgwick's previous books.
My favorite part of this was that it was from a blind girl's pov. I don't think I've ever read a book with a blind MC (unless you count Helen Keller) but this book was really good. It reminded me of the 39 Clues (good old days...); it's realistic and somewhat adventurous.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book and how well the author did at describing the world from the perspective of a blind person. The whole structure of the plot threw me. There was an awful lot of bouncing around from things her father had told her in the past, to just a few days ago, to what was happening currently, to the father's journal and it made everything feel disjointed to me. None of the characters seem really well flushed out. The believability and authenticity of the book left a lot to be desired.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great read from Marcus Sedgwick! I really enjoyed this right from the first page. I didn't know that this book would be so focused on coincidence, but I found that particularly interesting, the study and thought that has gone on around such a small, seemingly ordinary occurrence. Laureth and Benjamin were both strong characters, they came to life for me immediately. I especially enjoyed Benjamin's relationship with Stan and, in turn, how Laureth related to Benjamin through Stan. There are puzzles scattered through the text and it was fun, after I figured that out, to play along with Laureth.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Eh, I liked the mystery aspect of this book, also the hidden message at the end, but other than that, it was just ok. Not amazing, but not horrible either.
