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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com/2014/06/review-she-is-not-invisible.html
I got a tad bit lost when I read the book, mainly when we got a peak at the main character's fathers notes, which is why it did not get five stars. Besides that I really enjoyed this story and connected with the main character because if there was a chance that my father was in trouble I would totally jump on plan to anywhere to find him.
In YA or even adult novels you do not see blind protagonists very often (and now I want to go find some more) and I think that Sedgwick did a great job of writing the experience. Even if sometimes she seemed to do things a little too well.
I highly recommend checking out this book, it was really interesting and is a short read.
In YA or even adult novels you do not see blind protagonists very often (and now I want to go find some more) and I think that Sedgwick did a great job of writing the experience. Even if sometimes she seemed to do things a little too well.
I highly recommend checking out this book, it was really interesting and is a short read.
FIRST THOUGHTS:
Whoa. It's such an unusual book! The concept is pretty interesting, and things play out in unexpected ways.
REVIEW:
She Is Not Invisible requires a certain level of willingness to trust in the author as he spins this story. There are many improbable things – like a blind teen traveling with her little seven year old brother to another continent, the little brother’s special condition, and more. And yet, Sedgwick’s words feel true, like all of these things are really happening to Laureth and her family. I was happy to free fall into this story, fully absorbing myself in what was going on without question.
Even though some of her actions are rash and irresponsible, it is really hard not to admire Laureth. She’s clever, with a brain that’s quick to form connections. Her stubborn determination to find her beloved father is what motivates her choices, which makes it easier to swallow why she does the crazy stuff she does – including flying off to New York with Benjamin in tow. Though I didn’t always agree with her, she deserves a lot of props for taking on what seems like an impossible task with an uncertain resolution.
The novel revolves mostly around Laureth, but her little brother Benjamin and her father are also key players. Benjamin is a wonderful kid. He loves his sister and his parents, as evidenced by a lot of his actions (and reactions). He does possess a special quality that puts him in rather awkward situations, but he doesn’t appear to let it get him down and instead immerses himself in comics and his raven, Stan.
Their father was an intriguing man, in spite of his presence being limited to memories and notations in a notebook. He was a writer, one who had been well-known for writing “funny books” only to find that he was interested in writing something more serious. Laureth’s memories made him out to be a man obsessed with crafting the perfect story, intent on gathering facts and putting ideas together. He was also, however, a good, kind man who loved his family.
Their father’s latest work in progress revolved around coincidences. This concept comes into play many times in She Is Not Invisible, baiting the reader into thinking about coincidences and the truth behind them. Are they the real deal, the universe making everything align just so in our lives? Or are they merely patterns that have not yet been pointed out? I always enjoy it when a writer is able to inspire deep thoughts, which Sedgwick definitely accomplished.
She Is Not Invisible has the same fanciful, slightly odd tone that Sedgwick used for Midwinterblood. However, I found it a little easier to relate to because of the contemporary setting, and the set cast of characters. I appreciated the fact that it challenged me to really think about what coincidences mean to me personally, and for that alone, I’d highly recommend this one.
{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}
Whoa. It's such an unusual book! The concept is pretty interesting, and things play out in unexpected ways.
REVIEW:
She Is Not Invisible requires a certain level of willingness to trust in the author as he spins this story. There are many improbable things – like a blind teen traveling with her little seven year old brother to another continent, the little brother’s special condition, and more. And yet, Sedgwick’s words feel true, like all of these things are really happening to Laureth and her family. I was happy to free fall into this story, fully absorbing myself in what was going on without question.
Even though some of her actions are rash and irresponsible, it is really hard not to admire Laureth. She’s clever, with a brain that’s quick to form connections. Her stubborn determination to find her beloved father is what motivates her choices, which makes it easier to swallow why she does the crazy stuff she does – including flying off to New York with Benjamin in tow. Though I didn’t always agree with her, she deserves a lot of props for taking on what seems like an impossible task with an uncertain resolution.
The novel revolves mostly around Laureth, but her little brother Benjamin and her father are also key players. Benjamin is a wonderful kid. He loves his sister and his parents, as evidenced by a lot of his actions (and reactions). He does possess a special quality that puts him in rather awkward situations, but he doesn’t appear to let it get him down and instead immerses himself in comics and his raven, Stan.
Their father was an intriguing man, in spite of his presence being limited to memories and notations in a notebook. He was a writer, one who had been well-known for writing “funny books” only to find that he was interested in writing something more serious. Laureth’s memories made him out to be a man obsessed with crafting the perfect story, intent on gathering facts and putting ideas together. He was also, however, a good, kind man who loved his family.
Their father’s latest work in progress revolved around coincidences. This concept comes into play many times in She Is Not Invisible, baiting the reader into thinking about coincidences and the truth behind them. Are they the real deal, the universe making everything align just so in our lives? Or are they merely patterns that have not yet been pointed out? I always enjoy it when a writer is able to inspire deep thoughts, which Sedgwick definitely accomplished.
She Is Not Invisible has the same fanciful, slightly odd tone that Sedgwick used for Midwinterblood. However, I found it a little easier to relate to because of the contemporary setting, and the set cast of characters. I appreciated the fact that it challenged me to really think about what coincidences mean to me personally, and for that alone, I’d highly recommend this one.
{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}
Sedgwick is a great writer though I haven't always found the subjects of his books to be compelling. I really enjoyed this one. It's a smart book for the most part, about a blind girl who flies across the ocean to New York to find her father on a whim. This is one of the best versions of "unique child solves a unique mystery" that I've had the pleasure of reading. I'd love to hear reactions from people who are blind, though it sounded plausible from my seeing perspective.
I find it really interesting that Sedgwick wrote a book directly about coincidences and patterns right after a book that was based on the reader making connections and seeing the patterns in a series of stories. Not as good as Midwinterblood, but enjoyable.
She Is Not Invisible was such an awesome book! I loved all the elements of it - the mystery of the mysterious black book and where on earth Laureth's dad was, the coincidences, the relationship between Laureth and her little brother Benjamin, it was all so sweet. It follows Laureth, who is our blind protagonist, after she discovers that her father may be in New York, rather than Switzerland. She decides to embark on a journey from London to New York to find him, seeing as her mum doesn't seem bothered. And of course, she needs her trusty sidekick Benjamin to help guide her through the airport and busy streets of New York. The story suddenly took a really intense turn around 80% in - which was inconvenient seeing as I had to get off the bus and start a 25 minute walk - and I really enjoyed it.
Overall, a great book which is all about being seen/heard even when people don't take any notice of you. I highly recommend it!
Overall, a great book which is all about being seen/heard even when people don't take any notice of you. I highly recommend it!
Laureth is such a strong person. Benjamin and her go on quite an adventure to find her father from London to New York. I loved reading about the streets I'll be walking in once again. I also really love learning more about how people treat those who are visually impaired. It makes one see how we take the little things for granted.
I didn’t think I would enjoy this book one bit.
How wrong I was. I went in completely blind (Oh the irony), only knowing that I was asked to review it for my school as it has won the Oxfordshire Book Awards. In the first few pages, I realized she was blind and I was quite proud, after reading reviews where people didn’t get it until she announced it.
Laureth being blind had a unique twist to the book as I liked the fact that the book wasn’t just visual description. Not only that, it was an unusual storyline, where each carefully thought out word clearly intertwined with a previous. The coincidences were amazing and after I realized that the book ends on the reoccurring number 354, my delight cannot be written down in words. I have read Midwinterblood – and disliked it but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The pace was good, the prose like liquid gold and the overall story?
Let’s just say, it won’t be a coincidence if you read this…
How wrong I was. I went in completely blind (Oh the irony), only knowing that I was asked to review it for my school as it has won the Oxfordshire Book Awards. In the first few pages, I realized she was blind and I was quite proud, after reading reviews where people didn’t get it until she announced it.
Laureth being blind had a unique twist to the book as I liked the fact that the book wasn’t just visual description. Not only that, it was an unusual storyline, where each carefully thought out word clearly intertwined with a previous. The coincidences were amazing and after I realized that the book ends on the reoccurring number 354, my delight cannot be written down in words. I have read Midwinterblood – and disliked it but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The pace was good, the prose like liquid gold and the overall story?
Let’s just say, it won’t be a coincidence if you read this…
I just read this book in one sitting and it was entirely gripping. It is quite short and I loved the hard back copy of the book.
I loved the way at the beginning we were not told that Laureth was blind and we judged her for her personality before her blindness which really, for me brought into prospective how I think about blind people and how in this day and age people are always in a rush and judge people in an instinct. (Eg. The incident with Laureth tripping over the mans laptop bag in the airport)
The only slight flaw I found in this book was the character of 'Dad'. I felt as though he wasn't really kept consistent throughout and was sometimes crazy and sometimes good-humoured and sometimes fatherly. But maybe that was the point?
The most interesting part of the book I found was the philosophy behind coincidences. It is an incredibly interesting subject and although I felt some of the scenarios were far fetched I felt Marcus Sedgwick made a good point about how we tend not to believe them if they happen to someone else.
I could write a lot more about the character of Benjamin and the role of his raven but for now this is it. I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone!
I loved the way at the beginning we were not told that Laureth was blind and we judged her for her personality before her blindness which really, for me brought into prospective how I think about blind people and how in this day and age people are always in a rush and judge people in an instinct. (Eg. The incident with Laureth tripping over the mans laptop bag in the airport)
The only slight flaw I found in this book was the character of 'Dad'. I felt as though he wasn't really kept consistent throughout and was sometimes crazy and sometimes good-humoured and sometimes fatherly. But maybe that was the point?
The most interesting part of the book I found was the philosophy behind coincidences. It is an incredibly interesting subject and although I felt some of the scenarios were far fetched I felt Marcus Sedgwick made a good point about how we tend not to believe them if they happen to someone else.
I could write a lot more about the character of Benjamin and the role of his raven but for now this is it. I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone!