She Is Not Invisible is Marcus Sedgwick's newest novel after the breathtaking Midwinterblood. At first I was sceptical as to whether he would be able to make something on par with his previous outing, however it only took a few pages to captivate me entirely. Rest assured, the story is packed with twists and turns, clever plot points and vibrant characters.
She is Not Invisible is about many things: obsession, chance, coincidence, trust and blindness, in many different meanings of the word. The main character, Laureth, is blind and in part this book acts as a gateway into the life of someone who was born without any sight.
Laureth and her brother Benjamin run away to New York in search of their father with only his notebook as guidance – a basic premise which is built upon in numerous ways. Family values are a key point in the narrative and trust between the people closest to you.
The relationship between the four (and Pete the raven) slowly unravels and it is interesting to slowly piece together what their home life might have been like – aided by the occasional, albeit unnecessary, flashback.
The other key point to this book is obsession and the effects it has on people. This theme grows though out the book and leads in some funny and interesting direction. It was also a nice touch that Sedgwick included some fact about theories about coincidence along the way to give some background to the subject.
Overall, you must read She Is Not Invisible. Probably one of the greatest books of this year, Laureth's charming tale will stay with you long after you've finished reading and some of the questions will leave you hungry for answers.
9.5/10
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