Review
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Thought provoking (South Wales Evening Post)
What this book proves, is that Marcus is not only one of the greatest British YA writers, but one of the most versatile
too. Unlike anything he has written before and a book that will reach a whole new audience. Bloomin' loved it. (Phil
Earle, author of HEROIC, BEING BILLY and SAVING DAISY)
I was thoroughly captivated by this smart and intriguing contemporary thriller with heart. (Fiona Noble THE BOOKSELLER)
She is Not Invisible is an exciting, thought-provoking story - a lett Thomas or A. L. Kennedy for teenagers. (Anna A
CASE FOR BOOKS)
There's another uncompromising aspect to this superb book. Marcus Sedgwick doesn't speak down to his teen readers. He
tells it how it is, without footnotes or gloss, and it's up to the reader to decide how much they want to take from his
books. A rollicking good adventure? No problem - that's there and easily available. Just let your eyes slide across the
bits in italics and jump to the next event. It would be a shame to do that, though, because for those prepared to deal
with it, there's much, much more in this book: theories and philosophies and ideas which stretch the reader and give the
adventure far greater depth and resonance. Not many novels, for adults or younger folk, contain whole pages of notes on
people such as Einstein, Jung and Koestler, but this one does, because it shows what Jack Peak believes on the nature of
coincidence, and it is by understanding that that Laureth and Benjamin (with the help of Stan the stuffed raven) resolve
the crisis. (THE BOOKBAG)
Marcus Sedgwick has written a story which really makes you think. He has referred to it as an iceberg and certainly the
story can be read on two levels; on the surface a simple story of a girl, Laureth, accompanied by her young brother, Ben
and his beloved soft toy, Stan, determined to find their missing her, in spite of Laureth's personal circumstances
making this no easy task and, below the surface, a much more complicated story, concerning the nature of obsession and
coincidence; all of which leaves you pondering and re-reading. Familial relationships are at the heart of this story and
how these can engender love, confidence and faith. Laureth is awe inspiring and loveable. Her personal journey is
totally absorbing. (Gill Perry at Exeter High Street WATERSTONES.COM)
This is a book about coincidences, unconditional love and bravery. It is also about going with a gut feeling against the
odds and the chance that just perhaps it will all come right in the end. Stannous and Ben are, perhaps, my favourite
characters, often positive when life gets tough and understanding what it means to be needed. The story revolves around
Laureth's her, a search across New York for a character who is missing and the mutual support between two siblings.
This is an extraordinary tale, with brilliant descriptive passages. You can almost hear and smell New York. I was
relieved that Stannous made it home... (Sue Chambers at Finchley Road WATERSTONES.COM)
Sedgwick's prose is as crisp and clear as always, without losing a single hom of emotional depth, and Laureth and
Benjamin will resonate soundly with anyone who has ever negotiated the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (Rebecca
Davies THE INDEPENDENT: CHILDREN'S BOOKS BLOG)
Despite being 'about' a blind girl, this is not a book about being blind. It doesn't seek to induce pity and nor does it
resort to awarding its protagonist superhuman powers. Yet along the way it succeeds in very cleverly and subtly telling
the reader a huge a about being visually impaired. (BOOKTRUST)
His small cast are marvellous in emotion, dialogue and humour. Each and every action, no matter how far-fetched, feels
entirely natural. The plot points could easily feel forced but in these hands they flow naturally. Another subtle beauty
of the novel is what you experience when the novel is finished as it suddenly reveals many small details that could be
overlooked. As they are revealed the wonder of the novel strengthens and becomes something special and different. I
found myself comparing the book to the very successful novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. They share
similarities, themes and quality of prose. From the big apple setting to the affected protagonists to the nuances in the
structure and formatting of the book the two books are closely bonded, but yet enjoy a wide difference in storytelling
feel. (UTTER BIBLIO)
Book Description
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Set in London and Manhattan, prize-winning author Marcus Sedgwick explores obsession, trust and coincidence
in a page-turning thriller about Laureth Peak's mission to find her missing her.
