Invisible Me

By: Debbi Mack

Narrated by: Sara K. Sheckells

Length: 3 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Solo medalist winner in the young adult category of the 2015 New Apple Book Awards!

Finalist in the 2016 IPNE Book Awards.

In the first of a new series of books, military brat and albino, 13-year old Portia Maddox, has bounced from school to school, always an outsider. So when Denise Laughton, the most popular girl in her class, asks for her help in exchange for an invite to Denise's big birthday party, Portia jumps at the chance to go. But there's a catch: Portia must spy on Randy, Denise's boyfriend, to find out whether he's cheating on her.

Portia's spying, however, unearths a tangled web of duplicity, hidden agendas and family secrets. And when Portia's budding friendship with social outcast Judy and her feelings for Randy conflict with her plans to befriend Denise, Portia must make the hard choices for the good of all.

Parental advisory: contains some strong language.

Debbi Mack is the New York Times best-selling author of the Sam McRae Mystery Series. In addition, she's a Derringer-nominated short story writer, whose work has been published in various anthologies. Debbi formerly wrote book reviews for Mystery Scene Magazine. She writes screenplays and is interested in filmmaking. Debbi also has a podcast called The Crime Cafe, where she interviews crime fiction, suspense, thriller, and true crime authors.

Debbi enjoys reading, movies, travel, baseball, walking, cats and good espresso - not necessarily in that order.

©2014 Deborah Ellen Mack (P)2017 Deborah Ellen Mack

nice young adult book

Any additional comments?

nice book for 12 -14 age group . about the struggles of middle school and relationships. and those people not always being what you think on the outside.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Entertaining YA book w/some pertinent teen topics.

Would you consider the audio edition of Invisible Me to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version of Invisible Me, but in this instance I might like the print version a little bit better. Ms. Sheckells did a good job narrating, and while she voiced the characters well, there was just something a little off while reading parts of the book. I don't think it was a specific character either, as I noticed it while she was reading various characters' dialogue. It definitely wasn't a game stopper for me, but it nagged at me enough that I found myself thinking about that more than the story at times.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed Portia, the main character. She's a pretty resilient 13 year old, which is understandable since she's albino and has had to deal with people looking and treating her different her whole life, along with moving around so often because she's a military brat. With that being said, she still has the same insecurities and desires to be accepted as we all do at that age. Because of this, she gets caught up in some stuff she probably shouldn't have and it makes for an entertaining story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't have a particularly favorite scene. The book moved at a good pace and kept me interested from start to finish.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Things aren't always what they seem. The reason that I say this, is because this novel essentially would be nonexistent without everyone trying to put on a facade in this book and as you get older, you learn that putting on these pretenses just isn't necessary. Hopefully it will show younger readers this same thing.

Any additional comments?

I definitely feel that this is an audiobook that is more geared towards a little bit of an older YA crowd because of some of the topics touched upon and the language, yet at the same time, a little 11 year old boy (two years younger than the main character) committed suicide not that far from where I live because his 13 year old "girlfriend" pulled a prank and pretended that she had committed suicide. So maybe these heavier topics are becoming more prevalent and necessary to deal with nowadays with younger kids...

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Talk about teen-aged drama!

The story is interesting, in many ways it deals with typical teen-aged drama but with Portia having albinism and moving all the time it adds more difficulty and social challenges than most people experience when trying to fit in.

There is a lot going on in the story with each teenager having their own problems and not knowing who they can talk to. In typical teenage fashion some things are handled well, some poorly and others in ridiculous and convoluted ways.

The narration was a challenge for me. The character voices are well done but I didn't like the delivery. To me it sounded really choppy and stilted. I tried speeding it up and slowing it down but neither helped.

This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

If you found this review helpful would you please take a moment to click yes below, thanks.

What an incredible listen!!!

Any additional comments?

From the first sentence uttered, I knew this book would be a good one. It did not disappoint. Hearing that first clipped and halting cadence of the narration, my ears perked. It was literary and narrative perfection!!

This story was set in middle school but it never felt that adolescent. I loved the story, the main characters, and the very believable ending. I listened to this book in one sitting and was not happy when it ended.

Loved. It.

Invisible Me

I really enjoyed this book. it took a a bit for me to really get into it. not to say that is was slow or anything. But, before you know it , BAM, you are totally loving the book.
I really wanted it to go deeper and longer. I was not ready for it to end. I was really glad the writter wrapped it up nicely though.

this is a total YA story, I would say good for pre teens, and teens. though I am in my 30s and liked it.

I was not a huge fan of the narration. It wasn't awful, but i just didn’t think her main voice fit here, but the other voices, where great.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Good Story!

Any additional comments?

I dont read many YA book because I often dont feel connected to the protagonist. However that was not true with this book. I felt a deep connection to this "outsider" having felt different or misunderstood in my own life. What I really enjoyed about this book was the way people opened up and communicated face to face with each other. One does not see this very often and it was quiet refreshing. The performance was great, very expressive and true to the way I felt the main character would be. The only thing I thought was funny about the performance was the chapter headings...each time the new chapter was read it seemed like a movie announcer took over..."CHAPTER 5!" but this does not takes away from the story. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."