THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE

Liz Gallagher's debut novel nails the angst of high school students navigating the challenging social waters of their years. Narrator Lara Hirner has the voice of bright, articulate Alice, a sophomore trying to find her voice, her talent, and her way through the confusing world of teen friendship and romance. Hirner's voice has the tone of today's teens, with a perkiness and a laugh in it that often hides confusion. Alice, along with her best friend, Jewel, has been satisfied to be invisible and to navigate under the wire. But now football hero Simon, her first crush, has taken an interest in her, giving her entry into the "in group." Will she find her way through her crush to a real relationship with Simon? N.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2008]