The Opposite of Invisible

Reader reviewed by abscae

This inspiring novel begins with the readers meeting Alice, as she consults her "Dove Girl," better known as Le Visage de la Paix. The face of peace. And that is what Alice yearns for, a sense of peace and to fit in. In the beginning, she wants a special boy that she connects with. She soon gets that with Simon yet she starts noticing the differences between wanting someone and loving them. As Alice's art comes to life, she finds what it truly means to be the opposite of invisible. In the end, "the opposite of invisible" does not mean being popular or being pretty in the eyes of others. It means to be seen and heard as being beautiful in the eyes of yourself.

I remember, in the beginning of the novel, when she constantly stated of her invisible state, I turned to the cover. I wished that I could see that cover in reality, to run my fingers over the minuscule bumps of the medium and I wished so strongly to tell her how beautiful she was. Inside and out.

Alice, oh boy, Alice is something else, I tell you. She will make you laugh at her energy and cry at her mistakes and misfortunes. She will make you fall in love with her passion and yearn for her discoveries and experiences. But mostly she will inspire you so fiercely to discover yourself, you might as well call her your own Dove Girl. She transforms herself so much to the likes of Picasso's brilliant work, to the softness and quiet beauty, that she sets herself free into the peace.

A most definite 10/10.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Alice and Jewel are the same person. Best friends since they can remember, they are both outsider artists; everyone thinks Jewel is gay because Alice is the only person he ever talks to, and Alice just doesn't talk at all to anyone else. They both like the same quirky, gory, and eccentric stuff that can be found in Seattle. They are never apart, and yet no one else sees them. They are invisible.

However, as a high school sophomore, Alice is beginning to want something more. She has a major crush on Simon Murphy, a popular and gorgeous football player who is clearly out of her league. So Alice can hardly believe it when Simon starts talking to her. Pretty soon they are apparently an item--the oddest, most incomprehensible item the school has ever seen, perhaps. There's no pretense about Simon when he's around her, though. He is a genuinely good and sincere guy who understands his popular crowd is not all that great sometimes and envies the artsy crowd--Alice included--for being able to be themselves.

But her budding relationship with Simon puts a strain on Alice and Jewel's friendship, which was so close they were practically a couple. A week ago Alice had no prospects; suddenly she was stuck choosing between two. Either she begins a new life with the guy of her dreams and explore a new social life, or she remains with Jewel and continues to be invisible to the rest of the world.

Which one will Alice choose? Or can she have both?

I absolutely loved this book because all the characters are so real. There are no annoying stereotypes because it seems like every character defies them. There are no easy answers because, well, that's life, and Liz Gallagher portrays it so very sweetly. This is a short and quick read, but it will linger with you.

Reader reviewed by abscae

This inspiring novel begins with the readers meeting Alice, as she consults her "Dove Girl," better known as Le Visage de la Paix. The face of peace. And that is what Alice yearns for, a sense of peace and to fit in. In the beginning, she wants a special boy that she connects with. She soon gets that with Simon yet she starts noticing the differences between wanting someone and loving them. As Alice's art comes to life, she finds what it truly means to be the opposite of invisible. In the end, "the opposite of invisible" does not mean being popular or being pretty in the eyes of others. It means to be seen and heard as being beautiful in the eyes of yourself.

I remember, in the beginning of the novel, when she constantly stated of her invisible state, I turned to the cover. I wished that I could see that cover in reality, to run my fingers over the minuscule bumps of the medium and I wished so strongly to tell her how beautiful she was. Inside and out.

Alice, oh boy, Alice is something else, I tell you. She will make you laugh at her energy and cry at her mistakes and misfortunes. She will make you fall in love withh at her her passion and yearn for her discoveries and experiences. But mostly she will inspire you so fiercely to discover yourself, you might as well call her your own Dove Girl. She transforms herself so much to the likes of Picasso's brilliant work, to the softness and quiet beauty, that she sets herself free into the peace.

A most definite 10/10.

Please visit www.abscaen.blogspot.com for more of my reviews.

Reader reviewed by jocelyn

THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, Class of 2k8 member Liz Gallaghers impressive debut novel, is truly amazing. Its about one girl finding her place in the world, sorting out herself and her relationships, in a story where the setting, Seattle, is so important and so alive that it practically becomes a character itself! Told in Alices distinctive, honest voice, the story focuses a lot on her feelings for two different guys in her life: Jewel and Simon. Jewel has been a part of her life for a long time. Hes her best friend, and practically her whole world. Theyre extremely close, but Alice is getting a little restless. She wants to know other people, to have other friends, but shes not sure its a desire Jewel will like. Simon, on the other hand, is a very new part of her life. Shes been crushing on him for awhile, but it seems like hes finally noticing her backat a very inopportune time: she and Jewel are starting to become possibly more than just friends. The only person she has to turn to when Jewel freezes her out is Dove Girl, her poster of the famous painting by Picasso that she talks to. In a very short time, Alice has gone from having no boyfriend prospects that she could see, to having to choose between two great guys.

Talking about the plot doesnt really do this brilliant novel justice, though. Its certainly character-driven, and Liz Gallagher captures all of her characters perfectly. Alice is just one of the most perfect, real, and honest teenage girl characters Ive seen in quite awhile, and someone Id love to meet in real life. The first line of this book is perfect: Some girls have journals. I talk to my poster. Its just so Alice, so unique, so intriguing, so perfect. Alice is a very real teenage girl, and she has real questions that we all have about love, friendship, and life. Shes so true-to-life, but also so wonderfully unlike anyone Ive ever met! The other characters populating this novel are well-drawn, but Alice is my favorite character of the year so far, by far.

Liz Gallaghers lyrical prose draws the reader right in, and my only wish for this book is that it be longer! Its only 151 pages, and I wanted to spend far longer than that in Alices world. Those 151 pages go by far too quickly, though! This book is definitely one Id love to reread, and I cant wait to read whatever Gallagher writes next. Shes certainly one of the most promising new voices in young adult literature.

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