All the Invisible Things

by Orlagh Collins

Overview

In this contemporary YA for fans of Becky Albertalli, one girl decides it's time to be really be herself—but will that cost her the best friend who once meant everything to her?

Ever since her mom died and her family moved to a new town four years ago, sixteen-year-old Vetty Lake has hidden her heart. She'd rather keep secrets than risk getting hurt—even if that means not telling anyone that she's pretty sure she's bisexual.

But this summer, everything could change. Vetty and her family are moving back to her old neighborhood, right across the street from her childhood best friend Pez. Next to Pez, she always felt free and fearless. Reconnecting with him could be the link she needs to get back to her old self.

Vetty quickly discovers Pez isn't exactly the boy she once knew. He has a new group of friends, a glamorous sort-of-girlfriend named March, and a laptop full of secrets. And things get even more complicated when she feels a sudden spark with March.

As Vetty navigates her relationship with Pez and her own shifting feelings, one question looms: Does becoming the girl she longs to be mean losing the friendship that once was everything to her?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681199504
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	783,097
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Orlagh Collins is the author of No Filter. Born in Dublin, she left Ireland after university to break into the film industry in London, and worked on productions such as Calendar Girls, Ali G, and Separate Lies before taking over as head of physical production at Pathé Films. While at Pathé she supervised production on the Academy Award-winning movie The Queen and a host of others. She co-produced the BIFA Award-winning documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten and Mary Shelley, starring Elle Fanning. Orlagh lives in Somerset, England, with her husband and their two children.

www.orlaghcollins.com
@OrlaghCollins

Editorial Reviews

Explores…underdiscussed facets of teenage sexuality…with exceptional insight.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An intriguing story of family, friendship, and self-identity.” —School Library Journal

“Collins writes a well-rounded character in Vetty…while keeping the most vital theme in mind: self-discovery and understanding.” —Booklist

“The realistic, respectful, and sweet relationship that develops is sure to appeal to romance fans . . . A satisfying and romantic debut.” —Kirkus Reviews on NO FILTER

“Both a coming-of-age story and a romance, this novel weaves together issues of suicide, poverty, unrequited dreams, betrayal, and bullying . . . An unpretentious and enjoyable tale set against the unique backdrop of the Northern Irish coast.” —School Library Journal on NO FILTER

“Collins's voices and setting are vivid and fresh, the teens' relationship is engaging, and Liam is a particularly sensitive and devoted love interest. As Emerald watches her friends' lives go on without her online, her visceral sense of pain and loss (and FOMO, really) will resonate with many readers.” —Publishers Weekly on NO FILTER

“Debut novelist Collins has a career as a production supervisor in the London film industry, and her visual sense is evident in many scenes.” —VOYA on NO FILTER

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

Gr 10 Up—It's been four years since Helvetica "Vetty" Lake's mother passed away, and her father moved the family to a new town. The time away was good for them, but it was always meant to be temporary, and now they are heading home. For Vetty, this means reuniting with her childhood best friend Pez, whom she lost touch with during their time apart. Vetty and Pez both changed over the years, with Vetty discreetly trying to figure out her sexuality and Pez having secrets of his own. Collins has crafted an intriguing story of family, friendship, and self-identity. The story is well written but unnecessarily broken down into five parts. Vetty's difficulty discovering her bisexuality and determining how to tell those in her life is done respectfully. The characters are all wonderfully crafted, and their relatable feelings aid the story. There are numerous realistic conversations about sex and porn, as well as a scene involving masturbation, making this a better choice for mature readers. VERDICT A solid story about a teen figuring out her sexuality.—Amanda Borgia, Uniondale Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2019-12-08
A British teen tries to rebuild her life after her mother's death and come to terms with her sexuality in this sophomore novel.

Helvetica, Vetty for short, has a lot on her plate. After her mother's death from lymphoma four years ago, Vetty has taken on more than her share of responsibilities in order to help her father and younger sister. Returning to London from the countryside, where the family moved after her Mum's death, Vetty is worried about her relationship with her best friend, Pez, her childhood neighbor. Then there's her sexuality: Vetty is pretty sure she's bisexual, but having only kissed boys and with experiencing so much societal biphobia, she doesn't feel ready to come out. On top of this, she's unsure who, if anyone, she's starting to develop feelings for—Pez, Pez's friend Rob, or Pez's girlfriend, March, with whom Vetty is becoming fast friends. Collins handles these questions with care and respect, carrying over that thoughtfulness as she frankly explores other underdiscussed facets of teenage sexuality, including masturbation, body hair removal, and pornography and porn addiction. A biphobic incident involving Vetty's lesbian aunt is treated with exceptional insight. Vetty and her family are white while light brown-skinned Pez is implied to be biracial (black/white), and March is cued as black.

Quiet and compassionate. (Realistic fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

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