Iris Green, Unseen

By Author / Illustrator

Louise Finch

Genre

Romance & Relationships

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702331084

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

09-05-2024

Synopsis

From the highly-acclaimed author of The Eternal Return of Clara Hart comes a devastating heartbreak romance with a speculative twist.

When Iris Green discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her with one of her best friends, she doesn't just feel invisible - she actually becomes invisible. And the less she can be seen herself, the more she understands the people around her, including Baker, the boy in the darkroom, who might be exactly what she needs to make her way back to herself. A powerful novel about self-discovery in the wake of a traumatic event.

The Eternal Return of Clara Hart was shortlisted for the Bookseller YA book prize in 2023, the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Branford Boase Award Perfect for fans of Laura Nowlin's If He Had Been With Me and Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam.

Praise for Louise Finch: "Emotionally raw and deeply resonant; Iris Green, Unseen carved a dark, bruised corner from my heart, held it up to the light and healed it. Essential reading for anyone who's had to navigate school while protecting a fragile heart." - Brianna Bourne, Carnegie-nominated author of The Half-Life of Love. "Such beautiful writing, such real characters; I felt every ache of Iris's struggles and couldn't put it down wanting to know how it would all end. So many people will identify with her - a must-read!" - Sue Wallman, author of I Know You Did It.

Download Extract

Reviews

'Iris Green is Grey'. The graffiti proves everything that Iris believes about herself - boring, inconsequential, invisible. How has she hooked the delectable Theo - resident school heartthrob? How has she managed to snare two amazing best friends? When will she be found out? The unravelling happens sooner than she thinks as she witnesses Theo and best friend Olivia sharing a kiss. Of course he would prefer long-limbed, glossy haired Olivia. Who wouldn't?

Talented photographer Iris is forced to retreat into the sanctuary of the school darkroom. And just as she literally and figuratively disappears, enigmatic Baker Davis enters the confusion that is her life. Is she really invisible? And how is it that Baker seems to make her reappear?

Iris can be defensive and difficult to be around but uses her photography as a means of empowerment and development. Often inward-looking, she seems to miss the supportive voices around her (mother, friends, school staff). Not to mention the attentions of the very kind and cool Baker. There are times when, to the reader, Iris Green is very much seen.

There is a strong message here about learning acceptance, small steps and making progress. There isn't a grandstand ending - more an understanding that being a work-in-progress and life being ok is just fine.

Iris Green, Unseen is another skilfully woven and life-affirming read from a YA author who seems to have her finger on the pulse of teen life.

400 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Clair Wilkins, school librarian