How to Disappear by Sharon Huss Roat

Roat, Sharon Huss. How to Disappear. New York: Scholastic, 2017.

Pages: 377

Intended Audience: Mature tweens and up

Genre: Contemporary / Romance / Social anxiety

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature topics, but no violence, sexuality, or coarse language.

The Back Cover

Vicky Decker has perfected the art of hiding in plain sight, quietly navigating the halls of her high school undetected except by her best (and only) friend, Jenna. But when Jenna moves away, Vicky’s isolation becomes unbearable.

So she decides to invent a social life by Photoshopping herself into other people’s photos, posting them on Instagram under the screen name Vicurious. Instantly, she begins to get followers, so she adds herself to more photos from all over the world with all types of people. And as Vicurious’s online followers multiply, Vicky realizes she can make a whole life for herself without ever leaving her bedroom. But the more followers she finds online, the clearer it becomes that there are a lot of people out there who feel like her -- #alone and #ignored in real life.

To help them, and herself, Vicky must find the courage to face her fear of being “seen,” because only then can she stop living vicariously and truly bring the magic of Vicurious to life.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author created an Instagram account: @Vicurious. She writes, “I want Vicurious to be a place where readers can share their own fears and anxieties, and find support and kindness. However, it's important to understand that I am not a mental health professional and cannot fill that role for those who really need to talk to someone who is qualified to address their issues.”

What’s good?

This is the compelling story of Vicky, a young teen dealing with a multitude of social anxieties, that only worsen when her one and only friend moves away. We watch her cope by using the anonymity of Instagram, but she soon discovers the dangerous lure of social media as a replacement for real life. There are as many funny awkward moments as there are sad and heartfelt ones. The story touches on themes like friendship, dating, and loneliness. The plot is straight-forward and easy to read, but still manages to tackle the complexities of isolation and anxiety, treating heavy issues with a light hand without diminishing the seriousness. Vicky has a realistic relationship with her mom that makes the story even more relatable. Character growth is well-done and the ending is satisfying

Best Part: Lipton.

What isn’t good?

I found it frustrating to watch Vicky torment herself over Jenna all because Vicky didn’t have the courage to tell Jenna the truth about what she overheard. Vicky’s “suffering in silence” gets a bit intolerable after a while.

Worst part: The resolution with Jenna on the mountain felt contrived.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

Vicky is shy, nervous, and afraid of many things – I can relate! This is the kind of story that will touch a chord with anyone who has had trouble making connections with people. And it’s refreshing to read a novel that manages to be edgy and relevant without resorting to mature content. My favourite line: “I’m breathing. Some days, it feels like that’s enough.” Recommended.