Emotionally complex and bursting with vividly drawn, multilayered characters, Darbon's sublime second novel revolves around two siblings desperately trying to put their family back together.
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2024 Older Readers Shortlist
Run away from what they see. Discover who you are.
Maudie and Jake's family is falling to pieces - their mum's been struggling with her grief since they lost Dad and one night she vanishes. When Jake is put into care, Maudie can't take it any more. She comes up with a wild plan to pull their family back together - by kidnapping Jake.
On the run in Cornwall, Jake and Maudie each find something they hadn't expected - freedom and love. But can they find Mum and a way to heal together?
A powerful and insightful novel about grief, disability and first love; a story about getting lost and finding yourself.
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781474937849
Number of pages: 384
Weight: 322 g
Dimensions: 198 x 130 x 24 mm
Poignant, tender, and utterly absorbing, I defy you not to root for Jake and Maudie. - Lisa Williamson, author of The Art of Being Normal
What The World Doesn't See is a brave and tender book about loss, family bonds and not judging on first appearance. Jake is such a wonderfully unique and fully-rounded character, who happens to have a learning disability; the sort of character that is so rarely seen - yet is so vitally important - in fiction for young adults. - Joseph Elliott, author of The Good Hawk
An important and beautiful story about the tight bond between two siblings, and looking beyond a person's disabilities. - Susin Nielsen, author of We Are All Made of Molecules
An extraordinary story told by an incredible talent. - Jasbinder Bilan, author of Asha and the Spirit Bird
Eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and ultimately so uplifting. A hug of a book that holds the reader tight and says sometimes the world is too much and it's ok not to be ok. - Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How to Change the World
'What the World Doesn't See' by Mel Darbon is an exceptional YA book, deserving of the highest praise. It is a compassionate, raw, poignant story about grief and transcending appearances in order to be... More
One of the few advantages of being an adult is that I get to choose many of the things that as a child I didn’t – what to wear, what to eat, what time to go to bed etc, etc. Sometimes though, it is really nice to let... More
This books feels like it took an age to write - every part carefully measured and beautifully paced. The story is simple - a sister taking her brother and herself to a far away place in the hope of bringing back her... More
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