How to Disappear

June 15, 2017
A lonely high school student finds solace through social media.At the school year's start, introverted white sophomore Vicky Decker finds herself struggling to manage what her mother calls her "absurd shyness" and "self-consciousness" because her sole confidante has moved away. Beyond shy and convinced she's socially inept, Vicky is nearly agoraphobic, so afraid of calling attention to herself and being laughed at that she routinely retreats to the privacy of a bathroom stall to eat her lunch. When an unfortunate butt-dial sparks radio silence between besties, leaving Vicky utterly friendless, Vicky employs her savvy with digital media to craft the persona of the confident, socially adventurous person she'd like to be. Dressing her virtual alter ego in a wild wig and zany outfits that mask her identity, Vicky Photoshops pictures of herself into various public settings and posts these images on her new Instagram page--"Vicurious"--with the all-important "#alone." Vicky soon learns she is anything but, and, as her page starts to draw legions of followers, Vicurious begins to reach out to comfort those who feel similarly "invisible and ignored." In this engagingly plot-driven crusade of kindness, Roat turns the voyeuristic isolation of social media on its ear to launch a community-building campaign that accommodates her message of kindness and acceptance without being corny. Just like the protagonist's virtual foil, this should have wide appeal to the Gen-Z crowd. (Fiction. 12-18)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Vicky Decker relies upon her best friend, Jenna, to shield her from stressful social situations. That is, until Jenna and her family move away and Vicky's social anxiety is cast into sharp relief against Jenna's seeming ease at making new friends. To cope with her jealousy and loneliness, Vicky Photoshops herself into one exciting social setting after another and uploads the images onto Instagram, all from the safety of her bedroom. Calling herself #vicurious, a nod to her attempts to live vicariously, she is inundated with followers and publicity. But is she so busy being Vicurious that she'll miss the opportunity to live life for real? Vicky's viral Instagram habit is not merely self-serving, which distinguishes the narrative from similar books. Using hashtags such as #ignored and #seeme, Vicky discovers that she is far from #alone in her sense of invisibility, and she decides to help others like her. Her influence leads to a chain of kindness. This is a witty, hard-to-put-down novel that's appropriate for younger teens. However, the lack of grittiness won't deter older teens, who will be carried along by familiar lingo and references to social networks and celebrities. VERDICT Those who enjoy Laurie Halse Anderson's works and Sophie Kinsella's Finding Audrey will want to snap up this funny, important, touching, and, at times, profound title. It offers an engaging tie-in with antibullying or kindness campaigns.-Melissa Williams, Berwick Academy, ME

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Grades 8-11 Vicky's best friend, Jenna, has always thought it funny that Vicky mispronounces vicarious as vicurious, but to Vicky it makes perfect sense. Isn't curiosity the reason for living vicariously? Then Jenna moves away, making friends with kids cooler than Vicky. Hoping to impress Jenna and hide the fact that she is now friendless and lonely at school, Vicky Photoshops herself into the crowd of a concert. This is so successful that Vicky secretly creates an Instagram account under the name Vicurious and fills it with images of a wildly disguised Vicky Photoshopped into crazy scenes, like riding a hippogriff or dancing with the Foo Fighters, and before long, she's an Instagram sensation. Meanwhile, real-life Vicky makes tentative friends and even a maybe boyfriend. The dichotomy between Vicky and her online persona will ring true to many teen readers. Roat explores both the impulse to create an enhanced digital self and the desperation of those seeking connection through online platforms. Also noteworthy is Roat's portrayal of Vicky's paralyzing social anxiety. Recommend to fans of Zoe Sugg's Girl Online (2014).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
Vicky's social anxiety spirals out of control when her one friend moves away. She only allows herself to be seen through a secret Instagram identity that gains likewise-isolated followers worldwide (#alone). "Vicurious" does everything Vicky can't--until a real-life emergency forces Vicky to reveal her identity. Roat offers a nuanced picture of social anxiety while exploring the positive possibilities of social media.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)