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Invisible World

3.16 of 5 stars 3.16 · rating details · 160 ratings · 55 reviews

Suzanne Weyn brings her trademark mix of history, romance, and the supernatural to the Salem Witch Trials.

Elsabeth James has powers she doesn't fully understand. She is descended from midwives, mind readers, and a fortune-teller who was put to death because she foresaw the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. She can hear people's thoughts and sometimes see what they see. She ha...more

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published August 28th 2012 by Scholastic Press (first published 2012)

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Apr 09, 2013 Katherine Grace rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-new

Based on the description I thought this book had promise, but it fell very short of that promise. I won't bore you with a long description of the book as you can read it in the product description above, but here it is briefly. Background: Elsabeth comes from a line of women who have certain gifts and knowledge of magic. She is gifted with clairvoyance and through the encouragement of her father and her tutor Bronwyn her gifts grow and she learns more magic. Plot: Elsabeth travels to America wit...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Indigo rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Overall a very weird book. The main characters are not well developed, you never get a sense of connection with them at all. Betty the main character falls in love with a slave boy about two days after meeting him and then the story jumps to months later when they are completely in love with each other. Their love was not very believable because you never get to know either of the characters and you never get to see the progression of their love it goes within a few pages, from them meeting, to...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Danielle rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People I love, but only as a prank

Shelves: agenda-too-visible, grrr, puritan-bashing, terrible-cover, u-think-ur-so-clever, y-u-no-be-better, is-heroine-farting, y-u-no-make-sense

Got this book from a book fair and added it to the school library collection.

It's a bad sign when you can read the first chapter, skim the rest, read the last few lines, and understand the entire book.

It's an even worse sign when the writer gives her heroine psychic powers....and the book is still boring.

It's the worst sign of all when the writer doesn't seem to know what she wants to write--a tale of a heroine choosing good over evil, an alternate history book, or a sensitive and tragic tale...more Got this book from a book fair and added it to the school library collection.

It's a bad sign when you can read the first chapter, skim the rest, read the last few lines, and understand the entire book.

It's an even worse sign when the writer gives her heroine psychic powers....and the book is still boring.

It's the worst sign of all when the writer doesn't seem to know what she wants to write--a tale of a heroine choosing good over evil, an alternate history book, or a sensitive and tragic tale of the Salem Witch Trials. (This book was none of those, by the way.)

Here is the story, condensed for your convenience: Elsabeth is a girl with a historically accurate name. She speaks in modern colloquialisms, with the occasional "I shall" thrown in for extra accuracy. She has psychic powers. She goes to America, is shipwrecked, and lands in South Carolina. She meets a few stock characters who are also witches. They are all very nice people.

Soon, though, the author realizes she hasn't bashed the Puritans yet, so she has Elsabeth and the other witches taken up to Salem to be servants, because Salem has an ample supply of Puritans to bash. The author then proceeds to merrily bash the Puritans.

Then, because the cover says "A novel of the Salem Witch Trials" on it, the author has the Salem Witch Trials happen. Elsabeth is put on trial. She reads the minds of the judges, only the author doesn't say she read their minds. She has Elsabeth say she "aimed my mind reading powers in their direction." Whether this was to fulfill her Awkward Wording Count or her Bizarre Innuendo Count remains unclear. Elsabeth and the other witches are allowed to live because they confessed, but they are banished for reasons that are veiled to everyone but the author. So they ride off in the back of a wagon into the sunset. Elsabeth concludes, in true serial-killer fashion, that "the world is too small for us." She urges her witchy companions to join her in creating a new one.

The author, realizing they are moving away from the Puritans, sadly ends the book because she won't be able to bash them anymore. She sends it off to Scholastic, who read "Salem Witch Trials" and "Novel" and say "BRILLIANT! This will be so educational for little children!" Scholastic then has one of their artists paint a picture of a girl standing in a circle of flame, which sounds like a cool cover. However, their artist has a migraine and doesn't want to be at work, so he makes the girl look like she is farting. Because Scholastic has a deadline to meet, they slap the picture on the cover and add "Salem Witch Trials" to fool teachers into thinking this book is highly educational. The book is then shipped to book fairs nationwide. Scholastic is puzzled when it barely breaks 3 stars. (less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Marilyn's Book Blog rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this book for my class. I work in a Catholic School, so since this story was about witches I thought I better check it out. It sounded interesting to me because it takes place during the Salem Witch trials. I was under the impression that was what it was going to be about. I was wrong...

This book is about a young girl named Elsabeth, who can read minds. She is very close to her governess, Bronwyn, who is in a sense a witch. Elsabeth and her father, her sister, and Bronwyn travel by ship t...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elsabeth has the power to read other people's minds, and her grandmother was a healer and midwife. Her father is trying to scientifically study her abilities to prevent her from being persecuted as a witch, since these powers are not understood in England in the 1690s. When the family decides to relocate to America with their faithful nursemaid Bronwyn, Elsabeth is ready for the opportunity, but the ship goes down in a terrible storm and her father and sister are killed. Elsabeth washed up in So...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Sharon Looby rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I finished this book - I was really torn between liking it and disliking it - not many books do that to me. Even as I write this review, I am still torn between the rating I gave it - 2 stars or 3 stars. I ended up going with the 2 stars due to the fact that I found myself somewhat a little bored with the book at first. It does get very interesting though if you stick with it. A lot is going on in this book, however, I have a feeling that people are going to get stuck on the "witch craft" o...more When I finished this book - I was really torn between liking it and disliking it - not many books do that to me. Even as I write this review, I am still torn between the rating I gave it - 2 stars or 3 stars. I ended up going with the 2 stars due to the fact that I found myself somewhat a little bored with the book at first. It does get very interesting though if you stick with it. A lot is going on in this book, however, I have a feeling that people are going to get stuck on the "witch craft" of the book and miss the other historical lessons. Magic, power, witch craft - these are all words that people immediately turn into "bad/evil" However, in this book Elsabeth James has supernatural gifts - not evil. She wants to be able to use these gifts to do good in the world but living in Salem, Mass. during the 1600's is a very unstable time to let anyone know that you have powers or can even use herbs to heal. The "witch" rampade is spreading through Salem and so many are being accused, sentenced and even hung for being a "witch". Elisabeth James came to Salem from Sussex, England. During her journey, the ship they were on was caught in a violent storm and ended up sinking. Elisabeth survived and made her way to Wadmalaw Island - she does not know if her Father, sister and nanny survived. On this island, she meets Aakif, a black man that was born free but is now a slave. They spend alot of time together and end up falling in love - a huge taboo during those times! Aakif teaches Elsabeth about the history of his people and how they are taken from Africa and brought to the USA as slaves, to be bought and sold as the white man pleases. (this is part of the story that people will miss out on because they are so stuck on the "witchcraft"). During her time on the island, Aakif also introduces Elsabeth to his Aunty Honey (Mother Kadiatu). Aunty Honey has supernatural gifts also and at first is very cold to Elsabeth and feels her powers. It is not until they are forced to spend time together that Aunty Honey discovers that Elsabeth uses her gifts to do good, not evil. Aunty Honey then starts to mentor her and teach her all she can. When the white man returns to the island after the summer months, they find Elsabeth and ship her to Salem to be a servant girl in a Puritan family's home. It is here that things really start to heat up and the story brings us the history of the "Salem Witch Trials". Aakif makes his way to Salem, and Elsabeth and him continue their relationship. It is during the time that Elsabeth is imprisoned for being accused as a witch, that she, Aunty Honey and her long lost nanny are able to do good with their "gifts". There is alot of historical fiction in this book but as I said, I think people are going to get stuck on the "witch craft" and miss the other aspects of the book. (less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, witches, witchcraft, ya-fiction, magic-magicians

Elsabeth James, traveling with her father, governess Bronwyn, and sister Kate to America aboard the Golden Explorer encounters a deadly storm as the boat capsizes. Her father, Kate, and Bronwyn are lost to her, but she makes it safely to the shores of America in a barrel. She meets Aakif, an African slave who is kind and good. He oversees the plantation during the unbearable heat of the summer while his master is away. The two fall in love, as her supernatural powers of healing, reading minds, a...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Amy Diop rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good. I thought the author could have made it a little longer and explain things better, but other than that the book was good.
The book "The Invisible World" is about, a girl (Elsabeth) who has powers that she doesn't understand. Her family takes a ship to America to test her to see what powers she has. On the way to America their ship crashes and she floats on a log until she finds land. She eventually finds land, and a slave from Cierra Lieon is willing to help her. H...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Gladys rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprise with this book, I did like it, I had only read the Bar code series by Wyen, and this is the first time that I actually read any of her historical fiction novels. I although I like a little bit more action on my books, I really find it fascinating the way Weyn portrays the girls who kept accusing people during the Salem trials, it is one time in history that I really enjoy reading, and I really like Weyn explanation that one religion cannot fix all, that we need to get t...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Claudia rated it 1 of 5 stars

Probably on the crappiest book I've read. I like that she falls in love with an African guy, which makes it interracial & I like that. But the plot is stupid, I hate how is written. I hate the characters. I hate the fact that after the boat crash they never mention how her dad & sister did. I hate that it did not have so many sexy or romantic kisses. I hated almost everything. Specially how slow the beginning started & how pathetic the ending was. I usually like the books I read, but...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Shawna rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: junior-fiction, own, 2013

If you're going to market a book as "A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials", then shouldn't that be the focus of the book???

Not in this case. To get to the trials, we first visited the ability to mind read and astral travel, then a journey from England to America that was cut short by a ship wreck in the Bermudas. The main character Elsabeth survives for days in the ocean in a barrel only to wash ashore and be introduced to a slaving community where she contracts yellow fever. After recovering, Aunt...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Lindsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya-literature

I was both pleased and disappointed with this book. Suzanne Weyn is one of my favorite authors and I greatly admire and respect her ability to write in several genres and make them all sound authentic. That is perhaps why I was so disappointed with her newest work. Invisible World is a fast read that is has a focus on the Salem Witch Trials. Our main character is a strong girl of fifteen who has physic abilities (not a very good time or place to be having them). Both the synopsis and the start o...more I was both pleased and disappointed with this book. Suzanne Weyn is one of my favorite authors and I greatly admire and respect her ability to write in several genres and make them all sound authentic. That is perhaps why I was so disappointed with her newest work. Invisible World is a fast read that is has a focus on the Salem Witch Trials. Our main character is a strong girl of fifteen who has physic abilities (not a very good time or place to be having them). Both the synopsis and the start of the book gave me high hopes for the story but what I read was far below what I was expecting. In the story, I felt like there were too many gaps and the desires of Betty were numerous and flighty. You can literally break this book into chunks of time. The focus on witchcraft became the main issue in the book blocking out some other important areas that I think needed to be discussed more in depth. The main character was able to move on too quickly from issue to issue and so I felt it wasn't really all that believable (or at least done too quickly). The history is a rich one that I felt was overlooked, and that usually isn't Weyn's style. Maybe I expected too much from her, but a lot of the time I felt frustrated with what was going on thinking that there was something missing. I can say that it did a good job as a quick summer read which is exactly what I was looking for. I would reccomend this to young people who are perhaps in the middle school range as it talks a lot about the same people who manystudents will have to read about in the Crucible by Arthur Miller when they are in high school. The action and fast-pace of the novel may be enough to grab their attention and hook them onto the story, making later years of literature easier to deal with. However, as an older and more experienced reader who is well versed in both historical and "magic" fiction, I can only say that this book was ok. Suzanne Weyn is still a great author who's work is included in some of my favorites. Like I said before, she isn't afarid to try all sorts of genre's and I am so happy for that! I'm far from giving up on her and just hope that I have better luck next time :D(less)

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Nov 19, 2012 Marisa Whitaker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Super surprised this book was rated so low. I'm visiting Salem tomorrow, so I really wanted to read this to learn more about the history of the trials, and the insanity of the time. I was not disappointed. Although the main characters were fictional, the tale wove in all of the real characters that were central to the story, giving plausible reasons for such travesties to occur. This is a YA book, and I thought it was enjoyable and interesting (and educational!). I highly recommend it!

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Apr 29, 2013 Margaret rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The end was very exciting and fast paced. The beginning and middle was okay. There wasn't anything wrong with it, it just didn't strike me as amazing. I really did like reading about the witchcraft and Salem Witch Trials, but I don't feel that the book revolved around them(which I would have liked more.) Even if it wasn't my absolute favorite book, it was a super quick read. Overall I liked this book. I would recommend this book to Devon, because it seems like a topic she wo...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Bekka rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, supernatural, young-adult

well... Certainly not the best thing I've ever read. The premise is interesting, but there are a lot of anachronisms - I doubt they were using terms like "astral plane" in old Salem Village. Also, her throwing every know religion including the kitchen sink got to be too much. The ending is completely out of the blue and not believable. But the whole thing is not too believable. This is one to pass by; read something else more worthwhile.

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Dec 17, 2012 Hermione Granger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, history

Finally! I finished this book. Almost a month after I started it, surprising, considering how thin it is. This book is about the Salem Witch Trials. Elsabeth's sister and father are killed in a shipwreck, but she and her governess survive, her governess barely making out of it alive. Elsabeth calls on spirits to make Bronwyn alive once more, but accidentally unleashes an evil spirit, thus creating the story. Because of this one event, she falls in love with Aikif, meets a very powerful healer, m...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had high hopes for this book, even if it is a YA book. It is set back in the times of the Salem Witch Trials, perfect for October, right? Well, very little of the book actually takes place then, and it seems liked to me that they tried to put todays values back in that time period. It just didn't seem to work for me. Oh well...

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Oct 20, 2012 Xina Myriada rated it 3 of 5 stars

The writing was sort of amateur. Things were rushed and it seemed like certain parts were missing. And the main character was extremely friendly with everyone. A random person walks up to her: "Hey! My name is so-and-so!" It was an interesting story, don't get me wrong. But it could have been better written.

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Jan 27, 2013 Heather Taylor rated it 1 of 5 stars

I could not get into this book at all. I still can't quite figure out why I didn't like it. I thought it would be a little bit more historical. It turned out to be a story about real witches set during the Salem witch trials. It just didn't catch my attention.

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Dec 20, 2012 Becca Kirkman rated it 2 of 5 stars

I would not call this book historical fiction. More like mostly fiction with an historical event and some names thrown in. I was disappointed. I was hoping for a better book. The story did not seem like it was written from the time period. It was really far-fetched, and the ending was too happy.

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Nov 10, 2012 Kayla Fite rated it 5 of 5 stars

I personally think this is one of the best books I have ever read! The romance is so strong, the people are just so strong willed! I love it all! I was anxious to get to the end! I'm only a few pages away! I'm very very anxious! It's amazing!

READDD ITT!!

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Nov 11, 2012 Brenda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was disappointed in this book. I expected a book about the Salem Witch Trials but found it was loosely based on them. It's more about a good witch vs a bad witch with a story line completely full of events that were too far fetched to believe.

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Dec 08, 2012 Tricia rated it 1 of 5 stars

It was from the perspective of there really being witches involved in Salem during the witch trials. The main character had many opinions that you would see today, not ones that would be held in the past. The story was odd.

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Mar 09, 2013 April rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, historical-fiction, paranormal

Straight up, witches are cool. And for real? Who did not sit right up and pay attention during the Salem witch trials in history class? This girl was on that like white on rice. When I saw Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn up for grabs at a book signing, I chose it because I thought it would be a cool read — also I LOVE historical fiction and feel like there isn’t enough of it in YA to sate my appetite. Unfortunately, Invisible World turned out to be a disappointing read where I was left unsatisfi...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Celeste rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book says on the cover that it is about Salem Witch trials, so I had different expectations. The story moved along quickly but the characters didn't seem believable and the ending was unrealistic.

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Mar 20, 2012 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: interesting, fantasy, inspiring, makes-you-think, religious, sirens, teenreadcontest-2012

I absolutely love this book! It did not disappoint me. from the moment I turned the first page I felt like I was living history. Readers will love this new and upcoming book.

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Feb 09, 2013 Rubie Martinez rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I found it really interesting and intense from beginning to end. Wonderful story! I highly recommend it.

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Jan 06, 2013 Olivia rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was really sad because of all the bad things that happened in Salem but the ending turned the book into a happy story.

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Dec 04, 2012 Alexis Cramton rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ditched-books

It is a good book in the beginning only because you really haven't got to really read it and it is so all over the place I DO NOT like it yeah maybe for someone more not witchcraft and all but not me I just don't like it. Maybe another day or never.

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Nov 21, 2012 Shelby Shibalover rated it 5 of 5 stars

Watched a movie about the witch trials. This is very different than what i expected, but great none the less.

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About Suzanne Weyn

Suzanne Weyn grew up in Williston Park, Long Island, New York. She has three sisters and a brother. As a girl she was very interested in theater and in reading. Louisa May Alcott was her favorite author, but she also read every Sherlock Holmes story. Suzanne lived pretty close to the ocean and going to Jones Beach was one of her favorite activities Even today, if she goes too long without seeing t...more

More about Suzanne Weyn...

Books by Suzanne Weyn

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