"So here's the thing about brains-they're all weird. Seriously. But some brains are weird in ways everyone understands, and some brains are weird in ways that make people look at you funny. Guess which kind I have?" - Max Wheeler
Invisible is a laugh-out-loud, deeply heartfelt middle-grade novel about being different, being seen, and finding the people who see you for who you truly are.
Max Wheeler's brain is like a spaceship-sometimes launching into hyperfocus at lightspeed, other times spinning out in a cosmic storm of distractions. With ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing differences, middle school feels like a daily mission through unexpected noise, confusing social codes, and cafeteria smells that seem like they came from another galaxy. Thankfully, Max has Cosmo-his support dog and steady companion.
His latest plan? Operation Normal Kid: A foolproof strategy to blend in and avoid standing out. Spoiler: it fails. Spectacularly.
When Max gets partnered with the ultra-organized, hyper-focused Amelia Lin for a major science project, he's sure they'll be a disaster together. Amelia has every step of her life planned out, and Max... well, Max once got distracted mid-sentence and forgot what he was talking about. But as they build a project around space and craters, Max realizes that maybe the key to surviving middle school isn't becoming someone else- it's finding the right people who like you just as you are. "Maybe being invisible isn't the problem. Maybe I just need to be visible to the right people."
Full of humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, this book is perfect for fans of Wonder, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Counting by 7s, and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. It's a story about friendship, self-acceptance, and the unexpected ways we discover where we belong.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Neurodivergent protagonists with ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing disorder
Books with humor and heart, laugh-out-loud funny but full of real emotions
STEM and space themes- NASA facts, science experiments, and cosmic metaphors
Diary-style, first-person narratives with an unforgettable voice
Stories about friendship, fitting in, and celebrating differences
The mix of humor and honesty found in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wonder
Invisible is a celebration of all the incredible ways our brains work differently, a reminder that sometimes, standing out is better than blending in.
Ryan Andreassen is an educator and children's book author with a heart for kids and a background in educational leadership. Ryan has spent his career helping young minds flourish, first in classrooms, then in schools, and now through stories that speak to the core of childhood. His books are rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Drawing on years of experience working with students, teachers, and families, Ryan writes stories that gently tackle big emotions, build empathy, and spark meaningful conversations- both at home and in the classroom. Whether exploring identity, belonging, resilience, or quiet courage, his stories invite readers to embrace who they are and who they're becoming. An accomplished children's audiobook narrator, Ryan brings a deep love for the read-aloud experience to everything he writes. His work is crafted to resonate not just on the page, but in the hearts of children listening from circle time rugs, library corners, or bedtime pillows. Ryan champions stories that blend literary excellence with emotional depth, books that preserve essential values while illuminating the path forward for today's kids. At the heart of it all is a simple truth he's seen again and again: the right story, at the right time, can change everything.
