What the World Doesn't See is a moving book examining the toll that grief takes on Maudie's family and the role that is forced upon her as her mother escapes her children.

Travelling with her brother Jake to bring her mother home, Darbon uses honest depictions of Jake's learning disability to shed light on an marginalised section of society. Maudie's honest reactions to her stressful predicament highlights the pressures put on families who care for neurodivergent family members. Full of compassion, adventure , love and loss this book is a treat for the reader and an important vehicle in raising awareness.

It has taken me a long time to write this review because I don't think anything I can write will do this book justice. I adored @meldarbon first novel so much, and I was waiting for the second novel for so long, and I was not disappointed. I know this book is so close to Mel’s heart, based on Mel’s brother who sadly passed away before the book was released, but I’m really happy this book got written, with families who are on the autism spectrum I really could connect with the characters on a personal level and shows the world a life through Jake’s eyes.

After their father passes away, Maudie and Jake’s Mum struggle to grief for her husband, and look after the family, so one morning she has gone leaving both children behind. When Jake is put into care, Maudie can't cope anymore without Jake. She comes up with a crazy plan to kidnap Jake and run to Cornwall, to try and bring the family back together. Finding themselves and spending time with each other, Maudie also wants to find their Mum and try and fix everything and put their family back together.

There are moments I laughed, and moments where I cried, and so many moments I felt sorry for Jake and Maudie knowing how people on the outside look into families with children who are on the autism spectrum and how they can be pretty judgy quickly. Being told from both perspectives, really gives you a closer feeling to Jake, it made me feel like I understood him more, and understood how hard even simple things can be for him. But Maudie as a character is also just as important, all she wanted to do was keep her family together, and look after Jake and her Mum and keep them both happy. She had to do some questionable stuff to make that happen but I totally understand why she did it. I felt for her in so many ways. The story is about grief, friendship, family, love and second chances. The relationship between brother and sister is heartwarming and is such a huge part of the story.

Tissues at the ready! and MAKE SURE you read the author's notes at the end! That needs a special mention. Make sure you read that also!

Thank you Mel for writing such a groundbreaking novel!

This is an eye-opening young adult (YA) read from Usborne. This story is told through brother and sister duo Maudie is 17 and Jake is 13. Jake has a disability and needs care and help all day every day and is mentally not his age. With the recent loss of their father in all the families' minds, their mother runs away and leaves these two alone. How long for? Why did she go? Where did she go? Maudie has to take charge and care for Maudie, but she has a plan to get her mum and her family back together, even if it involves kidnapping her brother. An emotional read in parts and raw. It shows how society treats those with disabilities differently. It does have a beautiful reunion and a happy ending, though. I really enjoyed reading this one. A well-deserved four stars from me.

Wow, this was an absolutely stunning novel. The cover is initially want drew me in and upon reading the premise; I knew this was a book I would enjoy. I loved the characters, especially Maudy. They were well developed and had real, complex personalities that made it easy to fall in love with them and root for them until the very end. The writing wasn’t my favourite. It was simplistic for me and could make following the plot boring. The plot wasn’t my favourite either, however the characters kept me reading until the end. The author also hit the nail on the head with autism representation. Overall, a book well worth reading and I’ll look forward to seeing what the author writes next. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

I really wanted to love this one, after loving Rosie loves Jack but I think its was just not for me, I think this book would be grand for younger readers but maybe I'm just past my YA days

A beautifully handled and tenderly written story about first loves and disabilities, challenging some of those hidden beliiefs that a lot of us carry about who should be in relationships with who. I loved the characterisation and emotionally aware content, this is a must buy for all school libraries

When Maudie's Dad died of cancer, her family's world imploded. Both Maudie and her Mum barely had chance to grieve as they needed to care for Jake, Maudie's brother, who has profound difficulties. Now, two years later, Maudie is making plans for her future at college alongside best friend Izzy, her Mum, however, really cannot cope and suddenly leaves. Maudie finds that legally she cannot care for Jake on her own and their Aunt Eve sends Jake into temporary foster care. Maudie decides that she must get Mum back and 'kidnaps' Jake to travel to Cornwall, a place of happy memories.
As part of our school reading programme I had to read Darbon's last book' Rosie Loves Jack' with my form group. They loved the story and it takes a lot to get through to 15-year-olds! Therefore I had high expectations of this book and was not disappointed. Darbon is very clear that she writes to show that people with disabilities have thoughts and feelings and she promotes independence as well as highlighting negative attitudes. Maudie is a misguided but feisty heroine and, although the plot is as creaky as a caravan (!), it's a great book. I'm sure my form would love this as well.

I'm a huge fan of Rosie Loves Jack and couldn't wait to read this one.

The dual narrative, split between Maudie and Jake, is super powerful - allowing the reader to really appreciate, understand and love the relationship and close bond between the siblings. The narrative style also allows us to pick up on Maudie's reaction to others around her - those who show intolerance and lack of empathy to Jake's way of seeing the world.

A powerful story of grief, sibling love and family dynamics.

I loved "Rosie Loves Jack" and Mel's new book did not disappoint. It deals sensitively and compellingly with Jake's autism and how this impacts on the family, as well as how much he enriches his family. The grief of the family is evident and the description of the mum's spiral into depression is heart breaking. Equally, the appalling treatment of Jake by some strangers was also disturbing. Maudie's character was very well written too, and you couldn't help but like her, despite some questionable decisions. I loved the descriptions of their trip to Cornwall and could almost feel the sea spray under a glowering Cornish sky!

Maudie and Jake’s father died two years ago and they’ve been struggling to come to terms with their grief ever since. One night their mum disappears so Maudie and Jake decide to go and look for her.

Jake has special needs. Maudie is devoted to him and is determined to find their mum in order to bring the family back together.

The story is told in dual narrative - predominantly Maudie’s version of events, but interspersed with Jake’s reflections. I liked Maudie and her friend Liv. I also liked the characters they met at the caravan park. The relationship between Maudie and her brother was central to the story and totally believable.

Although this story had a lot going for it, there were a few things I didn’t like. I found the idea that a mum could just walk out, leaving a child with learning difficulties, who they had refused to put in care, with only his 17 year old sister and an aunt who had previously advocated care just unbelievable, no matter how much pressure she was under. I also disliked the writing style - too many short sentences meant that the story didn’t flow as well as it could have done.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mel Darbon is a YA author whose books everyone needs to read. Both of her books are heart-breaking, heart-warming, real and truly extraordinary. After reading her first published novel Rosie Loves Jack back in 2018, I knew I had to pick up What the World Doesn’t See. It completely exceeded all of my expectations and I cannot recommend it enough.

Maudie and Jake’s family is falling to pieces. Their Mum has been struggling with her grief after losing their Dad and one night she just vanishes. When Jake is put into care, Maudie can’t take it anymore. So, she comes up with a wild plan to pull their family back together, by kidnapping Jake. Whilst on the run in Cornwall, Jake and Maudie each find something they hadn’t expected, but can they find their Mum?

This book is told through a dual POV narrative and it works excellently. We alternate between the perspectives of Maudie and Jake. I’m so glad that Mel Darbon gave Jake his own chapters. It helps to provide an authentic representation of neurodiversity and gives Jake his own voice. It isn’t often that we hear the voices of neurodivergent characters and especially not at the centre of the story. I feel this is one of the things that makes this book as special as it is.

Maudie is our other excellent main character. She is mature and is excellent at looking after herself and her brother. There are a few things she does throughout the book that I feel were a little bit naive. But, I had to suspend my thoughts around this because she is in quite a unique situation. Either way, I enjoyed Maudie’s POVs and the story she tells.

I loved the sibling bond we see between Jake and Maudie. Maudie is always there for Jake and makes sure that people are fair and kind to him. Jake cares so deeply for Maudie too and there are moments throughout the book when we see this and they are incredibly heart-warming.

What the World Doesn’t See explores grief in such a moving way. It talks about the experiences both as an adult and a teenager following the death of a loved one. We see all the characters deal with their grief in different ways. One of the most interesting explorations of grief was with Jake and his understanding of his Dad’s death. I feel that brought some added beauty to the story.

Overall, What the World Doesn’t See is a book I will be recommending to everyone. It is a must-read book for all. I’m sure this will help many readers learn about neurodivergence as well as build the reader’s empathy and understanding. It is an incredibly powerful story which will stay with me for a very long time.

This book is heartbreakingly beautiful- in a good way. I can’t count the amount of emotions I went through when reading this book.

What the World Doesn’t See really shows another perspective to life and the world, you feel the characters pain and determination, you cry with them.

The book follows Maudie and Jake whose lives have been completely flipped upside down when their mum just disappears one day, not being able to deal with her grief. Jake gets put into care by their aunt but Maudie is determined to find her mum, and decided to take Jake - no matter the cost.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster, so definitely have some tissues on hand throughout the book, not just at the end.

Having worked with young people with learning disabilities before I think made this book hit wven harder, it made me think of all the good memories I had when working there and how much I do miss the young people there. I am glad that Jake and Maudie’s story ends well, but know it is not always the case.

Mel Darbon really used her own real life experiences with her brother to soread awareness about severe learning disabilities in What the World Doesn’t See, and I think that really adds a personal layer to this book.

Overall, I am giving What the World Doesn’t See 5 stars and will most definitely be checking out Darbon’s other work. I lived reading Jake and Maudie’s story and it really felt like I was there with them. Grief can be such a tough thing to overcome, and living with someone who has a severe learning disability can be very challenging, but you also learn a lot from them. If you feel overwhelmed do not feel afraid to reach out for help, because the world doesn’t always see what is going on.

What the World Doesn’t See is a dual narrative and fast pace novel surrounding love, grief, family bonds and learning to find oneself.  In the beginning, I struggled to get into this book, but once I got into the flow of it, I finished it in one sitting and found myself eager to find out how it would end. The great thing about this book is that it's so fast-paced that it doesn’t give you a chance to get bored, so if you’re looking for a book to get you out of a reading slump, this may be the one for you. This book follows the story of Maudie and Jake, two siblings who are grieving the loss of their father, and set out to find their mother after she leaves them behind, unable to cope with the loss of her husband. The chapter of their life begins in Cornwall, where they befriend Gerren and Brae, and with their help, hope to find their mother, and themselves along the way.

 One thing that I loved about this book was the bond and understanding between Jake and Maudie. It’s not often that you come across fictional siblings who know each other inside out like these two. Jake is on the autism spectrum, and as stated in the author's note, his experiences are written from her personal experience with having an autistic sibling. Jake was one of my favourite characters in the story, he has a totally hilarious sense of humour and seeing him transform and his character develops throughout the story was so heartwarming. Maudie, on the other hand, is clearly struggling to find herself and figure out what she wants, but it’s in this journey to find her mother that she truly finds herself, and Jake isn’t the only character to develop emotionally and physically.

  This is a book that I feel will be deeply loved by many, and the disability and autism representation is something that I hope to see more in publication today. Thank you to Mel Darbon and to Usborne YA for sending me a proof copy of this book, and allowing me to experience this story so early.

Overall, "What the World Doesn't See" is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. The author's compassionate portrayal of Izzy and her experiences is both insightful and moving, and the book is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Moving family based story with strong themes of loyalty, grief and neuro diversity. Audie’s love for her brother Jake, despite the difficulties of living with a family member with learning difficulties, is so strong and her endless patience with him is touching. Reading that the author had a brother now sadly passed away who had similar difficulties explained how she is able to write so empathetically about this family situation.

Gorgeoys relationships & realistic reactions from all involved...I wish there were as many friendly bystanders in real life to deal with the horrible ones!

Tweeted that I enjoyed it, & have a guest blog post coming from Mel

What The World Doesn’t See is told through a perfectly paced dual POV narrative, alternating between the perspectives of Maudie and Jake. The character of Jake provides a really authentic representation of autism and the inclusion of chapters written from Jake’s perspective gave Jake his own voice in the story. We don’t see enough books putting autistic characters at the centre of their own narratives so I think this really sets What The World Doesn’t See apart from other books.
We also have neurodivergent adult representation through the character of Jiera and I found this to be a really important inclusion as it reminds readers that neurodivergent children become neurodivergent adults and therefore it’s not just children who may experience some of the difficulties explored through Jake’s character.
The story provides a moving exploration of the grief experienced by both adults and children following the death of a loved one. I particularly found the exploration of Jake’s understanding of death really interesting and it was really moving to see his understanding of where his Dad had gone building as the book progressed.
I adored the sibling bond between Maudie and Jake and how fiercely Maudie advocated for Jake. The blossoming relationship between Maudie and Gerren was also very sweet. It was arguably rather juvenile at times when you think about the ages of the characters but this is understandable given the age range the book is targeted at.
I did struggle in parts with the maturity of the character of Maudie as, in some aspects of the book, she seems to not have the grasp on reality that a 17 nearly 18 year old would have. For example, she thinks that the police won’t be involved in the case of the abduction of a vulnerable child from their foster home. To a degree I can understand that this could be linked to the trauma of parental loss and then parental abandonment not making her think rationally, but I do still think that it didn’t feel like the actions someone approaching adulthood would think appropriate.
What The World Doesn’t See is a must-read for young adult and mature middle grade readers to build empathy and educate on neurodivergence and the experiences of neurodivergent individuals. It’s a powerful story with so much heart to it and I know it will really stay with anyone who reads it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

What the World Doesn't See is a powerful story of love and grief and acceptance.
Maudie's mum has disappeared, consumed with grief for her dead husband. Maudie wants to find her for her family to be back together and to provide the stability that her disabled brother, Jake needs. Maudie and Jake set off on an adventure to bring the family back together.
Darbon's novel explores love - for parents, for siblings and young first love and the unconditional love that Maudie and Jake share for each other. It demonstrates and peels back the prejudices around disabilities and shows that we are all human in all our many ways.
It's a beautiful, page-turning book that had me in tears by the end, and I wanted to stay with Maudie and Jake (and Gerren) after the last page was turned.

I read this pacy, dual narrative YA novel in two sittings. I had high expectations, knowing that this was a story with a disabled young protagonist, as well as having themes of grief, young caring responsibilities and mental ill health. I wanted this to be 'representation done right'. I wasn't disappointed. Maudie and Jake's stories were in very capable hands with author Mel Darbon.

In her 'authors note', Darbon explains how she wrote from a deeply personal experience of having an autistic sibling. Whilst importantly she says that Jake's experience (or her brother's) will not be every autistics experience, the novel highlights common 'barriers', both physical and social, that Jake and his family had to navigate on a daily basis. Many of these barriers stem from ignorance, however others arise from active prejudice.

The story grabbed me from the start and I was eager to know what had happened to Maudie and Jake's mum. I appreciated the way the story, seamlessly goes back in time, to when they were a family of four with Dad, as this fleshed out the narrative being told in the present day, and provided understandings for why characters behaved and felt the way they did. As a mum, and as a cancer-survivor, I found the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by Maudie, and her mum, at times quite heartbreaking and raw to read.

I loved Jake's 'voice', his thoughts pared back to the essential details, and how his reflective sense of humour often came out at very inopportune times! It felt like as Maudie and Jake were physically journeying, they also went through a transformative emotional journey together too, and not just moving forward with their grief. Jake was able to show Maudie, what he was actually capable of, when given the freedom and opportunity, and Maudie learnt the importance of enabling Jake, doing things with, not always for, him.

The cast of additional characters in the book, all earn their place, adding a wonderful depth, and many other points of connection with the reader. I loved Maudie's friendship with Liv, and her developing first relationship with Gerren, felt realistic.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this novel to an upper middle-grade or younger YA audience.
Empathy-boosting books like this, are critically important, in a time where 'different' is so often equated with 'less than'. Books like this, play a key part in changing this conversation.

We absolutely need more books with disability representation, especially those that don't focus on 'special needs', as 'What The World Doesn't See' teaches us, is that autistic /disabled young people actually have the same 'needs' as those of us without autism or a disability; to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion, to be treated with kindness and respect, and to fulfil their potential. Ultimately, this is a story about love, in its many forms, and we all need more of this in our world.

Thanks to #Netgalley for an e-arc of #WhatTheWorldDoesntSee

A stunning and important read which will open eyes to people about disability, prejudice and grief. So poignantly done.