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The Invisible Thread

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Heartfelt and hopeful, Sue Lamoree's THE INVISIBLE THREAD offers middle-grade readers an inspiring look at courage, friendship, and the invisible bonds that hold people and the world together . ~ Rachel O'Hara for IndieReader

Honorable Mention recipient of the Writer's Digest 13th Annual Self-Published E-book Award

Marvin misses his old life—where he had friends, played soccer, and had a father who spent time with him. The one in which a massive wheelchair didn't take center stage.

A year after a crippling accident, Marvin faces the daunting task of starting middle school on his own. To make matters worse, his "best friend" has made it his mission to bully Marvin at the turn of every corner.

When a mysterious girl named Anna enters his life, Marvin realizes he's not alone and is introduced to a world of magic and wonder as she encourages him to have faith in himself and the people around him. But, Anna is struggling with her own challenges, and Marvin must choose between retreating to his safe yet lonely life or allowing the light back in and helping Anna shine again too.

"Readers who loved Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia will appreciate this story's blend of heartfelt realism and gentle magic, while fans of Carl Hiaasen's Hoot will enjoy its environmental message and compassion for wildlife. Ultimately, Lamoree reminds readers that even in life's hardest moments, love and purpose are never truly lost; they're simply waiting to be rediscovered." ~ Rachel O'Hara for IndieReader

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2025

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About the author

Sue Lamoree

3 books2 followers

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5 stars
10 (52%)
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5 (26%)
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3 (15%)
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1 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Stephanie Fitzgerald.
1,288 reviews
January 3, 2026
All the way through, I kept thinking, “This is an odd book”.
The novel opens abruptly; the protagonist, a middle-school aged boy, is being called on in math class to answer a problem. His classmates are giggling at his inability to come up with the answer, or at the fact that he is in a wheelchair, possibly for both reasons. Little to no explanation is given for their fairly harsh bullying, or for why the boy is in the wheelchair, not until much later in the story. Especially confusing because in one early paragraph one of the mean kids, Frankie, is portrayed as having recently having helped Marvin learn to dribble a ball with his feet, not hands. In the very next scene Frankie is giving Marvin flak in the hallway, but again, no background information is given. It seemed like the narrative continued in this fashion.
There were some good themes presented: caring about living things in nature being harmed by modern developments; learning how to live again after life throws a huge curveball; what true friendship really looks like; forgiving others/not jumping to conclusions and judging. The scenes with Baily the service dog were well presented, and heartwarming, but there weren’t very many of them.
The character of the little heavenly being was one of the stranger plot twists; to me the story could have done without it.
Overall, an ok book for a middle-grade audience.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
Profile Image for Isabelle Knight.
Author 7 books13 followers
March 20, 2026
Overall, this was a beautiful, sweet contemporary book!! While contemporary isn't a genre I read too much, I found myself absolutely loving this book! Marvin's character was so relatable, and I loved seeing his relationship with both Frankie and his father grow! Anna's character was fascinating as well, and I really love what she does in this book and what she does for Marvin as she teaches him to forgive and have faith in himself. This book doesn't shy away from hard topics such as divorce, protecting the environment, and learning to forgive those who have hurt you, which I very much appreciate it. And despise those hard topics, the story manages to remain hopeful all throughout. I also enjoyed the disabled rep in the book, which isn't something I see very often in middle-grade. While the story was a bit slow/hard to get into at first, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I gasped out loud at the twist at the ending! Definitely recommend this book to any middle-grader looking for a sweet contemporary read.
Profile Image for Billy Buttons.
Author 19 books203 followers
June 9, 2026
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Invisible Thread
Author: Sue Lamoree

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5

Of the 15 readers:
14 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
14 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
Emily, Age 10
I loved The Invisible Thread because it was exciting and emotional at the same time. Marvin was a really brave character, and I felt sorry for him when he had to deal with being in a wheelchair and getting bullied. My favourite character was Anna because she was mysterious and kind. The magical parts made the story feel special, but it also felt realistic. It taught me that even when life is hard, you can still find friendship and hope. I would definitely recommend this book to other kids my age.

Lucas, Age 12
This book was amazing! At first, I thought it was just going to be a sad story, but it was actually full of adventure, friendship, and magic. I liked how Marvin didn't give up even when things were really difficult for him. There were parts that made me smile and parts that almost made me cry. The message about believing in yourself and helping other people was really powerful. I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. This is one of the best books I've read this year.

Sophie, Age 9 – with a little help from her TA
The Invisible Thread was a good book because it had lots of feelings and interesting characters. Marvin's life changes after his accident, and I liked reading about how he learned to be strong again. Anna was cool because she brought magic and mystery into the story. Sometimes the story was a little sad, but it also made me feel hopeful. I think readers who like friendship stories with a bit of magic will enjoy this book.

Noah, Age 11
Wow! This book surprised me. I thought it would only be about a boy in a wheelchair, but it was so much more than that. There was friendship, nature, family problems, and even some magical moments. Marvin felt like a real person, and I was cheering for him the whole time. The ending was my favourite part because it tied everything together and made me feel happy. I would tell my friends to read it because it teaches important lessons without being boring.

Olivia, Age 12 – with a little help from mum
I enjoyed reading The Invisible Thread. My favourite thing was how Marvin and Anna helped each other. The story showed that everyone has struggles, even if you can't always see them. I liked the messages about kindness, forgiveness, and courage. Some parts were emotional, but they made the story better. It made me think about how important friends and family are. Overall, it was a meaningful and enjoyable book.

To Sum It Up:
“A heartfelt middle-grade story blending realism and gentle magic to show how friendship, courage, and unseen connections can help us heal and find hope. A FINALIST and highly recommended!” Wishing Shelf Book Awards
1,602 reviews26 followers
December 29, 2025
What worked:
Marvin is the main character, and he lost his best friend, Frankie, after becoming confined to a wheelchair. Surprisingly, Frankie incessantly bullies Marvin now, and Marvin doesn’t understand why. Marvin wants to feel like a “normal” kid again, and his parents’ split-up doesn’t help his emotions. His dad doesn’t have time for him anymore. Mavin’s anger toward his father and his wish to spend time with him leave Marvin with conflicting thoughts and feelings. Marvin is happiest when he attends riding classes, where he looks forward to bonding with his horse. This activity allows him to experience success and a bit of independence that’s missing from his daily life. Marvin’s life won’t truly return to “normal” until everyone in his life resolves unspoken issues.
Anna literally pops into the story after she’s sent from Heaven to earth. She offers Marvin supportive advice and encourages him to take chances. She can connect with animal spirits, and forest creatures tell her that they’re losing their homes. Maybe this is the reason she was sent to earth. Natural habitats are being destroyed by human developments, and Anna is worried that the animals have nowhere to go. This conflict leads the plot into a man-versus-nature direction, and it becomes the focus in the second half of the book. However, Anna’s purpose on earth is more than expected.
The author shares the emotional and physical challenges of being confined to a wheelchair. He misses playing soccer with his former best friend and wishes he could hike to the creek with his dad. He needs help getting dressed each morning, and others must lift his body to transfer him into and out of his chair. His wheelchair is motorized and heavy, but he uses a manual chair in some circumstances. The story also introduces his service dog and shares the amazing ways he helps Marvin.
What didn’t work as well:
The story spans weeks, although Anna keeps reminding the characters of the urgency. A deadline or climactic moment would add tension and suspense that’s missing from the plot.
The final verdict:
This book shares an emotional story that will resonate with all readers. There’s a spiritual aspect to it with a thoughtful, sensitive lesson. I recommend you try it for yourself.
Profile Image for Michael Culbertson.
205 reviews5 followers
January 2, 2026
The Invisible Thread drops the reader immediately into the fraught internal life of middle-schooler Marvin Wright, who has recently been paralyzed and has to adjust to his new life in a wheelchair and estranged from both his best friend and his father. The language flows beautifully, and we intimately feel both Marvin’s pains and his joys. I had the sense that the narration became a bit more distant by the end of the book, but I would need a second, closer read to tell whether this is actually a feature of the writing or just a symptom that I was tired when I read it.

The book is written from a Mormon cosmology: Spirit Anna, one of Heavenly Father’s millions of children, has accidentally wandered to earth and needs help to get back to her family in heaven—this is a fairly common trope, from what I’m told. In addition to needing to get back to heaven, Anna initiates the novel’s environmentalist conflict (a beloved wood is going to be developed into suburban housing, displacing animals) and provides a clock to build dramatic tension (sickening when away from heaven too long). Anna also serves a guru-like function, encouraging Marvin to do hard things that would be good for him.

But, the Anna subplot didn’t work well for me: The time spent on fretting over keeping Anna’s peculiar origins hidden and not knowing how to get her back to heaven felt like a distraction from the main work of the novel in Marvin’s development. The functions of the Anna character could probably have been transferred to other characters (such as the under-developed new-friend Syd), streamlining the plot and consolidating character development where it matters most—in Marvin, Frankie, and Marvin’s father.

Despite some weaknesses, The Invisible Thread is a solid middle-grade character study in accepting and finding joy in life, despite the bad things that happen, with strong themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and understanding that others are going through hard things, too.

Thanks to Covenant Books and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Profile Image for Margaret Elisabeth.
179 reviews8 followers
January 2, 2026
This was such a fun and well-written middle grade novel!

The story is about the Wright family, who are torn apart after Marvin is paralyzed in a car accident. During a horse riding lesson, Marvin sees a streak of light and discovers that a spirit from heaven has accidentally fallen to earth. She can't find her way back to heaven, and so Marvin must help her get back, but she must first complete a mission and she can't figure out what it is.

The high point of this book for me was seeing broken relationships become healed. Whether it was between Marvin's parents, Marvin and his father, or Marvin and his friend Frankie, it was absolutely beautiful to watch. It really gave a good picture of the power of forgiveness and how it can help people come back together.

Despite this, the spiritual elements of the story didn't work for me. Theologically, I didn't agree with the premise of the story (I believe the author is Mormon/LDS), but I also think that Anna's presence often served not to advance the other character's stories, but to distract from them. For instance, there was one scene where Marvin and his dad were going kayaking after having not spent quality time together in over a year. It could have been a really poignant and special moment between father and son, but instead Anna was there talking to Marvin and getting in the way of their relationship. (Only children could see Anna, so Marvin's father thought they were alone.) Instead of being happy for Anna at the end, I found myself relieved that she was finally leaving them and they could start to rebuild relationships on their own.

Overall, this is a really beautiful book that teaches a lot of important lessons about forgiveness, caring for the environment, and moving on from the past. While it didn't suit me personally, I wholeheartedly recommend it to those who share the author's beliefs or who enjoy these types of spiritual elements.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!
Profile Image for Julia.
3,194 reviews103 followers
January 25, 2026
The Invisible Thread by Sue Lamoree is a beautiful contemporary children’s novel and just perfect for the over tens. It has a powerful message of forgiveness at its’ heart.
Following a dreadful accident, a family is fractured when a young boy ends up wheelchair bound. There are feelings of both guilt and anger within the family, as it falls apart. What the family really need is love and forgiveness. They need to celebrate what they do have, instead of mourning what they don’t.
We witness how life has changed for the young boy. He misses his past life. “He’d been so angry with Dad over the past year that he’d forgotten how much fun their adventures used to be.” Anger has eaten away at him. His eyes need opening to the new world of possibilities around him. This includes new friends and hobbies, such as competitive horse riding for the disabled.
A spirit from heaven, whom only children can see, falls to earth for a special mission. Her ethereal presence wafts through the tale, spreading peace and love. She reveals the heart of God the Father: “He’s got millions of children, but I always feel like I’m special to Him… He says I am.”
There is a debate over what is ‘normal.’ “I wish I was normal again.” The ‘normal’ of the past is gone but a ‘new normal’ awaits.
We learn the importance of preserving our planet and its’ habitat for all the animals.
The Invisible Thread was an engaging, entertaining read that was also thought-provoking. There were many starting points within the book for discussions with our children.
I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Susan  Faloon.
1,158 reviews
December 27, 2025
Marvin has had a lot to adjust to in the past year. He sits in a wheelchair these days. School has become unbearable because his best friend has become his own personal bully. His Dad has cut out on them and it's just he and Mom against the world.
A very different girl has entered his life and he's having a hard time trying to understand it all. What is happening?
Special thanks to the author, Sue Lamoree and Covenant Books for my copy from NetGalley. This is my own personal opinion of The Invisible Thread. This is one of the best middle-school age books I've read this year.
I love this story. The author demonstrates how hard it can be to have a life-altering change with a body that doesn't work the same anymore. People abandon Marvin, once a team player for school soccer he now feels alone. Dad is always busy now that there are no games to play in. His best friend is cruel. I immediately came to care about Marvin. I enjoyed the interaction and building mystery surrounding the new girl. There's an excellent introduction to nature that makes sense in the plot. This is the kind of story needed for middle grade reader's and teens.
It also leads to what miscommunication and guilt can do to a family. The adjustment to being differently abled and what new things can bring possibility and interaction with animals is touching. I very much appreciate the clean dialogue! It's well written and meaningful. This book is a definite 5-star read in my opinion.
Profile Image for Christine Rosa.
69 reviews
January 5, 2026
A year ago, Marvin was in an accident and became wheelchair bound. Since then he no longer can play his favorite sport, soccer, and he has lost his best friend. To make matters worse, his parents have also split up. The one activity he now enjoys is horseback riding and it is at the stables where he meets a new friend, Anna. Marvin quickly finds that Anna is different from anyone else he’s ever met and she needs his help as much as he needs her.

This story has a bit of mystery and fantasy and it reminds us of how we are all connected. It is also filled with hope and overcoming tragedy.

I loved that this book had a Christian theme and was written for children. We need more stories like this that bring hope to impossible situations.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
166 reviews7 followers
October 15, 2025
The Invisible Thread opens introducing us to the main character- Marvin. Marvin quickly grows on readers. Through his struggle fitting in socially and dealing with bullying, he quickly endears himself to the book’s audience of young readers. This is a recurring theme throughout the book. Author Sue Lamoree has a knack for developing colorful and interesting characters and settings, and she goes on to craft a narrative that’s colourfully written and wonderfully detailed. This book allows your imagination o run wild, and assists it with writing that’s both creative and simple. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Profile Image for Misty Knapp.
134 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2025
We immediately meet Marvin, who is in a wheelchair, and the readers get to see what it's like to have a disability and how it affects day-to-day living. Marvin is starting a new school year without his best friend, who has turned into the school bully, but has made a new friend, Anna, who is magical.
As Marvin is trying to find out how to send Anna back home (to heaven), she is teaching him how to have the courage to try new things and how to forgive himself, his "bully" friend, and his Dad. Marvin, Anna, and his friends race against the clock to save the forest for the animals. I recommend this for all older children and younger teens, especially to see if Anna makes it home!
165 reviews
March 12, 2026
The Invisible Thread drops you straight into main character Marvin’s middle school classroom with little context or explanation and I felt like I was playing catch-up from 3 steps behind for the rest of the novel. I loved the blurb but felt like the actual novel did not live up to what I had imagined it would be based on said blurb. I think my middle grade readers who are not strong readers to begin with would struggle to stay connected with this novel, though there’s always a chance they will surprise me.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley.
128 reviews8 followers
October 22, 2025
The Invisible Thread is a perfect book for children. It's a wonderful, fantasy-filled story that follows an awkward school kid-something many children can relate to. There's themes of love, adventure, and wonder. Author Sue Lamoree attracts readers with a sympathetic main character while simultaneously opening our minds with the wonderful fantasy world she builds. I enjoyed the book.
43 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2026
The main character's description of life in a wheelchair was both informative and emotional, especially after discovering that the author has also had to adapt to life in a wheelchair. The spirit character didn't bring a lot to the narrative for me, and I wish the book had focused more on the main character and his struggles/triumphs.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews