School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 7 Up-icky 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 curious, 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 nored and eme, Vicky discovers that she is far from one 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

ALA Booklist (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

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).

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

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)

Voice of Youth Advocates (Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Vicky Decker just wants to disappear. After her best and only friend, Jenna, moves away, Vicky goes for days without talking to anyone at school. Her mom, desperate for her to make new friends, pushes her to attend parties and try new styles. Wishing to be someone else, Vicky begins photo-shopping herself into a social life under the new Instagram screen name, Vicurious. As she chooses more and more outlandish scenes for her alter ego, her online followers begin to multiply as people connect with her messages of being #alone and #ignored. As Vicky reaches out to her followers, she begins to see how her message, #iseeyou, can only make a difference if she finds the courage to be seen herself. How to Disappear is a top-notch book about a teenage girl struggling with social anxiety who overcomes her fears with the help of those around her. Vicky is a well-developed, believable character who is supported by a cast of others that readers could easily meet in any high school. The plot digs into heavy topics such as suicide, depression, and social anxiety, but helps readers digest them through the use of humor. The book's messages of seeing those who are on the perimeter and valuing those who are atypical are beautifully woven throughout the story. This book will attract a wide range of readers, especially teens who enjoy realistic fiction, and find readers in both the public and school library setting.—Deanne Boyer.