Told in turn from the perspectives of three very different boys, Holden Sheppard’s Invisible Boys is a powerful and compelling debut by a talented new voice in YA fiction. Introverted overachiever Zeke cannot bring himself to tell his family he is gay. Hardcore rocker Charlie is humiliated when he is outed on social media. And Hammer, the footy jock with a big ego, is in complete denial. All are struggling with questions about their sexuality while living in a small country town. None of them feel able to reveal who they really are. At times confronting, with its gritty sex scenes and a discussion of suicide ideation, Sheppard’s novel nevertheless offers a raw and authentic portrayal of growing up gay in rural Australia. Invisible Boys is not only for young people coming to terms with their sexuality, but for anyone who has felt invisible and longs to be seen.