The Invisible Girls Book Summary

In 'The Invisible Girls', Sarah Thebarge weaves a poignant narrative centering on her life-altering journey of connection and hope. After surviving her own battles with illness and loss, she finds herself entwined in the lives of a group of forgotten Somali refugees struggling to survive in a foreign land. As she becomes their advocate, their stories of hardship and resilience unfold, revealing the power of empathy and community in the face of adversity. Thebarge's lyrical prose illuminates themes of invisibility and the profound impact of human kindness. This touching memoir invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions of society's overlooked individuals and inspires a deeper understanding of the human experience.

By Sarah Thebarge

Published: 2014

""Sometimes the most invisible people are the ones who are actually the most present in our lives, reminding us of the strength we can find in vulnerability.""

Book Review of The Invisible Girls

Now with a new postscript and reading group guide, perfect for book clubs. After nearly dying of breast cancer in her twenties, Sarah Thebarge fled her successful career, her Ivy League education, and a failed relationship, and moved nearly 3,000 miles from the East Coast to Portland, Oregon, hoping to quietly pick up the pieces of her broken life. Instead, a chance encounter on the train with a family of Somali refugees swept her into an adventure that changed all of their lives. Half a world away from Somalia, Hadhi was fighting battles of her own. Abandoned by her husband, she was struggling to raise five young daughters in a culture she didn't understand. When their worlds collide with Sarah's, Hadhi and the girls were on the brink of starvation in their own home, "invisible" in a neighborhood of strangers. As Sarah helped Hadhi and the girls navigate American life, her unexpected outreach to the family became both a source of courage and a lifeline for herself. Exquisite, at times shattering, Sarah's enthralling memoir invites readers into her story of finding connection, love, and redemption in the most unlikely of places. All proceeds from the sale of the book go toward a college fund for the five Somali Invisible Girls. For details, visit www.sarahthebarge.com.

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"Sometimes the most invisible people are the ones who are actually the most present in our lives, reminding us of the strength we can find in vulnerability."

The Invisible Girls

By Sarah Thebarge