• Age: 15 to 18
• Grade: 10 to 12

Invisible is an interactive book on dialogue, re the topic of incarceration. The book is divided into four (4) parts: history, philosophy, real-life stories, and possibilities. After each section there are a list of questions (prompts) from which to initiate dialogue, or in the event a reader is solo to contemplate on their own. The first section, history, covers a condensed version of the beginnings of incarceration in the UK to the modern structure of prisons in the western world; from this, the reader may gain a basic understanding for the purpose of contemplation and dialogue. The second section is a philosophical perspective on the notion of prisons and why society might be using them. The third section shares real-life stories of prisoners, with a focus on female incarceration (fastest growing population to prisons), as well as youth incarceration. The fourth and final section is filled with opportunities to think about future possibilities. There are many references included throughout (as well at the end of the book) so that the reader may research further on their own, and in that way incentivises study. The book is also filled with inspirational quotes, colour illustrations and images, and plenty of white-space, all designed with the purposeful intention of soothing the reader as they interact with the material.

Valerie Malla's profile page

The author's holds a double-major in philosophy and psychology; (with a minor in communications and design publishing). From 2018 to 2020 she created topics on contemporary (but difficult) issues that need to be dialogued in society, and held these philosophical cafes in public spaces during this time. These events not only give people the opportunity to gain familiarity on the topic, but also provides them with the experience of dialoguing, which is different than debate and general conversation.