Comments for Invisible Ink: Note to Sixth-Grade Self

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This piece belongs to the series "Invisible Ink: Series #1"

Produced by Roman Mars

Other pieces by Roman Mars

Summary: Julie Orringer's amazing story about a young girl who is ostracized by the popular girls in school.
 

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Review of Invisible Ink: Note to Sixth-Grade Self

Twenty minutes into 'Note to Sixth-Grade Self,' I realized that I should have left for a meeting ten minutes earlier. I listened to the end of Julie Orringer's 29 minute reading of her short story. I saw every moment of this real, intimate, and emotional story as clearly as if watching a faded 8mm movie through my tears and steamed glasses.

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Review of Invisible Ink: Note to Sixth-Grade Self

Note to half-century self: get that Orringer book. A ninety-something year old friend of mine often says, “It’s the little things,” and this beautifully written story is full of acutely rendered details that pack a wallop. Brought me back to sixth grade and the Eric Cassio of my class. Well-read by the author, nicely scored by the producer -- though the music almost overwhelms her soft voice in the first few minutes, eventually a good balance is struck and music and voice dance together. Laid out in a series of scenes: school, dance class, gym, the mall, etc. The agony of young self-awareness beats your heart. The narrator says of her mom, “When she asks you how your afternoon went, lie.” Oh, yeah. This is excellent programming for adolescents and their parents, and anyone else who has ever suffered ostracism and survived.