The Mystery of Katie from INVISIBLE EMMIE (spoiler alert!)
Lately, I’ve been getting quite a few questions regarding the character Katie from INVISIBLE EMMIE. Before I go into it, if you haven’t yet read the book, this contains MEGA spoilers! Proceed only if you have read it or aren’t planning to read it (although I highly recommend you do 🙂 ).
Readers have asked me: where did Katie go? After the story, she simply disappears into oblivion and doesn’t reappear in any of the other books.
Actually, she DOES disappear. Quite literally.
You see, Katie doesn’t actually exist. She is entirely in Emmie’s imagination (and sketchbook). She is the ideal girl to Emmie: an alter ego (someone Emmie aspires to be), as well as an imaginary take-charge friend who guides Emmie when she is feeling upset, scared, or anxious.
So, toward the end of the book, when Emmie begins to discover her voice and starts to make new friends, she realizes she no longer needs Katie. That’s when Katie “disappears” and is replaced by something new to to Emmie — confidence.
I hope that makes sense! It’s definitely a twist ending, and one that trips up many readers.
For a synopsis of the book (or to order it to re-read), click here!
I can’t believe I didn’t realize this until the third time I read the book. And of course the books didn’t start having alliterative titles until Just Jamie. Why’d you start making the titles alliterative?
I hope this isn’t weird, but…have you ever been contacted by a studio that was interested in making a movie based on this series? Personally I think Truly Tyler would work best as a movie.
Great questions.
1. I don’t actually like alliteration — can you believe it? That’s why the first two titles didn’t have it. I was just looking for girls’ names that flowed nicely with the adjectives (“Invisible” and “Positively”). But by the third book, I was using existing characters with established names and had to work backwards with the titles. I had to think of adjectives to go along with their names. The only ones that worked were alliterations. Hope that makes sense.
2. There is something brewing, but I am sworn to secrecy. 🙂
Ohh that makes more sense than thinking Katie was replaced with Celia! They look insanely similar, except Katie is wayyyyy nicer!
It also makes sense now. The next mystery we could solve is what Emmie’s parents look like!
I’m just kidding! Looking forward to the new book! And I hope you’re doing well, Terri!
Haha, thank you!
You actually have a point: we’ve seen the parents of every other MC on-page, but for some reason we’ve never seen Emmie’s parents on page. What’s up with that?
To me it’s a bit of a comic device and something fun to leave to the imagination. Also, when I wrote INVISIBLE EMMIE (first book), I wanted to focus on Emmie and the other kids, apart from the adult world. But by my second book, POSITIVELY IZZY, Bri’s mom plays an important role, which is why she is included. I began including parents from then on, although they usually play more minor roles.
What?! I never knew that! I always thought Katie was a real character in the book, and Emmie wanted to be just like her. That’s a great plot twist, Terri!
Thank you! Yep, it can throw you for a loop.
But how did she date Tyler when nobody saw her?
Hi! I hope you’re doing well! I’ve been curious about what happened to Mia after Remarkable Ruby. 🤔
Hmm. Mia would probably need a follow-up story so we know what she’s up to. For now, I’m guessing she’s relaxed a little and is enjoying high school with friends (while remaining a good student and being involved in student government!). Guessing she and Ruby are also making up for lost time!
That makes sense. Thank you for explaining!
Hi Terri
I got the book series bout a month ago and I’m absolutely obsessed with it
Glad you love it!
SAMMEEEE THE SERIES IS AMAZING
🙂