Ishmael Lesuer is 14 years. He believes that he suffers from Ishmael Lesuer’s syndrome – a chronic condition for which there is no cure. Symptoms of Ishmael Lesuer’s syndrome include the inability to stick up for yourself and the uncanny ability to humiliate and embarrass yourself in front of your peers – even when you are trying really hard to remain calm, cool and collected. Ishmael spent Year 8 at St. Daniel’s Boys College trying to be invisible. It was the only way that he could stop Barry Bagsley and the other school bullies from picking on him. He plans to spend Year 9 the same way, but things don’t work out that way. Firstly, Miss Tarango, a new teacher, begins at the school. She’s enthusiastic, fun and best of all she identifies Barry Bagsley as the class bully right from day one. Miss Tarango begins a subtle campaign to bring Barry down a peg or two. Secondly, a new student called James Scobie starts in Ishmael’s class. James is slightly odd and quirky – an obvious target for bullies and Ishmael is initially worried about allying himself with him. However it soon becomes apparent that James is more than a match for Barry Bagsley. He is intelligent, quick-witted and absolutely fearless. As his friend, Ishmael feels protected. James encourages Ishmael to join the debating team as a researcher. Ishmael makes new friends on the team. Gradually as his confidence increases he is able to face his fears and speak in front of an audience. Then the unthinkable happens. James suddenly has to travel overseas, leaving Ishmael and the other members of the debating team in the lurch. The team has to decide whether to compete in the debating finals or forfeit because they have lost their leader. Can the team pull it together without James, or will everything fall apart? More importantly, will Ishmael finally find the courage to stand up to his arch-nemesis Barry Bagsley or will he remain invisible forever?