The Night She Disappeared Book Review

Author: April Henry. Release date: 2012. Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.. ISBN: 9780805092622.

Annotation: Gabie blames herself when her coworker, Kayla, disappears one night after trading shifts with her at a local pizza parlor. Sure that she is still alive, Gabie struggles as more and more time passes with no sign of Kayla.

Personal thoughts: I’d never heard of April Henry before picking up The Night She Disappeared, but having blown through it from cover-to-cover in a day I think I can safely say that I will definitely be reading more mysteries from her in the future!  I really enjoyed the novel, and found the pacing to be excellent. The combination of different narrators, evidence and all the other tidbits the author threw in really made it read like an episode of an intriguing true crime TV show. I would highly recommend this story to a reluctant reader because it is so interesting from start to finish. I’m looking forward to reading another one of April Henry’s creations!

Plot summary: High school senior Gabie Klug lives a fairly quiet life in Portland, Oregon. She studies hard, has a few friends at school and is looking forward to finding out who she is at Stanford next year. Like her surgeon parents, Gabie has everything in order, and never thought that her part-time job at Pete’s Pizza would throw her life into disarray. Gabie usually works Wednesday nights, driving her Mini-Cooper to deliver pizzas in the area. One day, however, Gabie’s beautiful, popular coworker Kayla asks to trade shifts with her. On that Wednesday evening, a man calls to order three pizzas and asks if the girl who drives the Mini-Cooper is working. Kayla goes out to deliver the pizzas and never returns. Now the hunt is on: the man who called in the pizza order gave a fake address, and all that has been recovered of Kayla is her car which was found by the bank of the Willamette River. Since the man asked if the girl who drives the Mini-Cooper was working, Gabie knows that she was the original target of the abduction; Kayla was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Wracked with guilt, Gabie struggles as more and more time passes with no sign of Kayla. Certain that she is still alive, Gabie and her coworker, Drew, wonder what they can do to help find Kayla before it’s too late.

Review: Mystery writer April Henry delivers a page-turning thriller with The Night She Disappeared.  Set in the author’s home of Portland, Oregon, the novel reads like an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, complete with evidence, police reports, and missing person’s flyers that accompany the narrative. The book is extremely fast-paced and difficult to put down, particularly since the chapters are from the viewpoints of several different characters. The main narrators, Gabie and her coworker Drew, are both likable and relatable. Gabie comes from a well-to-do family but feels stifled by her doctor parents, and Drew is the son of a junky who needs the money he earns from Pete’s Pizza to keep the lights on in the crummy apartment he shares with his mom. The two bond over Kayla’s disappearance, and both evolve as they become more and more embroiled in the hunt to find their missing coworker. There are some unsavory moments in the story, which is to be expected, as details of Kayla’s abduction come to light. The novel is still very much appropriate for a teen audience, however, and would be a particularly good choice for a reluctant reader who wants something that will grab and hold their attention quickly and from beginning to end.  

Genre:  Mystery

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Girl, Stolen, The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die and other titles by April Henry, Lark by Tracey Porter, On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker, Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff, What Happened to Serenity? by PJ Sarah Collins.

Themes:  Mystery, kidnapping, abduction, danger, guilt, police, crime.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from VOYA, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

Series Information: N/A  

Discussion questions:

-         What mistakes do you think Kayla made that lead to her abduction? Is there something she could have done differently to keep herself safe?

-         If you were Gabie, would you feel guilty about Kayla getting abducted and not you? Why or why not?

-          What do you think brought Drew and Gabie together in the aftermath of Kayla’s abduction?

-         Why did Gabie want to experience what Kayla went through when she was abducted? Do you think it helped or made things worse?

-          What was the importance of the psychic in the events of the story? How would things have been different had she not been hired?

-          In the end, would you have done what Gabie and Drew did? Why or why not?

Touch: A Denazen Novel Book Review

 Author: Jus Accardo. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Entangled Teen. ISBN9781620610138.

Annotation: After Dez has a chance run in with the handsome and mysterious Kale, she learns that her father is part of an elite organization called Denazen that collects Sixes: people with mutations that give them extraordinary super powers.  

Personal thoughts: One thing I kept thinking throughout this novel was, “This is what X-Men would have been liked if Magneto had been in charge of the school instead of Professor Xavier.” After finishing it, that thought pretty much sums up the story! I found a lot of elements in the book to be similar to other young adult novels, and the parallels with X-Men are so apparent that the author even mentions them in the book. The one thing that really saved the novel for me was the author’s obviously thoughtful construction of Dez. She starts off the story seriously annoying and obnoxious, but the reader gets to see her personality mature and progress as she becomes more entrenched in her plight to find out the truth about Denazen. So often, protagonists in young adult novels are somewhat wooden, so it was nice to read about a “real” girl with a lot of spunk. Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I would still recommend it to teen girls who want something with action and romance. There is enough to enjoy about the story to make it a worthwhile read.

Plot summary: Seventeen-year-old Deznee “Dez” Cross has spent most of her life trying to break through her lawyer father’s iron guard by making him angry. Her mother died giving birth to her, and Dez has always assumed that her dad’s icy relationship with her is because he blames her for losing his wife. Dez isn’t sure how else to get his attention, so she spends her days partying, hooking up with guys, and pulling daredevil stunts like skateboarding off of roofs. One night after a particularly wild party, Dez happens to meet a handsome and mysterious guy named Kale. Kale seems disoriented, and Dez soon learns that he is on the run from Denazen, the “law firm” her father works for. Kale informs Dez that her father is actually involved in the collection of Sixes, people, mostly children and teens, with a mutated sixth chromosome that gives them extraordinary superpowers. Kale has the ability to kill anyone just with the touch of his hand, but he and Dez are shocked to discover that Dez is inexplicably immune to his power. Horrified by the truth about her father, Dez and Kale find themselves both targets of Denazen and on the run. But how long can Dez evade her father, and what will happen when he and Denazen discover a dangerous secret she has been keeping all of her life?

Review: Debut author Jus Accardo’s personality shines through in Touch, the first novel in a new series for teens. While the storyline isn’t really anything new, the author’s writing style gives it a bit of freshness, particularly in her portrayal of Dez, a foul-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old with a dangerous secret. Almost from the first pages of the book, it’s clear that Dez isn’t a typical teen heroine. She’s rash, abrasive, and more than a little obnoxious. As the story progresses, however, the reader experiences Dez maturing as she learns more about the truth of her father and his role in the sinister Denazen Corporation. Her relationship with Kale, the handsome and strong Six who managed to escape from Denazen, is enjoyable and romantic, although predictable. There are also many twists and turns in the plot, with characters switching allegiances and secrets being revealed left and right. Overall, Touch isn’t a particularly original novel, but it is entertaining and has all the elements that will appeal to many readers, especially teen girls. The sequel, Toxic, is set to be released September 11, 2012.

Genre:  Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: X-Men comic series, Damage by Anya Parrish, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Tempest by Julie Cross, Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson.

Themes:  Superpowers, father/daughter relationships, conspiracy, kidnapping, romance.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from authors Darynda Jones, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Inara Scott.

Series Information: First installment in Denazen series. Second novel, Toxic, set to be released September 11, 2012.

Discussion questions:

-         Why do you think Dez is constantly trying to “piss her father off”?

-        Why was Dez so quick to side with Kale against Denazen?

-     Do you think that Dez’s father actually loved her? Why or why not?

-      Who was your favorite character in the novel? Why?

-       Dez told Alex that she didn’t think she would ever be completely over him. Do you think it's common for people to feel that way about their "first love"? Why or why not?

-       Which plot twist surprised you the most? Why? Did you anticipate anything that happened in the novel?

The Near Witch Book Review

Author: Victoria Schwab. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Hyperion Book CH. ISBN: 9781423137876.

Annotation: After a mysterious stranger shows up in the small village of Near, children begin disappearing from their beds at night. Lexi is convinced that the disappearances have nothing to do with the stranger, a kind but distant boy named Cole, and are instead the work of the Near Witch who was brutally murdered by the townspeople hundreds of years earlier.

Personal thoughts:  I love historical fiction, ghost stories and fairy tales and The Near Witch seemed to be the perfect combination of the three! Victoria Schwab is a very talented author and her writing style really helped to transport the reader to the village of Near. I liked the relationship between Lexi and her sister Wren and her determination to protect and care for her sister. I also liked the slow but sweet romance between Lexi and Cole. While I don’t think the novel will appeal to readers who want something full of action or adventure, I definitely would recommend The Near Witch to anyone who enjoys quiet but intriguing mysteries.    

Plot summary: Like all the residents of the small village of Near, Lexi knows the legend of the Near Witch well: hundreds of years ago, a kind witch lived in Near and loved the children of the village. She could speak to the moor and control the winds and the rain and protected the village until the day she died. Most of Near thinks the story is an old wives tale, but Lexi, like her late-father, respects the story and the harsh but plentiful landscape of the moor that surrounds the village. One night, however, a mysterious stranger appears in the village. Curious about the handsome but haunted boy with dark eyes and pale skin, Lexi wants to learn more about how the stranger, whom she calls Cole, came to be in Near. Unfortunately, Cole’s arrival in the village occurs on the same night as the first of many children begin to go missing from Near. Lured from their beds by the wind, the townspeople are convinced that Cole is responsible for the disappearances. Lexi, however, knows that it is the work of the Near Witch who, despite what the legend says, was actually brutally murdered by the people of Near hundreds of years earlier. Desperate to protect her younger sister, Wren, and prove the innocence of Cole, Lexi must use the skills her father taught her to save the village from the wrath of the Near Witch.

Review:  Quiet but haunting, this debut novel from author Victoria Schwab paints a magical and unique fairy tale ghost story that thoughtful readers are sure to enjoy. Almost as important as the characters in the novel is the setting. The village of Near and the surrounding moor, a foggy grassland full of hills and valleys, play a major role in the story. Schwab does an excellent job of establishing the atmosphere of The Near Witch, describing in detail Lexi’s love and respect for her village and the moor and the importance of legend in Near. Although the time period is never stated in the novel, it is clear that the story takes place at some point in the past, likely the 19^th century, when tales of witches and enchantments would still hold a great deal of meaning for people living in an isolated village. The disappearances of the children, the arrival of the mysterious strange, Cole, and the resurgence of the Near Witch all fit perfectly into the world that the author has so effectively crafted, creating an intriguing story that can be enjoyed by tweens, teens and adults alike.  

Genre: Fiction/Mystery

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar titles: Sweetly and Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.      

Themes:  Witches, kidnapping, legends, moor, historical fiction.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from best-selling authors Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Carrie Ryan, Kendare Blake and Michelle Hodkin.

Series Information: N/A     

Discussion questions: 

- Research more about moors and moorland. What is it? Where are these habitats located? How do you think the landscape helped tell the story?

- How did Lexi use the skills she learned from her father in the novel? Which do you think were the most helpful?

-   Do you think the village trusted the Thorne sisters? Why or why not? How did that change during the story?

- What did it mean for the Near Witch to be “of the moor”?  

Wither Book Review

Author: Lauren DeStefano. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781442409064.

Annotation:  Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery’s world is ending: efforts to genetically engineer the perfect human race have created a virus that causes all of the children of the first generation of perfect humans to die, men at twenty-five years old, women at twenty. To avoid extinction, women are forced into polygamous relationships with wealthy men to conceive as many children as possible. Rhine is kidnapped from her home and forced to marry a man she has never met; but she won’t be held captive without a fight.  

Personal thoughts:  I absolutely loved this novel! I was sort of apathetic about picking it up, but once I read the first chapter I was hooked. What an excellent start to an original new series! I love to see what different authors do with the whole dystopian concept, and I think that DeStefano really proved her literary prowess with this novel. I cannot wait to pick up the second book as soon as it is released! This is a must-read!   

Plot summary: In sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery’s world, efforts to genetically engineer the perfect human race have created a terrible virus: all of the children of the first generation of the “master race” are destined to die early deaths; men at age twenty-five, women at age twenty. The virus has caused society to be pushed to the brink of anarchy. To avoid extinction, girls are forced into polygamous marriages to conceive as many children as possible. Teens as young as thirteen are rounded up by the dozens and sold to the highest bidder. Rhine has managed to survive on the streets of Manhattan with her twin brother, Rowan, but, unable to escape the fate of so many girls, finds herself kidnapped and living in the house of Vaughan Ashby and his son, twenty-year-old Linden. Along with two other girls, eighteen-year-old Jenna and thirteen-year-old Cecily, Rhine is abruptly married to Linden and living a glamorous life of captivity in the Ashby mansion. Determined to return to her brother, Rhine promises herself that she will find a way to escape the confines of her gilded prison.  But when the time comes, will Rhine be able to abandon the sister-wives she has come to love or the handsome servant, Gabriel, who she quickly finds herself falling for?

Review:  Debut author Lauren DeStefano’s first installment in her Chemical Garden trilogy proves within the first few pages to be a gripping, utterly original and thoroughly addicting masterpiece. DeStefano immediately immerses the reader in the horrors of Rhine’s world: society is on the brink of anarchy and girls are forced into lives of prostitution, kidnapping, and rape on a regular basis. The glitz and glamour of the mansion that Rhine finds herself living in creates an almost sickening juxtaposition with the reality of what is happening to Rhine and her sister-wives. The relationship between Linden Ashby’s three wives is arguably the crux of the story, although the romance between Rhine and her servant, Gabriel, and Rhine’s memories of her beloved twin-brother, Rowan, are also important plot elements. In creating such a vivid and complex story, DeStefano has really set the stage for a dystopian trilogy that will, in all likelihood, stay fresh through the following two novels. The sequel, Fever, is set to be released in February 2012. It will, no doubt, prove to be another wonderful installment in a very promising series equally enjoyable for teen and adult readers alike.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.      

Themes:  Dystopian, marriage, polygamy, sisters, kidnapping, murder, captivity, love.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews Booklist, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, Kirkus and School Library Journal.  

Series Information: First installment in Chemical Garden trilogy. Second novel, Fever, to be released in February 2012.

Discussion questions:

- Do you think that the future Rhine lives in could ever be possible? Why or why not?

- Who do you like better: Jenna or Cecily? Why?

- Do you think Linden is a bad person? Why or why not?

- What do you think Housemaster Vaughan was doing in the basement?

- If you were Rhine, would you try to escape? Why or why not?

- What would you like to see happen in the second novel, Fever?