Favorite

Gr 6–8—When Angie was 11, her mom disappeared. In the five years since, police investigations have not turned up any trace of her. Angie and her older brother, Jason, pretty much take care of themselves because their dad is an unsuccessful rock singer who is frequently on the road. They live with their maternal grandmother, who, in the time period covered in the book, is on a trip with her fiancé. One night Angie is abducted by a strange man, Scott Bittner, in a parking lot but she manages to get away. His mother gets in touch with her, wanting to meet and discuss her son's actions. The situation then grows weirder as Mrs. Bittner essentially kidnaps Angie and Jason. Readers may initially be skeptical about the far-fetched plot; however, news events such as the appearance of Jaycee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart prove that stranger things have happened. There's not much character development in this plot-driven tale, but the author skillfully builds the sense of dread and fear the siblings face. The story line featuring Angie's mom is resolved rather abruptly. Reluctant readers may find the book intriguing enough to stick with it, but others may wish for more facile dialogue and a more explicit presentation of the characters' feelings.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA