I'm Not Missing

April 1, 2018

Gr 10 Up-Miranda Black admires her best friend Syd, who always had her life mapped out, ever since their mothers left them; but when Syd disappears, leaving behind only cryptic messages, Miranda discovers how little she knew about her friend. Following Syd's directive not to look for her, Miranda attempts to resume her life, including reconciling with the boy she loves, and learns that moving on requires finding Syd and getting some answers. Readers looking for a mystery would be better served by John Green's Paper Towns or Meg Rosoff's Picture Me Gone. While the mystery of Syd's disappearance unfolds predictably, what really shines in this novel is Miranda's attempts at getting her life back after Syd's disappearance. There are plenty of sweet moments between Miranda and Nick as they progress from former enemies to lovers. Miranda's relationship with her father is also well crafted and a sharp contrast to her relationship with Syd, which may make readers wonder why Miranda was drawn to her best friend in the first place. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries seeking contemporary romance with a bit of a twist.-Mimi Powell, Library Systems and Services, Kissimmee, FL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
In the process of searching for important people who have disappeared from her life, Miranda finds herself.Ever since her Latina mother left to join a religious cult, biracial Miranda has been raised by her caring white dad who works for NASA in New Mexico. Coincidentally, her best friend, Sydney, had an alcoholic mother who also abandoned the family. Even though Syd hasn't had it as easy as Mir, she's always been supportive of her, especially after the "Nick Allison Event," when Mir's date bailed on prom night. But then Syd vanishes too, leaving only a note: "I'm gone. I'm not missing." As Mir starts to piece together clues about Syd in this debut novel, the light thriller turns to romance à la John Green, with impeccable realism and spot-on dialogue. Mir also learns the truth about her longtime crush, Nick, and what really happened on prom night. Mir's an endearing teen who chants the Gettysburg Address in place of religious mantras in times of stress, feels safe asking her dad tough questions about first love, and takes control of her body (and pleasure) when it comes to sex. While Mir and Nick's relationship builds, the author never lets the mystery falter as she keeps readers guessing about Syd's secrets and whereabouts. The ending is really a beginning as Mir finds both support and inner resilience.A beautiful new voice to watch. (Fiction. 14-18)

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May 14, 2018
Miranda has always been in the shadow of her best friend, Syd. Syd’s the one with the plan to get out of New Mexico by doing every extracurricular activity and being number one in their class; Miranda just goes along with it. Neither girl’s mother is on the scene, but Miranda has a supportive, involved father, whereas Syd’s dad is a mean drunk. Syd’s on course for Stanford when, suddenly, she takes off. No messages, no texts, no nothing, and just one note—for the guy who broke Miranda’s heart by standing her up when they were juniors. Grieving and confused, Miranda eventually learns more about her crush, about Syd and her many secrets, and, perhaps most importantly, about herself and her capabilities. In her debut novel, Fountain not only delivers a plot twist that resonates in the #MeToo era but also a sweet and convincing love story complete with a charmingly dorky heroine in half-Latina Miranda—who, in Syd’s absence, ultimately finds out who she can be when she’s not following in someone’s wake. Ages 13–18.