Finding Daddy

November 26, 2007
Mira is living a rather idyllic if boring life in Salt Lake City, with an English-teacher mother and a real-estate powerhouse of a grandmother who nevertheless makes Belgian waffles for Mira, her best friend and her boyfriend on Saturday mornings. The only thing missing is her father; Mira has no memory of him, and her mother will say only that he is “not someone we want in our lives.” Mira discovers his name and contact information—after surreptitiously unearthing her parents’ marriage certificate, and after her boyfriend uses his father’s government access to track him down on the Internet—and she phones him immediately. He is thrilled to hear from her. But strange events start happening: her dog is killed, and someone tries to break into the house. Should she suspect her dad? Readers will never be in doubt, nor will they be surprised when he turns out to be a psychopath bent on revenge against her family. Even so, Plummer creates some very creepy scenes, including Mira’s discovery of a murder scene and a tense face-off involving a gun. While Mira’s naiveté strains credibility, she is easy to like, as are her family and friends (“I’m a genius and she’s only gifted. My verbal scores are higher,” her best friend jokes to Mira’s dad, explaining why she is the one asking him questions). The author packs a lot of tension into a small story. Although it may not be completely believable, it is genuinely hair-raising. Ages 12-up.

December 1, 2007
Gr 7 Up-Mira has only known her father through a few pictures and what little information her mother and grandmother occasionally divulgethat he liked Belgian waffles, that she has his green eyes, and that he was an artist. As she nears her 16th birthday, she is determined to learn more about him. She rummages around in a chest and finds a box with albums and her parents' marriage certificate, and learns his real name. After an unsuccessful Internet search, she asks her boyfriend to use his father's government databases to locate her dad. When Mira emails him, she gets a quick response, and the two set up a meeting. As they continue to email and talk on the phone, strange things begin to happen. Her dog is killed, someone breaks into the house, and her grandmother and mother are attacked. While the plot is predictable and melodramatic, the book manages to rise above these flaws to become an exciting and compelling read as Mira discovers the truth about her father and the fragility of relationships. Plummer's characters are well rounded and likable as they deal with family, friendship, danger, obsession, and evil. Readers who liked Alane Ferguson's "The Christopher Killer" and "The Angel of Death" (both Viking, 2006) or other rather graphic mysteries will enjoy this one."Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman's University, Denton"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2007
Fed up with Mom's evasiveness, Mira decides to takes matters into her own hands and find her estranged father herself. A bit of snooping and a Web search reveal her father's contact information. Subsequent e-mails put Mira in touch with a man she finds gracious and caring, but soon strange, horrible things begin happening at home. The family dog is killed, someone is apparently snooping around the house after dark, and her mother and grandmother seem terrified of something. Mira's friends warn her about the danger of meeting her dad, a virtual stranger, but Mira can?t believe that the man she has been communicating with is anything but kind. Readers may share the friends? suspicions, but they will still be shocked by what Mira discovers. What begins as an unassuming family story quickly turns into a fast-paced thriller that will keep readers turning pages to find out how things will turn out.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)