The Voice inside My Head

February 15, 2014
This absorbing mystery might or might not be paranormal, but it's certainly constantly interesting. Seventeen-year-old Luke travels to a small island off the coast of Honduras in an effort to find his older sister, Pat, who has been reported dead. Pat had traveled to the island to pursue her interest in marine biology, working as an intern at a shark research center before disappearing. Luke remains certain that she's alive, and he's determined to find her. He forms alliances and rivalries with some of the local population, including stoner Zach and the volatile islander girl Reesie. Luke has conversations with Pat in his head--he's sure he hears her voice, which he feels proves she's still alive. Laidlaw leaves readers to decide whether Luke really hears this voice and what it might mean if he does, slowly unfolding her mystery. Luke comes across as a fully realized character, but the colorful locals and American expatriates also stand out as individuals. It's these characterizations that contain the clues, ably supporting the mystery plot. Luke's quest, his feelings for Reesie and his growing understanding of his sister propel readers through the story. A satisfying mystery peopled with characters readers will be happy they've come to know. (Mystery. 12-18)

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May 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 When 17-year-old Luke's sister, Pat, goes missing while interning at a shark research center on an island in Honduras and the police assume the worst, he can't face the thought that she might really be dead and travels there alone to find her. Soon he learns that the sister he lovedresponsible, vegan, plan-drivenhad adopted a wholly different persona, even going by Tricia instead of Pat. With the help of a few unlikely friends, Luke gradually pieces together the days before his sister's disappearance, and a side of her he never knew. All the while, Luke stages conversations with Pat in his head that help him make sense of his lingering feelings of abandonment and guilt, especially his fear that his drinking and drug use drove Pat away. Though some plot turns seem to come out of nowhere and a few characters verge on cartoonish, Luke's determined, heartfelt first-person narration rings true. Laidlaw's fast-paced mystery makes great use of its well-realized, unique setting, particularly regarding the tensions between tourists and local residents.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)