The Girl Who Wasn't There

September 1, 2020
Housebound due to chronic fatigue, a teen witnesses a terrifying event. Since contracting myalgic encephalomyelitis eight months ago, 15-year-old Kasia Novak has spent most of her time in her bedroom. The slightest exertion exhausts her, and she's terrified she'll never get better. When she witnesses a possible abduction from her window, she wonders if the girl she glimpsed in the opposite window saw it too--but everyone says the girl doesn't exist. While balancing good days and relapses as she investigates the girl and copes with family tension, Kasia rapidly befriends Navin, the perpetually solicitous grandson of her Indian neighbor. Interspersed with Kasia's narration, Reema, the mysterious girl, describes her own increasingly desperate circumstances in italicized bursts. Author Joelson, who has struggled with ME herself, sensitively portrays Kasia's frustration and determination as well as ME's toll on Kasia's family. However, this nod to Rear Window ultimately falls flat. Emotions are often stated rather than shown, and underdeveloped secondary characters contribute to an abrupt, lackluster ending. Reema is more a plot device for Kasia's emotional benefit than a fully realized person, which is particularly unfortunate given her troubling story. Kasia and her family are White Polish immigrants to England. Reema may be South Asian. An unfortunately shallow take on a serious issue. (author's note) (Suspense. 13-16)

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October 19, 2020
Joelson (I Have No Secrets) draws on her experience with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in the story of 15-year-old Kasia Novak. After a bout of tonsillitis leaves her with ME/CFS, Kasia is unable to walk more than a few feet at a time. Stuck in her room for months, she watches the world outside her window. After she sees a girl pushed into a car against her will, and another girl, Reema, watching from the window opposite hers, Kasia investigates, enlisting neighbor Mrs. Gayatri for information on their English town’s neighbors. Kasia’s probe intensifies when she meets Mrs. Gayatri’s inquisitive grandson, Navin, who is intent on helping Kasia get better and finding out why no one knows about the girls whom Kasia sees. Joelson (I Have No Secrets) tackles complex issues of modern-day human trafficking, yet a didactic tone and a focus on Kasia’s experience at the expense of the other girls’ overwhelms the story. With a healing garden, watchers in the windows, and individuals hidden away, echoes of The Secret Garden and Rear Window are woven into Kasia’s and Reema’s alternating first-person narratives. Joelson excels in painting the atmosphere of Kasia’s warm, loving home with her Polish immigrant family while sensitively portraying her struggle with classmates who question her illness. Ages 14–up. Agent: Juliette Clark, Egmont UK.

November 1, 2020

Gr 7 Up-Kasia is a 15-year-old Polish girl who has chronic fatigue syndrome, otherwise known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), after a case of tonsillitis earlier in the year. Stuck in her room day after day, Kasia gazes out her window for glimpses of the outside world. However, when she sees what appears to be a kidnapping, she quickly calls the police and notices that she wasn't the only one to witness a girl fleeing from the window in the house across the street. Only, there isn't a young girl who lives across the street. There's just a young couple and their baby. Or is there? Joelson's writing is clear and easy to follow. While Kasia tries to remain optimistic about her health and strives to get better, she also knows her limits and realizes when she's pushed herself too hard. Following Kasia through her experiences with ME allows for a unique perspective on what it's like to deal with chronic illness. Joelson takes the time to go in depth on not only the symptoms of the illness but also how Kasia feels when these symptoms start to show. As the story develops, it is revealed that there are elements of human trafficking mixed in with the plot. The book is successful in highlighting serious themes, such as invisible illnesses and human trafficking, in a realistic manner. VERDICT A great, fast-paced thriller for younger teens, this novel explores important real-world issues.-Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee

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