Since You've Been Gone

February 24, 2014
Emily Hughes’s best friend Sloane has disappeared without a trace—Emily has called, texted, and driven by her house, but it’s as though Sloane and her family have ceased to exist. Then, one of Sloane’s famous “to do” lists mysteriously shows up, with 13 directives for Emily, including “Kiss a stranger,” “Go skinny-dipping,” and “Dance until dawn.” In Sloane’s absence, the list—full of things she knew Emily would find fun, but a challenge, too—defines Emily’s summer, helping her meet new friends (including cute Frank Porter), come out of her shell, and find a way to hang on to Sloane. Despite the novel’s missing-friend hook, Matson (Second Chance Summer) primarily focuses on Emily’s progress with the list (the resolution of the question “What happened to Sloane?” is the weakest part of an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable story). Matson’s characters feel like familiar, comforting friends, even Sloane, who readers glimpse in periodic flashbacks. It’s a sweet, leisurely read with a title that, thanks to Kelly Clarkson, begs to be shouted out loud. Ages 12–up. Agent: Emily Van Beek, Folio Literary Management.

November 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-At the beginning of summer, Emily's friend Sloane disappears, leaving her a mailed "to-do list" with no return address. Convinced the list is the key to finding her friend, Emily is determined to carry out the tasks on the list. Some of them, however, will be hard for her, like skinny dipping. Along the way she meets three friends, Frank, Collins, and Dawn, who are committed to helping her. Soon, Emily finds herself having a transformative summer she'll never forget, but what will happen when she's done? Suzy Jackson brings to life Emily's world and Matson's well-developed characters with unique styles and impressive narrative intonations. Emily and her realistic struggles with finding friends and her quirky nature easily engage listeners. The plot is heart-warming and absorbing, with fun flashbacks that reveal Emily's character growth in an interesting way. Fans of Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes and other audiobooks by Matson (Second Chance Summer) will enjoy this tale.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

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