Fragments of the Lost

September 15, 2017

When Jessa falls in love with Caleb, everything about him seems wonderful. He is thoughtful, sweet, helpful, and considerate, but there are niggling things that spark suspicion: Caleb's tense relationship with his stepfather, the lack of family history, and the unanswered phone calls and texts that Caleb brushes off. Now he's gone, drowned in a storm after his car was swept over the bridge, and Jessa is devastated. When Caleb's mom asks her to clean out his room, Jessa realizes she really did not know Caleb at all. And why is his mother acting so creepy toward her, showing up everywhere Jessa is and seeming to know where she is at all times? VERDICT Even though Miranda's latest (All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger) is labeled young adult (YA), adult thriller fans will enjoy it as well. As with Paula Hawkins's Gone Girl, the reader and Jessa do not know what is true and what isn't, who is lying and why.--Marianne Fitzgerald, Severna Park H.S., MD

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 25, 2017
After months of mourning the death of her ex-boyfriend, Caleb, 16-year-old Jessa Whitworth is asked to pack up his room so that his mother and younger sister can move on. Witnesses say that the last time Caleb was seen—before driving off a bridge into a raging river—was at Jessa’s track meet. The two had an awkward moment there, and Caleb left angry. Jessa feels responsible for the accident, and her guilt mounts as she slowly packs away his belongings, each item bringing up a memory of their yearlong relationship. In addition to the memories dredged up by Caleb’s things, Jessa begins to piece together evidence that leads her to believe that Caleb was hiding a big secret. Miranda (The Safest Lies) exhaustively rehashes the ups and downs of Caleb and Jessa’s relationship as the novel unfolds, sapping the story’s forward momentum. Those who persist through the slow buildup will be rewarded with a slight twist at the end, though even this development isn’t entirely unexpected. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary.

October 1, 2017
Sorting through memories becomes sifting through secrets. Technically, white teens Jessa and Caleb had broken up before the flash flood that claimed Caleb's life (presumably, since only his car was recovered afterward). But when Caleb's mother insists that Jessa pack up his bedroom to spare her the additional grief, the teen feels obligated, especially when everyone seems to blame her for Caleb's seemingly preventable accident. What should be a straightforward if emotionally painful charge raises questions about Caleb's death--and trust fund--instead. Spanning only a few days, the methodical mystery unfolds in short chapters that center on an item belonging to Caleb. For Jessa, each item triggers memories from their relationship, with fondness often turning to discrepancies, gaps in Caleb's whereabouts, and revelations about Caleb's less-than-ideal home. Jessa tries to piece together clues from these remaining belongings, but her task takes on urgency when she realizes someone else may be doing the exact same thing. Although another Gone Girl read-alike (albeit with a predictable outcome), the story remains solid and evenly paced throughout.Primarily for thriller fans who can't get enough of the genre. (Thriller. 14-18)

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December 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Jessa Whitworth has blocked out everything and everyone around her since the day her ex-boyfriend Caleb died. She saw him briefly earlier that day, months ago. Later, a flood swept his car off the bridge, his body never recovered. Now, his mother has asked for Jessa's help to pack up his old room, since his mother and younger sister are moving away. The room is filled with pictures and memories, and the further she gets into Caleb's things, the more she finds pieces that don't add up. Why was his email password changed two days after he died? Why is his mother making her pack up the room, even though she seems to dislike Jessa and maybe even blame her for Caleb's death? Jessa tries to reason out her questions with Max, who was friends with both her and Caleb, but the clues they uncover might put both of them in danger. The growing unease that Jessa feels in Caleb's house and his mother's presence permeates the entire novel. The narrative moves back and forth in time, from the present to Jessa's memories, sparked by the things she is packing, then races towards a thrilling conclusion. VERDICT An excellent addition to any library where suspense is popular.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 Jessa Whitworth's boyfriend, Caleb, is dead. He accidentally drove off of a flooded bridge in their town, and Jessa is reeling from the shock months later. Jessa has stopped going to cross-country practice, doesn't call her friends back, and can't stop thinking about Caleb. There are rumors she was responsible for his death, but no one in town knows things were over between them. Then, even though she blames Jessa for the accident, Caleb's mom asks Jessa to help pack up Caleb's things so his family can move, and Jessa reluctantly agrees. But each object Jessa picks up brings memories she's not sure she wants to remember. And when little things start to go missing, and Caleb's mom starts acting suspicious, Jessa realizes she must put all of her memories together before it's too late. A slow-burning read, this mystery will hook readers without them realizing it. Intoxicating, well crafted, and suspenseful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)