Vanished

February 15, 2015
Two popular girls disappear unexpectedly, leaving their closest friend behind.Kalah plays second fiddle to Beth and Britney in every way. She's the new girl; they're an established duo. She's a junior; they're seniors. She's Indian; they're white. Beth and Britney have always had dimensions to their relationship that Kalah hasn't understood, but now, Kalah and Beth have a secret too. Even though Kalah has a caring and dependable boyfriend, she and Beth have been kissing. Kalah thinks she might be in love. The day of her 18th birthday, Beth disappears, leaving Kalah both heartbroken and worried. A few days later, rumors about Beth and Britney's longtime boyfriend surface, and Britney disappears too, apparently by suicide.What follows is both the emotionally nuanced story of Kalah's loss and a genuinely chilling mystery. Kalah's struggles with anxiety are handled particularly well. There are stories of therapists and past incidents, and readers see her tapping systematically to soothe herself, but the anxiety-like her same-sex desires-is simply one facet in a complex and action-heavy tale. The ending provides enough emotional resolution to give a sense of closure but leaves the facts of the story interestingly open to interpretation.An impressive blend of suspense and insight. (Mystery. 14-18)

March 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Kalah is lucky to have best friends like Brit and Beth. Seniors and cocaptains of the field hockey team, Brit and Beth took Kalah in when she transferred to Northside, introducing her to their world of high school popularity and drama. But Kalah is falling for Beth, and before she can talk to her about her feelings, Beth vanishes. According to rumors, her disappearance is tied to a secret relationship with Brit's boyfriend, and soon after the gossip begins, Brit commits suicide, leaving Kalah without either of her two friends. Following Brit's death, Beth finally contacts Kalah, but when she does, Kalah realizes that something is very wrong. This novel tackles themes of friendship, deception, obsession, and love. However, Kalah encounters the same set of problems and reacts the same way over and over again, coming across as a bit static and at times tiresome. The pace picks up about two-thirds of the way through, which brings about a welcome change in Kalah, although the secondary characters remain underdeveloped. VERDICT With early hints of John Green's Paper Towns (Dutton, 2008) that slowly morph into Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (Crown, 2012), this work is recommended for dedicated readers of realistic fiction.-Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University R. M. Cooper Library, South Carolina

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