Lost and Found

Artful Blair Brown has a romp with this ingenious novel about the cast and crew of a reality game show in which all the important players have secrets the producers would like to explode on prime-time TV. Two jokey brothers from Boston have just the right accents, the ambitious former child star reveals herself as an appalling narcissist, while Cassie, the sullen teenager teamed with her rather gormless mother, is somehow sympathetic, as is the show's host, Barbara Fox, whom the game's players see as an icy dominatrix. Keeping these characters distinct is key, and Brown never stumbles; she keeps the external pressure of the game and the internal pressure of the characters' secrets in a tense balance that is immensely entertaining. B.G. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

April 10, 2006
Luckily, this novel about a reality-TV show is a satire, if an often muted one. Addressing the comedy and tragedy of missed connections, bestseller Parkhurst (The Dogs of Babel
) uses the forum of Lost and Found
, an Amazing Race
–type competition, for a mostly somber (but occasionally very funny) set of character studies. As two-person teams journey from Egypt to Japan to Scandinavia, the carefully constructed, TV-ready personae of the competitors slowly unravel. Employing a constantly shifting perspective, Parkhurst admirably juggles a large cast of characters, with a number of competitors emerging as standouts: squabbling mother and daughter Laura and Cassie, tormented by a secret neither of them wants to publicly acknowledge; Justin and Abby, an "ex-gay" married couple wrestling with unruly desire; and Juliet, a former child star desperately angling for a return to the limelight. Parkhurst treats the game show as an opportunity for the contestants to decide, as the producer asks of them, "What have you found?" The answer for readers: heart and wit to spare.

August 7, 2006
Parkhurst's novel of a disparate group of people traveling the globe on an Amazing Race
–like reality game show shines on audio. The alternating points of view work especially well when read aloud: each chapter is told in first person by a different character, and Brown's superb narration makes it feel as though the characters are telling their intimate stories directly into the listener's ear. Brown does not create drastically different voices for the characters; instead, she makes her voice a bit higher or a bit deeper or adds a touch of an accent. The strength of her performance is that she truly acts out the roles, becoming each character and using her voice to convey his or her essence and personality. Characters include Cassie, whose eye-rolling teenage sarcasm hides insecurity and vulnerability; prim, judgmental Justin, a supposedly reformed homosexual preaching how religion has saved him, and his Southern wife, Abby, who's not nearly as convinced that she can leave lesbianism behind; down-to-earth New Yorker Carl; and self-centered, manipulative former child star Juliet. Lost and Found
is an entertaining book that works even better in the audio format. Simultaneous release with the Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 10).

April 1, 2006
Take seven unlikely couples with juicy secrets, a globetrotting reality show, a couple of unscrupulous producers, a host who loves to be hated, and what do you have? "Lost and Found", a delightfully complex and deliciously fast-paced novel that's sure to be on everyone's beach reading list this summer. Best-selling author Parkhurst ("Dogs of Babel") has crafted a deceptively lighthearted romp that eventually pits daughter against mother and husband against wife as they race through exotic locales competing for a million bucks while losing their souls in the bargain. As in any good game show, some of them never do get it, while the -winners - end up learning more about themselves and each other. Yes, some may find the premise a little too unbelievable and the ending a little too predictable, but somehow Parkhurst manages to make this a thoroughly enjoyable journey from its enticing start to its completely satisfying ending. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ "1/06.]" -Kellie Gillespie, City of Mesa Lib., AZ"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
Adult/High School -Here -s a fast-paced novel featuring a reality TV show that is like "The Amazing Race" and "Treasure Hunt" combined. Contestants have personal secrets and have been chosen specifically because producers hope that they will spill their guts for ratings. The action focuses on four characters. Justin and Abby are a married couple, a lesbian and a gay man who have renounced their -lifestyles - and proudly carry the banner of their newfound faith while they both struggle to remain straight. Although described as young, these two seem much older than their years in their pursuit of a traditional marriage. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter team of Laura and Cassie deals with the fact that the girl gave birth without anyone even noticing that she was pregnant. When she is given the chance to choose a different teammate -and does -emotions and rivalry ratchet up exponentially. Teens may well relate to Cassie, who feels alienated from her mother and unable to communicate about the most basic parts of her personality (most notably, that she is attracted to women). Laura -s reaction is that of love and guilt. Despite being rejected, she keeps trying to find a way to connect to her daughter. An over-the-top, dramatic ending leaves some loose ends, but there is satisfaction in the resolution for a couple of the characters. Older teens may find that this book presses just the right buttons." -Charlotte Bradshaw, San Mateo County Library, CA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2006
Parkhurst's lauded debut, " The Dogs of Babel" (2003), which centered on a man struggling to come to terms with the death of his young wife, struck a chord with readers, and her follow-up, a humorous and touching send-up of reality shows, is bound to please as well. The novel focuses on several characters competing on an " Amazing Race-"like reality show called " Lost and Found," where teams of two travel from destination to destination following enigmatic clues and collecting various items in hopes of winning the game. Laura wants to connect with her sullen teenage daughter, Cassie, after a traumatic experience highlighted the distance between them. Justin and Abby believe they have cast off their homosexual urges in favor of a traditional Christian marriage, but the game offers unexpected tests for their resolution. Carl and Jeff are two middle-aged, recently divorced brothers looking for adventure. Juliet and Dallas are former child stars seeking to recapture fame and willing to do just about anything to achieve that end. Emotional confrontations, suppressed desires, and unexpected connections surprise the various contestants as they continue to play a game that is starting to disgust them. Thoroughly original and inventive, peopled with engaging characters, and just plain fun, this second novel deserves to be as big a hit as the reality shows it genially pokes fun at.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)