Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia (1)
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Mystery/Family Drama Novel a Nuanced, Touching Read
6:42 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since her dad died three years ago, Maddy Gaines' anxiety has been out of control. The 11-year-old sees danger lurking around every corner, even if no one else does. She's made so many emergency calls to local authorities that they don't take her seriously anymore. So, when she meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the cemetery, a boy who looks an awful lot like one who went missing six months ago, Maddy knows she can't take her knowledge to the police without proof that the kid really is Billy Holcom. Maddy is warned off the hunt by her arch enemy, who insists the boy is just his visiting cousin. She won't be thwarted that easily, not when she's discovered a real emergency, but she will be sure to gather proof this time. The boy is Billy and Maddy aims to make sure he's found. When she discovers a reason he might need to stay hidden, however, she realizes that not everything is as it seems. Is she truly rescuing the kid or putting him in more danger?
Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin is a nuanced middle-grade novel that's part mystery, part family drama. Maddy has a lot to deal with—grief over losing her dad, managing her anxiety, accepting her new, trying-too-hard stepfather, and grappling with a BFF who's leaving Maddy behind as she grows up too fast—even before she starts playing detective. Her earnestness is appealing, making her a character who's easy to like and root for. Plot-wise, Every Missing Piece is exciting and engrossing. The book is also full of subtle lessons about friendship, family, and figuring out how to adapt when change rocks your safe, orderly world. Every Missing Piece is a touching novel that I very much enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins)
Grade:
1 comment:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Time Travel Thursday5 hours ago
-
THE ROMANOV BRIDES Blog Tour7 hours ago
-
American Zion7 hours ago
-
-
Digging Up Trouble by Kitt Crowe9 hours ago
-
-
Love on Camera12 hours ago
-
-
-
-
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro16 hours ago
-
Mistimed Meal: A Review of Vampire Fly16 hours ago
-
The Silver Swan: Benjamin Black22 hours ago
-
A Death in Denmark - Amulya Malladi23 hours ago
-
-
-
Thank you1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
One in the Chamber by Robin Peguero2 days ago
-
Top 5 Tuesday ~ Female Authors2 days ago
-
What's up?2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Review: Beartown1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?5 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
Sundays with Sam – The Sunday Post11 months ago
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ▼ 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
I'm glad to see anxiety showing up in middle grade books so that kids with it know they are not alone.
ReplyDelete