The Children’s Book Review | November 11, 2014

Vanishing Girls

Written by Lauren Oliver

Age Range: 14 and up

Hardback Book: 357 pages

Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 978-0-06-222410-1

What to expect: Psychological thriller

Lauren Oliver, author of the Delirium trilogy, Before I Fall and Liesl & Po, has created a tense psychological thriller in Vanishing Girls. Part mystery, part coming of age, this standalone novel is an exciting ride that not only keeps the tension high, but explores the deepest connections of sisterhood and heartbreak.

Dara and Nick are sisters and extremely close in age. Dara is the beautiful, daring and fun sister, while Nick is the ho-hum ordinary sister who gets good grades. Nick relishes the friendship between she and her glamorous younger sister Dara, until things get too close. Her best friend, Parker, has fallen in love with Dara, splitting their trio of friendship into a fractured mess.

When their lives are torn apart by a terrible car accident, Dara is separated from Nick. Their parents divorce, and she hasn’t spoken to Parker in months. What could Nick say to either of them, besides, “I’m sorry?” After all, the car accident was her fault.

When Dara disappears on her birthday, the day Nick plans to make amends, she is terrified. Is Dara’s disappearance connected to the disappearance of a little girl in town? What about the dirty photos Nick unearths of Dara? Who is the strange man she’d been secretly texting?

It’s a thrilling, epic conclusion that readers will never see coming. Can Nick ever get Dara to forgive her?

Oliver’s story is twisted, sad, and gripping. The relationship between the two sisters, who both love and despise each other, is a well-played out look into the mysteries of sisterhood. The narrative voice is compelling and the tense plot will keep readers turning the pages long after bedtime. Oliver is a truly talented writer, and readers will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Add this book to your collection: Vanishing Girls

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Vanishing Girls, by Lauren Oliver, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Follow along with our articles tagged with Lauren Oliver, Sisters, Thrillers, and Young Adult Fiction to discover more great books for teens.