Girl, missing by Sophie McKenzie

Every year Lauren dreads doing the "who am I?" assignment for her new teacher, but this year it is even worse than usual and leads her to trying a random search in a search engine that brings up some very interesting websites - including one that lists missing children.  One of the faces on the website looks disturbingly like Lauren, and starts her on a journey down a very scary path.  Lauren has always known she was adopted, but could she have been stolen from her family before she was adopted?

I read this book a few years ago and decided, with a long weekend looming due to a public holiday, to read it again because I have been reading books about kidnapping and family dramas lately and wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered - and was both pleased and a little disappointed on the second reading.  Mostly I was pleased as it was a fast moving read that kept up the pace from start to finish, with the odd twist and turn to keep you guessing about what was coming next.  I was a little disappointed because I had forgotten how "British" the book could be in places with the slang and the way some of the things were phrased.

Overall this was an enjoyable read with plenty of drama and action to keep most readers on the edge of their seats.  It is not the most amazing book ever, but it doesn't dumb down the storyline too much.  I have read other books by this author and found her to be pretty good overall, with books that move at a fast pace with interesting plots and twists.  Thoroughly enjoyable and while this may appeal more to girls than boys because the main character is a girl, it should appeal to boys too who like real life/dramatic reads.

If you like this book then try:

• The set-up by Sophie McKenzie
• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• Beast by Ally Kennen
• Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
• Variant by Robison Wells
• The recruit by Robert Muchamore

Reviewed by Brilla