Silent Sister

June 1, 2024
A teen's lost memories may hold the key to her missing sister's fate. Outgoing, athletic Grace and shy poet Maddy, sisters born just 10 months apart, were on their senior trip when they went outside during a storm, and only Grace returned. Grace can't remember anything after getting on the Forest Lane Academy bus for a week in the mountains at Shady Oaks Lodge, and she struggles to recover her memories while she heals from a head wound she got that night. The police are getting nowhere, so Grace sets out to figure out what happened to her sister, but their schoolmates are acting strangely, and an anonymous blogger is posting theories about what happened, some of which point the finger at her. The more details Grace uncovers about Maddy's life, however, the more unsettled she becomes. Both girls were keeping secrets--but were any of them serious enough to put them in danger? The suspense builds steadily, and multiple red herrings will keep readers guessing. Maddy's poems are interspersed throughout the text and add to her characterization as an isolated, angsty lost soul. The twisty plot will engage teens who enjoy stories told from multiple perspectives and by unreliable narrators, and it culminates in an explosive ending. Most characters are cued white. Twists abound in this thrilling debut. (Thriller. 12-18)

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August 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-Capping the tail end of a school sponsored week known as Senior Sabbatical, Grace is discovered on the side of the road, rain soaked, covered in blood, and disoriented. In the hospital, the overhead television plays silently, showing Grace's picture alongside her sister Maddy, who Grace discovers is missing. Nothing helps her remember how she got there or where Maddy could be. No one knows what to think: were Maddy and Grace attacked? Whose blood is on Grace's hands, and why is she so bruised? As the hours go by and there is little to discover, Grace tries harder to remember. Arriving home from the hospital a few days later, Grace is confronted by a detective who is certain that while Grace cannot remember anything from the week, she is hiding things, too. This novel is told in alternating chapters from Maddy's perspective and time line leading up to the day when Grace is found, and Grace's thoughts and actions as she tries to piece together what happened and her role in it. It is part thriller, part mystery, part love story, and a deep dive into the psychology of memory, family, friendships, and the power of sisterhood. Grace's search for the truth will keep readers on the edge of their seats all the way to the surprising end, breaking their hearts and giving them hope in the power of love, family, and friends. VERDICT Recommended. Readers who like a challenging mystery tied up with the trials of growing up, love, jealousy, and the importance of family will find much to like here.-Connie Williams

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