VOYA - Amy Fiske
Abandoned by their unbalanced, abusive mother, twins Jocelyn and Jack relied on each other through a series of foster homes. Jack's sudden death in a car accident leaves Jocelyn reeling and rudderless. Then, a letter bearing a cryptic clue arrives from "Jason December," Jack's alter ego from childhood riddles and treasure hunts. The letter sends Jocelyn back in time to age twelve at a foster home called Seale House, a sinister place that holds dark memories. Believing Jack to be alive, Jocelyn reunites with Noah, an old friend and former resident of Seale House. Together, they face their troubled pasts and follow the trail of obscure clues in hopes that they will lead to Jack. But someone is trying to stop them. Jocelyn's voice rings true as a resilient yet damaged survivor of abuse and neglect. The memories of Seale House are painful for Jocelyn and she frequently turns away before all the details are revealed, which raises the suspicion that she may be an unreliable narrator. The narrative cuts back and forth between a dangerous present and nightmarish flashbacks to the past, the puzzle pieces never quite fitting into place. A gripping mystery with strong but flawed characters, the book is impossible to put down. The reader races to keep up with the plot only to get walloped by a mind-blowing twist ending that turns the entire story upside down. Recommend this to teens who like intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Reviewer: Amy Fiske
The Vanishing Game
by Kate Kae MyersView All Available Formats & Editions
A riveting, psychological thriller about a teen who thought her twin was dead . . . until he started writing her letters.See more details below
Overview
A riveting, psychological thriller about a teen who thought her twin was dead . . . until he started writing her letters.
Editorial Reviews
Children's Literature - Paula McMillen
Jocelyn is a few weeks from graduating high school when her twin, Jack, is killed in a car wreck. Still struggling to regain her sense of self and purpose, she receives a letter signed by Jason December, a code name known only to her, Jack, and their former friend Noah, who shared the same abusive foster home for several years. Jocelyn heads out to find Noah and determine if he is behind the letter or if Jack is still alive. Eventually Noah joins her to follow the convoluted trail of clues Jack seems to be leaving them. They have to find Jack and the secret he is hiding—one that is apparently worth killing for. Along the way, they revisit the now burned-out foster home, Seale House—still the stuff of nightmares for Jocelyn—and track down several of the children who lived there with them. At the same time, they are rekindling the strong feelings they had for one another but never spoke of when they were young. There is a definite twist of the supernatural but the source of these eerie events comes as a complete surprise. Betrayals surface at every level right up to the concluding plot twist. Intriguing characters, a relentless pace, touches of romance, and a bit of creepiness make this an engaging read. Caution should be used in recommending this book to those who might be sensitized to the abuses of parents and the foster care system. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.School Library Journal
Gr 9–11—Noah and twins Jack and Jocey, along with Angry Beth, Dixon, and others, met when they lived in a creepy and abusive foster home in upstate New York. A deadly incident (revealed toward the end of the story) caused Jack and Jocey to run away, and Noah to threaten Jocey's life. Now 17, Jocey is receiving letters and clues from her brother, presumed to have died three weeks earlier in a car accident, and she enlists Noah's help to figure things out. However, as she hides in the back of his Jeep, she wonders if she's made a mistake. As they work together, parts of their past are put to rest and a romance begins. This story tries to do a lot, but not all of it works well because of the sometimes-trite writing. There is a hint of fantasy, with pulsating walls and an evil force like the house in Poltergeist. Someone is causing mysterious burns, as in Stephen King's Carrie. And surprising parentage is revealed, as in Star Wars. Jack and Noah, friends since childhood, devised a computer security program and made serious money working part-time for the company that bought them out. An ex-boss wants to retrieve material Jack is thought to have hidden. Jack's elaborate logic puzzles, codes, and origami-based clues may challenge some readers; Noah's martial-arts abilities will draw others in; and a bomb adds more action. Those who stick with the original story line—whether Jack is dead or alive—will find out. If Myers chooses to write a sequel, perhaps one or two of these story lines, more fully explored, would leave readers just as satisfied with the rest of the book.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TXProduct Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9781619631274
- Publisher:
- Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date:
- 11/11/2014
- Edition description:
- Reprint
- Pages:
- 384
- Sales rank:
- 168,457
- Product dimensions:
- 7.70(w) x 5.10(h) x 1.10(d)
- Age Range:
- 12 - 17 Years
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