So I have...questions. First, going into this I’m not sure what I was expecting. The description says that this is a coming of age story. Beck, who’s been homeschooled and sheltered all her life, not allowed to have social media etc. is headed to visit U Chicago from Naperville with her dad when they stop at a gas station and her dad disappears.

From this I thought maybe he abandoned her to test her survival skills in the real world or something. This story took all types of twists and turns. Now, I’m 28, I enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries but this is a YA book and I have to say I didn’t see any of the plot coming. Reading YA as an adult I try to think about how I might’ve reacted to what I read and instead of calling it predictable, think about readers who don’t have a history of reading mysteries/thrillers. There were some genuine moments that I was like whaaattt!!!

Challenges:
I struggled with figuring out what the flashbacks meant and what was happening in them or how they connected to the story. I also am a little uneasy that the main character, who I read as Native American, was a shade of red? The same with her mother. I first noticed this when a flashback tat actually made sense to me, mentioned she must resemble her mother. Then I thought maybe this is just how ppl of color are depicted but flipping back through, I saw an obviously Black man. I’m not well-versed in the history behind depictions of Native folks as red, but like most things I’m sure it’s rooted in white racism. The ending also felt kind of like “I’m tired of writing this story now”. The plot was intricately crafted and the end was flat. I think I’d like to see her actually meet her mom vs. talking to dad in prison.

Overall the story did invoke a sense of urgency and bring in that thriller aspect, but coming of age not so much.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This could have been a good story....right up until it concluded with a creepy "feel good" scene featuring the victim of child abduction meeting with her abductor in jail and cheerfully declaring she'll always be his daughter. I don't normally spoil works in reviews, but readers need to be aware of potentially triggering content in this work.