<b><i>ARC Review: Received for free via NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.</i></b>

<i><b>DNF:</b> 68%</i>

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> ableist slurs, racism, parental illness, mention of drug overdose, mention of drug use, protests, hacking, needles, kidnapping, human experimenting, animal testing, mention of execution, mention of War, animal death, animal mutilation, animal gore, torture, imprisonment, human testing, dementia, bullying, emotional abuse, mention of drug addiction, mention of underage drug use, rape/sexual assault, sexual harassment, blood</i>

1. I don't know how I feel about this book. I want to like it, but there's something almost preachy about it that makes it not quite hit the spot. It's not bad, and the writing is okay, but the story is kind of *squints*— I don't know. I see what it's doing, the points it's making, but at the same time it just doesn't quite reach the point where I'm super excited to read more. I won't say it's boring, but it's not exciting.

2. Everything just seems to easy. It all just happens so easily it's almost unbelievable. And then there's this thing going on where I feel like things are supposed to be complicated somehow but it falls short. And the sciencey thing is meh at best.

3. The antagonists are weird, I don't know. I don't know how to describe anything. You can see that they're supposed to be the antagonists, but they're not interesting enough to hold the role. It feels almost spoof film mad scientist-y, like the Dr is one speech away from a manic laugh. It's not great.

This was very disappointing. The plot sounded interesting, but the story plodded along. It was so SLOW.
The characters were boring, I felt nothing towards them but annoyance. 
There's also so much....non plausible events, including the most unrealistic video game hacking I've read....that's not how video game development works, which is when I noped out of the story about 1/3 way in. 


I wanted to like it, but I couldn't. 
Maybe younger YA readers would enjoy it, as I am not the target demographic.

I enjoyed this book a lot, the character development was really great! I always enjoy multiple POVs because it makes the story flow and there are no lulls in the book. I'm excited for the sequel!

The premise was so fascinating, paired with complex and relatable characters; it was enjoyable to read. The idea of investigating a large food corporation intrigued me but I was not fully invested in the plot. Overall, this was a solid and thought-provoking read with interesting topics raised.

I stopped reading due to losing interest. Interesting plot and idea though! I thought the characters were well done as well I just didn't want to continue with the story. I'm disappointed but may try again with this book in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the copy of this book!

I have lost the copy of this book so I am really sorry I won't be able to give feedback on this book. I wanted to read this book but the copy got deleted from my phone. Really sorry.

This is one of the hardest books I had to review.
That's not an actual 3 stars it's a high 3 stars - so close to 4.

On the one hand, we have this amazing YA eco-thriller about a corrupt food corporation. The author has a degree in molecular biology and nutritional sciences so my uneducated (when it comes to biology) little me believes that this is a really well-written book even from the scientific aspect which is a plus. You get to know the author through the story which is really nice (her website biography also mentions her love for cooking which you can also pick up from the books). 

My problem with this book is its pace. I had a really hard time connecting with the story, in the beginning, having to force myself through the first 10ish % but after that, the story picked up. It completely pulls you in. 
The main characters are really likeable. I love them all a lot. But... There comes my main issue with the book. I am not a person that gets uncomfortable easily but some scenes here were so graphic and gory that I had some issues reading them.  Maybe it's the current situation in the word that has made me more uncomfortable reading about heavy topics and animal violence. And because I've grown fond of the main characters I had a really hard time reading about some of the things that happened to them. Especially because all of them are so young.
But the book is really something new and I'm excited to see what's next. I believe this is the first in a quartet so there is a lot more to be excited about.

I really enjoyed the first two chapters of this—both Andi and Cyrus seemed like interesting characters and I was excited to see where they'd go. Unfortunately, it couldn't keep that momentum up for me. I lost interest in the characters and plot pretty quickly and nothing could reignite that original excitement.

It was an engrossing, enjoyable and interesting read. It's not your typical YA trope. It has shady corporates and GMO. I had to keep guessing through out the book. It's an eco thriller, a well written contemporary eco thriller. Fast paced. Definitely recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy in exchange of an honest review.

Unique individually voiced characters, a powerful look into racial bias, and a fast-paced plot! This novel is definitely an intriguing one, with a stunning cover too.

The cover of this book and the description lured me in and I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book. It read well and was interesting but I'm not sure I would continue the series. Something about it didn't grab me the way I expected it would. Overall enjoyable.

This was so interesting! Anything to do with shady corporations and GMO - I'm in. I'm grateful that this is a YA novel because then Peterson can explain everything to the reader without it just being a fact dump. I really enjoyed this book, especially the mystery/thriller element.

I loved that this in no way was the typical YA plotline. Teens should have more mystery type thrillers available that aren't fantasy. Anyway, this story kept me guessing up until the end. Highly recommend!

My thanks to Rootcity Press for making available an eARC via NetGalley of ‘When We Vanished’ by Alanna Peterson in exchange for an honest review. It was published on June 2 and I have now purchased its ebook edition in support of this author and independent imprint.

This is the opening title in Peterson’s Call of the Crow Quartet. I was drawn to this title by its cover art as well as the overall title of the series. I love the crow family and the novel’s Pacific Northwest location suggested that it might draw on the rich mythology associated with the region. 

This is a YA/Teen eco-thriller in which its young protagonists become caught up in the plots of an extremely sinister company that are conducting secret experiments linked to food production. The chapters cycle through the viewpoints of its four young protagonists. 

Sixteen-year old Andi Lin is at a friend’s house when she accidentally overhears a conversation that suggests a research study at the local food corporation Nutrexo could be dangerous. As her father had left home to take part in one of the company’s clinical trials, she becomes worried. He had been in frequent contact at first but recently her attempts to reach him had failed.

She decides to investigate and finds an ally in her neighbour Cyrus, whose mother used to work for 
Nutrexo. There is a protest being held outside the Nutrexo offices and Andi and Cyrus attend with a plan of breaking away and getting inside the building. Also attending the rally are Cyrus’ older brother, Naveed, who is Andi’s unrequited crush, and Roya, their 8-year old sister. 

Their search for answers ends up leading them all into danger and a confrontation with the head scientist at Nutrexo’s secret research facility.

This was excellent! Peterson is clearly passionate about the subjects covered within including food justice. Some scenes are distressing but rightly so given the subject matter.

This is also a topical issue for readers in the U.K. as a proposed trade deal with the USA is raising alarms linked to such imports undermining our current high standards of food production and animal welfare, an issue very important to British consumers, including myself.

Following the narrative Peterson includes a section that provides suggestions for getting involved in bringing about change in food production. These are relevant no matter the country of residence. Her website also provides additional information and resources, including the story behind the story, a glossary of phrases used by her culturally diverse characters, and the #ownvoices books and other resources that she accessed in her research. 

Aside from a page-turning eco-thriller, it is a well written contemporary coming of age story. Crows do also feature in interesting ways at key points of the narrative.

I have nothing but praise for this novel and will be eagerly awaiting the next in the series, ‘Where Shadows Grow’. 

Highly recommended.

3.5/5

A solid, fast paced read.

Told in multiple POVs, the story mainly revolves around this huge food corporation called Nutrexo, who are conducting various clinical trials, including human trials, genetic engineering and such. Andi Lin, who happens to overhear a conversation about the human trial and whose father also being a part of the trial,  sides with Cyrus and decides to find out the truth, which leads them to serious trouble and more shocking facts about Nutrexo.

It is a solid read. There were moments that made me hooked and there were moments that I found not believable. I also didn't like the romance aspect of the story, which felt a bit forced. Overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the beautiful cover drew me in.  I hadn't read a preview of the book before I read it, so I was surprised at its content, based on the cover.  The story is a bit dark and sinister.  

Andi Lin and the Mirzapour kids, Naveed, Cyrus, and Roya are tipped off to the idea that the Nutrexo food company is hiding something.  The kids sneak into the Nutrexo labs to snoop around for clues, but are apprehended by Dr. Snyder and her henchmen.  During their imprisonment, the kids realize that Dr. Snyder is creating Nutrexo products that contain genetically modified organisms for the purpose of turning the Nutrexo brand into a bestseller -- at any cost.  The kids must outwit Dr. Snyder to save their parents and themselves from her evil clutches.

I didn't connect particularly well with any of the characters and didn't care for their romantic interest subplots.  The best parts of the story took place at the lab!

While there were truly magical parts, I had a hard time believing the arc of this story. I think the agenda that corporations are bad, GMOs are bad, processed foods are bad, was pushed to the detriment of the story itself. Then there were the parts that felt like they were trying to be quirky but instead clashed with the overall story like corporate business being conducted within the confines of a video game. Add to that a very odd situation with love interests. Combined it all just didn't make sense! But stepping back a bit, it was a good story of kids working together and being loyal to each other and their families. That saves the book for me. I just think it gets lost in all the pieces. Also, be forewarned there is animal abuse.

One of my biggest flaws is that I always judge a book by the cover. I have been doing it for years now, and I simply can’t stop. I rarely read a book with a cover that does not appeal to me (maybe that is why I am not the biggest fan of the full-on romances). When We Vanished was one of my victims. I saw it on NetGalley a couple of months ago and fell in love. I liked the contrast between the colours, the font, all that. I dove in it without even thinking about what it could be about, and I have to say, it took me by surprise. 

The story follows Andi and her journey to save her father when he left to join a secret research project at a well-known food company. As the weeks passed, she heard less and less from him and soon realised something wasn’t right. With help from her neighbours: Cyrus, Naveen, and little Roya, she tried to dig and find what is happening. Their investigation leads them to a confidential research facility. They were looking for Andi’s father, but they never expected to find how dark and complicated the truth was.

The story is being told from four perspectives, each of them being different. All the stories were well developed, and they all brought something to the action, but I liked Roya’s perspective the most. She is an 8-year-old kid, who was caught in this mess by mistake. Because she was a kid, her way of thinking was more playful from the average, and I liked that. On top, she is very smart for her age. At first, Cyrus can be un likeable, but as you keep reading, he starts to grow on you. Naveen’s chapters were a bit confusing by the end, but it somehow kept me plugged in.

What you will see different from other teens & YA are the themes. This book deals with clean eating, addictive substances in food, animal welfare, etc. I have never seen anything like this before, and I was bewildered. It can be seen from afar that there was a lot of research put in this book and that Alanna Peterson spent a lot of time writing. Throughout the novel, some little details will change completely the reading experience. In the end, everything you have read about connects, and the story becomes more complex. For example, Roya’s flute. In the first few chapters, we learn that Naveen loves craving, and that he made a gift for Roya using his talent. Until later in the book, we learn that the gift was Roya’s favourite flute. 

Even if the book deals with complicated subjects such as clean eating and substance addiction, it was very clear and extremely well written. The action was simple, yet complicated at the same time. The ending was a kind of closure, but not all the details were revealed. This could be a stand-alone, but a sequel is welcomed.

Last but not least, the interactivity. Throughout the book, a site is mentioned multiple times, and to my surprise, it is real. You can access it, and you can find a lot more than the book tells. You can stay connected to the novel’s universe even if you finished the book, and I am up for that. The site’s name is https://www.nutrexotruth.com/ and I suggest you check it out.

Overall, I am truly glad I read this book. Not only I got to be part of an amazing universe, but I learnt something too (how important is for you and for the environment to watch what you eat). I can definitely see this book in school libraries (even if it is a bit violent), and it is only a matter of time until I will see it in mine. I received a digital copy to review, but I will definitely buy this book in a paperback format. This is the kind of work you want to have in your library to go over in a few years, maybe even read it a couple of times after finishing. I highly recommend it!

This was a fast-paced and really exciting read with themese I haven't seen explored a lot in YA before. 

The story is told in four perspectives, and was easy to follow despite this. I particularly ennjoyed Roya's perspective and her style of thought as it's different from my own, and was genuinely refreshing to see in a YA novel. I also really enjoyed Naveed and Andi as characters. All of the main characters were well-written with their own distinct personalities and voices, and I appreciated how all of them had flaws. Despite being a very fast-paced novel with a fair amount of action it didn't feel like the characters suffered. 

I also liked the exploration of mental health in this, and whilst nothing was ever officially diagnosed in the narrative, it was clear the characters were suffering and were impacted by what was going around them or being done to them. It was nice to see what happened to them had consequences and the author didn't ignore the very obvuous mental health implications of it all. 

I thought most of the themes were handled really well, and I was really intriguied by them as I'm starting to learn about the things mentioned in this book can, do and have happened in real life. Whilst the themes were handled well I would have liked to have seen a deeper dive on some of the themes, particularly clean eating as the author didn't mention how class can impact your ability to do this. However, it is not something that's impacted my rating as this is the first book in what is meant to be a series and so the author can explore the themes in greater depth later. 

My only problems with this book are with Cyrus, the romance and the antogonist. My problems with Cyrus are my own fault and not the author's as whilst he is well written and a fleshed out character he's just not my cup of tea. However, I do believe the romance included in this and the antagonist were undeverloped and I would have liked to have seen a greater depth in regards to these two things. Also, I am unsure as to whether or not the main romance in this novel was needed as I don't think it added anything significant to the overall narrative.

Overall, a solid YA book and a fantastic debut novel. I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series go and I'll definitely be on the lookout for it!

This was such an enjoyable read! I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it going i ti to it but i was pleasantly surprised. The story is so different from many of the books I have read recently and I believe that’s part of why it was so good.